This article is part of our FantasyDraft NHL series.
December is here, and it brings with it eight NHL games Friday. You want to get your month off right, of course. Perhaps putting these players into your daily fantasy lineup will help make that happen.
GOALIE
Winnipeg Jets, WPG vs. VGK ($15,800): The Golden Knights are off to a surprisingly good start, but they've mostly been successful at home. On the road, Vegas is 6-6-1, while Winnipeg is 8-2-1 at home. Vegas is also on the second night of a back-to-back, greatly increasing Connor Hellebuyck's chances of picking up a win. Not that he needs a ton of help. He's got a 2.35 GAA and a .926 save percentage, after all.
CENTER
Nathan MacKinnon, COL vs. NJD ($13,500): MacKinnon had a fantastic November, tallying 20 points in 12 games. He's also been a power-play monster, notching 11 points while averaging 4:08 per game with the extra man. The Devils have a middling penalty kill, but they've also posted a 3.00 team GAA and allowed 34.4 shots on net per contest.
Tomas Hertl, SAN at FLA ($10,500): Hertl has 14 points through 23 games, but he also has an 8.2 shooting percentage, which would be the lowest of his career. He's averaged 18:04 per game in ice time, a new high for him, and also 2:39 per contest with the extra man. The Panthers have a bottom five penalty kill, which should help Hertl, but they've also allowed a whopping 35.5 shots on net per tilt.
WING
Nikolaj Ehlers, WPG vs. VGK ($12,300): Since Vegas is on the second night of a back-to-back, and since Malcolm Subban started Thursday, Max Lagace (3.66 GAA, .870 save percentage) will likely be in net. That's a good sign for Ehlers, as is the fact the Golden Knights have a team GAA of 3.33 on the road. The 21-year-old Dane is having another fine season with 10 goals and nine assists through 25 games. His goal scoring has dropped a tinge recently but he had 25 last year, and going up against Lagace would definitely help Ehlers' chances.
Cam Atkinson, CLM vs. ANA ($11,900): Atkinson has six goals on 68 shots through 21 games. His 8.8 shooting percentage is a career low, but there is also a good chance he'll get a few pucks on net in this one. The Ducks have allowed a staggering 36.6 shots on goal per game, most in the NHL. Since returning from injury, Atkinson has 34 shots on net in 10 games. That should definitely continue in this matchup.
Kyle Okposo, BUF vs. PIT ($8,200): You likely know that Okposo got off to a slow start, but he's starting to turn it around. In his last 10 games, he's tallied seven points, including three power-play points. He still only has a 5.6 shooting percentage, which seems likely to improve. The Penguins have a 3.42 team GAA, and now Matt Murray is hurt. That leaves unproven rookie Tristan Jarry (2.83 GA, .907 save percentage) shouldering the load in net.
DEFENSEMEN
Seth Jones, CLM vs. ANA ($10,700): As previously noted, the Ducks have given up 36.6 shots on net per contest. That's favorable toward Jones, who leads the Blue Jackets with 74 shots on net. He's in a bit of a scoring drought, but he has 12 points in 25 games nevertheless. Jones has averaged 12.64 fantasy points per game, and eventually he's going to start scoring again. It wouldn't be surprising to see that happen against the banged-up Ducks.
Johnny Boychuk, NYI vs. OTT ($9,400): Boychuk has averaged 13.16 fantasy points per tilt, perhaps owing to the fact he's started 55.1 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone. That's second most among Islander defensemen, but despite that he's blocked 58 shots in 24 contests. He's also put 67 shots on net, so he's contributing on both ends of the ice. The Senators, meanwhile, have a team GAA of 3.13 and a team save percentage of .894.
