DraftKings picks: Bernier means business

NOTE: These picks are for eight-game Saturday contests and do not include the three afternoon games.
CENTERS
Spend up for: Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers ($7,200)
McDavid should be your lineup building block with the Oilers hosting the Calgary Flames on Saturday. He has 24 points in 22 home games, and two goals, one assist and four shots on goal in two games against the Flames (5.0 DraftKings points per contest). He's the second most-expensive center on a busy slate, but has won NHL Rookie of the Month in each of the three full months he has played and has the highest points per game average (1.07) by a rookie since Evgeni Malkin in 2006-07 (1.09). Stack him with linemate Patrick Maroon ($3,800), who has 11 points in 13 games since being traded to Edmonton.

Value pick:Victor Rask, Carolina Hurricanes ($4,300)
Rask is closing in on 50 points with four games remaining; he has 46 in 76 games. He has five goals in his past five games with eight blocks and 16 SOG in that span for 5.4 DraftKings points per contest. The fact that he's playing top minutes since Eric Staal was traded and is still priced this low is a gift for DFS owners seeking an under-the-radar value center. He had one goal, one block and three SOG against the Columbus Blue Jackets earlier in the season and is tied for 28th among centers in price.

WINGS
Spend up for: Filip Forsberg, Nashville Predators ($6,800)
Forsberg, tied for fifth among wings in price, has been strong at home and against the San Jose Sharks this season. He has 36 points and 122 SOG in 38 games at Bridgestone Arena (4.3 DraftKings points per contest) and three points (one goal, two assists) with four SOG in two games against the Sharks. He's in the midst of a four-game goal drought but has salvaged that span with four assists, one block and five SOG (2.8 DraftKings points per contest).
Value pick: Jaromir Jagr, Florida Panthers ($5,900)
Jagr became the oldest player in NHL history (44 years old) with 60 points (61) in a season with two assists Thursday against the New Jersey Devils. He plays top-line and first-power-play minutes for the Panthers, who host the Montreal Canadiens. Jagr has one goal, one assist, one block and six SOG (4.3 DraftKings points per contest) in two games against them, and has 39 points in 37 home games. Priced below $6,000, Jagr is one of the safest middle-range picks contest-wide.

DEFENSEMEN
Spend up for: John Carlson, Washington Capitals ($5,700)
Carlson has one goal and one assist in four games since returning from injury and at least 4.5 DraftKings points three times in the span. His price has dipped from $6,100 on Feb. 16 to $5,700 on Saturday at the Arizona Coyotes. He provides high upside for a manageable price against a vulnerable opponent, considering the Coyotes are without Michael Stone and could be without Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Martin Hanzal because of injuries. Carlson has exceeded 100 SOG (115) and blocks (107) through 51 games, so roll him out with confidence.
Value pick: Keith Yandle, New York Rangers ($5,100)
Yandle hasn't produced fantasy-wise with the Rangers at the elite level he did for years with the Coyotes, but is quietly eighth among D-men in assists (40 in 77 games) entering Friday. He has 151 SOG and 62 blocks, and is a stable option with 2.6 DraftKings points per game in his past 10 games and on the season. He has five assists, four on the power play, in his past four games, and sees exposure to high-end scoring chances on the Rangers' first unit. He has two assists and three SOG in two games against the Buffalo Sabres this season.

GOALIES
Spend up for: Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers ($8,500)
Lundqvist has strong totals against the Sabres (17-10-2, .922 save percentage, two shutouts) and the Rangers have a nine-game winning streak against them. Lundqvist has been shaky of late with three or more goals allowed in seven of his past 10 games, but DFS owners can bank on his home goal support. The Rangers average 3.24 goals per game at home and 2.48 on the road, and Lundqvist's record at Madison Square Garden (21-5-3) is much better than his road mark (12-15-4) despite a nearly identical save percentage. Lundqvist is the safest option among the expensive Saturday goalies. If Rangers backup Antti Raanta gets the call, he's even cheaper at $7,800 and can benefit from that offensive support as well.
Value pick: Jonathan Bernier, Toronto Maple Leafs ($7,100)
Since the 2016 NHL Trade Deadline on Feb. 29, Bernier is 4-4-0 with a .938 SV% and one shutout. The Maple Leafs were sellers at the deadline, but Bernier has clearly benefited from the influx of young talent. He faces the sinking Detroit Red Wings with all the momentum to play spoiler. He is tied for 23rd in DraftKings price, has a 1-1-0 record with three goals allowed (.936 SV%) in two games against the Red Wings, and can be trusted at such an affordable rate.
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