Fantasy hockey Friday picks: Start Saros if confirmed, look to Boeser for goals

Juuse Saros enters Friday with three straight wins, and Mitch Marner has 21 points in his past 14 games. Both are worth starting in fantasy hockey when Nashville visits Vegas at 10 p.m. ET, provided Saros gets the call in net.

The NHL’s two-game slate opens with the New York Rangers at Vancouver at 9 p.m. ET. With only four teams playing, managers in daily-lineup leagues have room to use a winger who might otherwise sit on a busier night. NHL schedule

Start Saros if he gets the call

Saros made 30 saves Tuesday in a 3-0 win at Los Angeles. Justus Annunen made 27 saves Wednesday as Nashville beat Anaheim 4-2 for its sixth straight win. Saros entered Friday ranked fourth in the NHL with 359 saves. He’s the first choice among Friday’s projected starters if you need saves or a start to meet your league minimum. Vegas scored five goals against Utah on Wednesday and beat Nashville 5-2 on Oct. 13, so managers who have met their minimum and are protecting save percentage or goals-against average can sit a second goalie. NHL recap · Vegas game preview

Dylan Garand is the one-night pickup to check first if he’s available. He entered Friday with a .905 save percentage in 14 appearances, including 12 starts. New York has won four of its past five, but Joonas Korpisalo got Wednesday’s start in Calgary. Check the starting-goalie tracker and your lineup lock before using an add. Rangers recap · Vancouver game preview

Use Boeser for goals and Hoglander in deeper leagues

Marner had three assists Wednesday, and Rangers center Mika Zibanejad scored twice in a 3-1 win at Calgary. Keep both active. Vancouver winger Brock Boeser, with three goals and two assists in his past five games, is a good option if you need goals. Teammate Elias Pettersson entered Friday with 20 points in 20 games. Vegas game preview · Vancouver game preview

Nashville winger Nils Hoglander is a deeper-league play. He assisted on both of Filip Forsberg’s goals Tuesday and had a goal and an assist Wednesday while skating with Forsberg and center Shane Wright. “We’re rolling right now,” Wright said after the win in Anaheim. If you have an open wing slot and need points Friday, Hoglander’s recent production and linemates make him worth a one-game look. NHL recap · Predators recap