As the NHL season progresses, it's essential to evaluate fantasy hockey rosters and identify players who may no longer be worth holding onto. While some stars like Brady Tkachuk may be struggling statistically, their underlying usage suggests a rebound is imminent. In contrast, players like Thatcher Demko and Charlie Lindgren are becoming less reliable, with poor statistics indicating it's time for managers to explore trade options or replacements on the waiver wire.

For instance, Lindgren is overshadowed by Logan Thompson's outstanding performance in Washington, making him less valuable in fantasy terms. Similarly, Jake DeBrusk's recent output has been lackluster, and while patience may be warranted for Elias Pettersson and Sam Bennett, other players like Casey Mittelstadt, Trevor Moore, and Tyson Foerster are better off being dropped as they struggle to contribute meaningfully. Meanwhile, others like Pavel Buchnevich and Ivan Barbashev still have the potential to turn it around, provided they are given more playing time. It's crucial for fantasy managers to make these tough decisions to optimize their lineups moving forward.

The NHL DFS landscape is heating up as teams gear up for an action-packed Saturday. This article highlights prime forward lines, defensemen, and goalies to target for daily fantasy play. Special attention is given to the Toronto Maple Leafs' line featuring Auston Matthews, who has posted impressive statistics recently. The Vegas Golden Knights and New York Islanders are also recommended for their favorable matchups against weaker defensive teams. Additionally, standout defensemen like Victor Hedman are anticipated to excel against teams with high expected goals against rates.

In the goalie department, Darcy Kuemper and Stuart Skinner emerge as top choices based on recent performances and the low offensive output of their respective opponents. DFS enthusiasts are encouraged to remain updated on injury news and player statuses to make the most of their lineups.

Patrik Laine is the leading player in fantasy points per 60 minutes (FPP60) among NHL players with less than 200 minutes on the ice this season, averaging 10.4 points. This rank allows us to highlight effective players, even if they may not see increased ice time opportunities.

For instance, if an injury were to occur on the Winnipeg Jets' power-play unit, Nikolaj Ehlers, currently averaging 15:38 minutes, could see a rise in minutes, as he ranks in the top 10 for FPP60. Other notable players like Dylan Guenther and Kiefer Sherwood are also under observation for potential increased roles due to their current production rates.

In a tightly contested match, the New York Rangers edged out the Vegas Golden Knights 2-1, thanks to a late goal from Adam Edstrom. This victory marks the Rangers' second consecutive win, improving their record to 4-1-1 after a rough stretch of games. Vincent Trocheck also contributed with a power-play goal, while Igor Shesterkin stood strong in net, making 29 saves.

The Golden Knights struggled offensively, with Mark Stone scoring their only goal on the power play. Despite Ivan Barbashev's return from injury and his immediate offensive attempt, Vegas has now lost back-to-back games for the first time in over a month.

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Dante Fabbro avoided a serious injury after a hit from Conor Geekie, suffering only a charley horse. Teammate Yegor Chinakhov returned to practice after missing 11 games due to an upper-body injury, while Jack Johnson participated in an optional skate following an eye injury.

In other NHL news, the Montreal Canadiens acquired Alexandre Carrier from the Nashville Predators, and the Dallas Stars placed Matt Dumba on injured reserve. The Detroit Red Wings activated goaltender Alex Lyon from IR, while the Florida Panthers and Minnesota Wild reported several player injuries.