This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
After Sunday, the NHL will be off for three days. I'd like to give you my recommendations for your daily fantasy lineup based on a full slate of games. However, the earliest game starts at 12:30 PM ET, which would be unfair to you west coast hockey fans out there. As such, I'll stick to the six-game evening slate starting at 7:00 PM ET. Merry Christmas.
GOALIE
Aaron Dell, SAN vs. ARI ($8,100): Almost every team playing Sunday is on the second day of a back-to-back, which makes finding a goalie more complicated than usual. Dell comes in with a 2.69 GAA, which is better than a lot of backup goalies. The Sharks have also only given up 28.3 shots on net per game. Meanwhile, the Coyotes are bottom-five in the NHL in goals scored per contest, so this should be a favorable matchup for Dell.
CENTER
Nazem Kadri, TOR vs. DET ($5,600): Don't worry about the fact Kadri is centering Toronto's third line. He's registered seven points over his last six games, and he gets to see plenty of time on the power play. Since Jimmy Howard started Saturday, Jonathan Bernier will likely be in net for the Wings on Sunday. That bodes well for Kadri, as Bernier has struggled to a 3.38 GAA and .898 save percentage.
Kevin Hayes, NYR vs. PHI ($5,600): Hayes has been on an absolute tear recently, logging a six-game point streak wherein he's tallied 12 points. Carter Hart has had a couple good games for the Flyers since being called up, but he started Saturday. So that likely leaves Michal Neuvirth to start in goal, who's only played in two games this season and has recorded a .719 save percentage.
WING
Mike Hoffman, FLA at CHI ($6,200): Hoffman has slowed down after a hot start, but he has tallied 16 goals and 16 assists through 34 games. He's also put 116 shots on net, so clearly he's been quite active offensively. As for the Blackhawks, they enter with a 3.63 GAA and have allowed 34.1 shots on goal per contest. They also own the 30th-ranked penalty kill, and Hoffman has notched 17 power-play points.
Alex DeBrincat, CHI vs. FLA ($5,500): The Blackhawks are one of the only teams in action Sunday that didn't play Saturday, so DeBrincat will be well-rested. He also has potted five goals in his last seven contests, with 16 goals overall. The Panthers have really struggled on the road, with a 4.00 GAA in away games. Add in the fact they are on the road for the second game of a back-to-back, and things are looking up for DeBrincat.
Alex Tuch, VGK vs. LOS ($5,300): Tuch now plays on the top line for Vegas alongside William Karlsson and Jonathan Marchessault, which bodes well for his fantasy potential. He's definitely coming into his own as an offensive player, with 26 points and 77 shots on net through 30 games. The 22-year-old has also averaged 2:56 per game on the power play, and the Kings have the 29th-ranked penalty kill. Tuch should be able to take advantage of that.
DEFENSE
Shayne Gostisbehere, PHI at NYR ($5,400): Gostisbehere isn't scoring like he usually does, but he has a track record we can trust. Plus, he's staying active offensively, with 83 shots on goal through 34 games. He's also started 56.1 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, second highest on the Flyers. Meanwhile, the Rangers are another team on a back-to-back, and Henrik Lundqvist has posted a 3.40 GAA and .904 save percentage during his last eight starts.
Neal Pionk, NYR vs. PHI ($4,400): Pionk was in fine form Saturday, notching a goal, an assist, and four shots on goal. That gives him 19 points and 56 shots on net through 32 games. More notably, he has 12 points with the extra man, which is encouraging heading into this matchup. The Flyers have the 28th-ranked penalty kill, and not having Carter Hart in net has been a major concern for them.
