This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
The weekend is here, and Friday brings up six NHL games to kick it off. If you want to take your weekend to the next level, perhaps daily fantasy success will be the ticket to good times. Here are my recommendations for your lineup. Good luck, and enjoy a relaxing Friday evening.
GOALIE
Connor Hellebuyck, WPG at BUF ($8,100): Thanks to a slow start, Hellebuyck has a 2.72 GAA and .915 save percentage. Those aren't bad numbers, but not in line with the American goalie's 2.36 GAA and .924 save percentage from last season. If you are looking for signs of encouragement, over his last five starts Hellebuyck is 4-1 with a 2.22 GAA and .930 save percentage. The Sabres have scored 3.00 goals per game, which this season is only good for 21st in the NHL.
CENTER
Jonathan Toews, CHI vs. LOS ($6,900): Toews has slowed down after his scoring start, but he has three points in his last five games to give him 15 points in 19 games. He's also played 2:57 per contest on the power play, but he hasn't had a ton of success there yet. That should change, given that even in a down year he had 12 power-play points last season. The Kings are down their top-two goalies, and in his first start of the season, Peter Budaj allowed four goals on 19 shots and was pulled after 24:33.
Carl Soderberg, COL vs. WAS ($4,400): Colorado's top line, perhaps the best line in the NHL, gets all the glory, but they also don't provide you with much in the way of potential fantasy value. Soderberg, on the other hand, is perhaps under the radar. He has four points in his last three games and 12 points total. That includes six points with the extra man. The Capitals have the 28th-ranked penalty kill, which bodes well for the 33-year-old center.
WING
Rickard Rakell, ANA vs. TOR ($7,100): Rakell is pretty much the only Duck not going through a bad season. Oh, his season has still been rough, as he only has three goals. However, his 5.4 shooting percentage is bound to improve, and he does have 10 assists. The Maple Leafs are on the road for the second game of a back-to-back, which could mean Garret Sparks in net. In limited action, Sparks has a 4.00 GAA and .879 save percentage.
Tyler Toffoli, LOS at CHI ($5,400): The Kings have struggled offensively, and Toffoli hasn't avoided that completely. However, he does have nine points in 17 games, and last season he scored 24 goals. He should pick it up a bit. Chicago has a 3.53 GAA and has given up 33.1 shots on goal per contest, so perhaps this is the kind of matchup that Toffoli can use to right the ship.
Alex Tuch, VGK vs. STL ($4,900): Tuch has been absolutely on fire since returning from an injury that kept him out to start the season. Though he's only suited up for Vegas' last 11 games he has 11 points. The 22-year-old also has a four-game point streak. Meanwhile, the Blues, for their part, have a 3.25 GAA and .895 save percentage.
DEFENSE
Tyson Barrie, COL vs. WAS ($5,000): Barrie has 15 points in 18 games, and you could still argue he's been unlucky. He only has one goal on 37 shots, and his 2.7 shooting percentage is bound to improve. Plus, he has six power-play points after having a whopping 30 last year. As previously noted, the Capitals have the 28th-ranked penalty kill which should have Barrie salivating.
Brent Seabrook, CHI vs. LOS ($4,600): Seabrook is seemingly bouncing back from a lost season, as he has 10 points in 19 games. He's also put 44 shots on goal while picking up 43 blocked shots. There may not be many shot-blocking opportunities against the Kings' punchless offense, but their 3.24 GAA is enticing, especially since now they are down to Peter Budaj in goal.
