Saturday’s NHL slate could end a first-round series, and it opens at 3 p.m. EDT with three games on the board. The Hurricanes and the Flyers are both looking to sweep, which gives the day a different edge for fantasy players trying to sort through short slates and high-stakes minutes.
One of the clearest goalie options is Linus Ullmark for Ottawa against Carolina at $7,800. He comes in with a 2.02 goals-against average and a.933 save percentage, numbers that make him stand out in a small player pool. On the other side, Dan Vladar is listed as a game-time decision for Philadelphia, and Samuel Ersson would presumably start if Vladar cannot go for Game 4.
The forward pool offers a few different routes. Bryan Rust is listed for Pittsburgh at Philadelphia at $6,000, and he has two points and seven shots in the series. Wyatt Johnston carries a $7,100 salary at center after piling up five points and 14 shots in the series, including the overtime winner in Game 3. Johnston finished the season with 45 points on 206 shots and 41 assists, which helps explain why he remains a strong DFS play even on a short slate. Mikko Rantanen is listed at wing for $6,700 after producing 77 points in 64 appearances during the season, and he has three points in the series, all on the power play.
Justin Hryckowian is another value option at $3,100. He recorded one assist against Minnesota and closed the season with 14 goals and 16 assists. Jamie Drysdale is priced at $3,600 for Philadelphia at Pittsburgh, and he brought 32 points and 101 shots into the postseason. He has added three points, five shots and seven blocked shots in the playoffs, enough production to keep him in the conversation when salary matters more than name value.
The slate’s appeal is straightforward: limited games, playoff urgency and a few players carrying heavy usage into Saturday’s action. The Penguins finished bottom-10 in goals-against average, which gives the Flyers’ options more room to work if the game opens up. Jake Guentzel is part of the wider DFS conversation on a day built around matchup hunting, but the available game data for this slate points more directly to the goaltending and secondary scoring plays that can separate a lineup in a condensed pool.
