This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
It's a light Monday in the NHL circles. There are only two games on the slate. That means the pickings are slim for your daily fantasy lineup. Nevertheless, here are my daily fantasy lineup recommendations.
GOALIE
Linus Ullmark, BUF vs. EDM ($8,000): If I'm being honest, I'm not excited about any of the goalie options Monday. The Flames and Maple Leafs are both too good offensively, and the goalies in Buffalo and Edmonton have been struggling. However, the Oilers have only averaged 2.59 goals and 29.1 shots on net per game on the road. That's enough to give Ullmark the edge.
CENTER
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, EDM at BUF ($6,300): Nugent-Hopkins has moved back and forth from center to wing, but he's been manning the middle of the second line for the Oilers recently. Through it all, he's managed 56 points in 65 games, including 22 with the extra man. The Sabres had a 3.77 GAA in February. Like I said, I went with Ullmark as the least of all evils at goalie.
Evan Rodrigues, BUF vs. EDM ($3,900): Rodrigues has three points in his last five games, and he's currently skating as Buffalo's second-line center. He's also put 132 shots on net in 59 games. The Oilers, meanwhile, have a 3.29 GAA on the road, and they have the 29th-ranked penalty kill.
WING
Matthew Tkachuk, CGY vs. TOR ($5,300): Tkachuk has taken his game to a whole new level this season. He's already set career highs with 25 goals and 61 points, and he's also tallied 23 points with the extra man. As for the Maple Leafs, they've allowed 33.3 shots on net per contest on the road. With only two games on the slate, that's intriguing enough.
Conor Sheary, BUF vs. EDM ($4,900): Sheary has started 72.1 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, second highest on the Sabres. He's also been hot recently, as he has three goals and three assists in his last five contests. The Sabres were bad defensively in February, but the Oilers weren't much better. They had a 3.43 GAA last month.
Zack Kassian, EDM at BUF ($4,300): Kassian has a goal in each of his last two games. That may not be a ton to go on, but he is skating on Edmonton's top line alongside Connor McDavid, which is worth something. If you want a bigger sample size on the Sabres than just one abbreviated month, they have a 3.15 GAA on the season.
DEFENSE
Mark Giordano, CGY vs. TOR ($6,700): Yes, Giordano is pricey, but he's earned it. He's tallied 14 goals, 47 assists, 172 shots on net, and 123 blocked shots in 63 games. He's been outstanding, and elite defensemen are cheaper than elite forwards. As such, on a day with so few games, it makes sense to me to grab one of the best defenseman to try and ensure you have somebody reliable in your lineup.
Rasmus Dahlin, BUF vs. EDM ($4,500): Dahlin could be as good as Giordano someday. After all, he's only 18, and he has 37 points in 65 games, including 16 with the extra man. As previously noted, the Oilers have the 29th-ranked penalty kill. That bodes well for the young Swedish defenseman.
