This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
The NHL has an early Christmas present for you. There are 12 games on the docket, perhaps because the league is taking three days off afterward. Get your DFS in while you can, and consider the players below for your lineup as you try to give yourself a Merry Christmas.
GOALIE
Corey Crawford, CHI vs. COL ($9,000): With so many teams playing both days immediately preceding the break, there are going to be a lot of backups in net Friday, and we don't know for sure who'll be between the pipes in some instances. We do know Crawford will be making his first start in a few weeks Friday, though, and it's a great matchup for him to make his return from an appendectomy. The Avs are 2-8-0 in their last 10 games, having lost four in a row. They're also dead last in goals scored. You've got to like Crawford's chances of getting a win here.
CENTER
Auston Matthews, TOR at ARI ($6,800): What a great couple of days the Maple Leafs have heading into the break. They played Colorado on Thursday night, with Matthews lighting the lamp, and now they get to take on the Coyotes. Arizona gives up 3.12 goals per game as well as a league-worst 35.0 shots per game. Matthews is an Arizona native who's already living up to his No. 1 overall selection, and he certainly can take advantage of a team that gives up shots. He's taken 118 in 32 games.
Ryan O'Reilly, BUF at NYI ($6,200): Buffalo's offense isn't good, but O'Reilly's having a fine season despite that. He's got 18 points in 25 games, including 10 points with the extra man. The Islanders are 25th on the penalty kill and 28th in goals allowed per game, so this is definitely a matchup O'Reilly can take advantage of.
WING
Patric Hornqvist, PIT vs. NJD ($7,200): Hornqvist's scoring has been down a bit since returning from injury, but he's still averaging a robust 14.5 fantasy points per game overall. That's probably because he's still taking a lot of shots on goal –104 in 28 games. His 6.9 shooting percentage will likely improve, and the Devils should give Hornqvist plenty of chances to put the puck on net, as they give up 31.9 shots per game. Hornqvist is a little pricey, but he's worth it.
Taylor Hall, NJD at PIT ($7,100): Matt Murray started for the Penguins on Thursday( and got pulled in the third period), which means Marc-Andre Fleury will probably be in net for Pittsburgh on Friday. Fleury has a .904 save percentage, so that would certainly benefit Hall. New Jersey's big offseason acquisition has seen his scoring dry up a bit recently, but he still has 21 points to go with 84 shots on goal in 24 games. Considering the Penguins give up 32.8 shots per game, Hall's ability to put the puck on the net should help him pick up the pace in this one.
Jonathan Marchessault, FLA vs. DET ($5,400): Marchessault only just returned from injury, but he's still worth getting into your lineup in this matchup. Jimmy Howard is out, which leaves the goalie duties on Petr Mrazek's slumping shoulders (3.06 GAA, .899 save percentage) in Detroit. Marchessault had 20 points in 26 games before his injury, and even if he isn't 100 percent, he may not have to be to justify this price.
Sam Reinhart, BUF at NYI ($5,100); Reinhart provides a nice potential value given the relatively low price you have to pay for him. Earlier, I mentioned the Islanders' defensive struggles and poor performance on the penalty kill. Indeed, New York is giving up 3.09 goals per game and a whopping 33.3 shots per contest. Reinhart isn't a super prolific shot producer (71 in 31 games), but he does play 3:18 a game with the extra man, and he has eight power-play points. In this matchup, he could be a steal.
DEFENSEMEN
Seth Jones, CLM vs. MON ($5,200): The Canadiens have been great at goal prevention, but that's mostly fallen on the shoulders of Carey Price. Their 29.6 shots allowed per game represent a middle-of-the-pack defensive performance, and Price manned the goal crease Thursday. That could mean Al Montoya (.905 save percentage) in net Friday. Jones doesn't play a ton on the power play, but that hasn't stopped him from averaging 11.3 fantasy points per game. He takes shots (52 in 25 games) and blocks shots (48), and he should have the opportunity to do both against Montreal.
Alec Martinez, LOS at DAL ($4,600): Martinez has slowed down after the hot start in which he was briefly the Kings' most productive defenseman, but he's still playing well (three points in his last five games). He's also still averaging a career-high 22:37 per game, so the Kings still have a big role for him. You don't need to be hot to excel against the Stars, as they're giving up an average of 3.06 goals per game and rank 27th on the penalty kill. For this pretty low price, Martinez has a lot of upside.
