This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
There are only three games Monday, including the Winter Classic between Chicago and St. Louis. The league may not be terribly busy over the holidays as they try to focus your attention on their two outdoor games, but you can still play daily fantasy to help ring in the new year in style.
GOALIE
Ryan Miller, VAN vs. COL ($7,800): This is as much about how bad the Avalanche are as it is anything about Miller. Colorado is dead last in both goals scored and goals against, and their power play and penalty kill are also terrible. Plus, while Vancouver isn't very good, they are 5-4-1 in their last 10 games, while Colorado is 2-8-0. Miller shouldn't have to break too much of a sweat to get a win.
CENTER
David Krejci, BOS vs. NJD ($5,900): The Devils may have won Cups back in the day through their goal prevention prowess, but those days are long gone. New Jersey is giving up 3.03 goals and 31.8 shots on goal per game. Krejci has a solid 24 points in 39 games, but five of those have come in his last four games, and he's also notched seven power-play points.
Bo Horvat, VAN vs. COL ($4,600): Of Vancouver's top three centers, Horvat is averaging the most fantasy points per game (4.7). He has 25 points total, with nine coming in his last nine games. As previously mentioned, the Avalanche are giving up the most goals per game in the league (3.36), and they are also allowing 32.4 shots on goal per tilt.
WING
Artemi Panarin, CHI at STL ($7,100): Panarin certainly earned his recent contract extension, and in his last 10 games he has a whopping 15 points. Overall, he's averaging an impressive 3.7 fantasy points per game. The Blues do have a formidable penalty kill, but Jake Allen also only has a .903 save percentage, so you shouldn't have to worry too much about this matchup, given Panarin's track record.
Brad Marchand, BOS at NJD ($6,700): The Devils' defensive (and goaltending) woes have already been established. Marchand has notched 31 points in 39 games, and he's tallied 111 shots on goal. He's also been quite consistent this season, and he has four points in his last five games.
Mikko Rantanen, COL at VAN ($4,400): While much has been made of Vancouver's favorable matchup with Colorado, things won't be much tougher for the Avalanche as the Canucks are giving up 2.97 goals per game and have the 21st-ranked penalty kill. Rantanen has 16 points in 31 games, and has also notched six power-play points while averaging 3:16 of ice time with the extra man.
DEFENSE
Colton Parayko, STL vs. CHI ($4,700): Parayko has been incredibly unlucky, as he's got zero goals despite putting 95 shots on net. The Blackhawks give up 31.2 shots on goal per contest, which is in the bottom 10 of the league. Their penalty kill is also ranked 28th, and Parayko averages 2:00 per game on the power play. If he can finally get some puck luck, he'll be a bargain at this salary.
Ben Hutton, VAN vs. COL ($3,900): Hutton plays 21:13 a night, and 2:10 on the power play, where he's notched six points. As previously mentioned, the Avalanche have the 25th-ranked penalty kill. He is averaging 2.3 fantasy points per game, and he comes at a rather cheap price. With this matchup against Colorado, he could be a real steal.
