This article is part of our FantasyDraft NHL series.
It's the Saturday of Halloween weekend, so you may find yourself out and about well past the witching hour. Before you hit the town, though, be sure to set your daily fantasy hockey lineup. With a matinee game between San Jose and Buffalo not included on the slate, you still have 11 games worth of players from whom to choose. Here are a few suggestions for your lineup.
GOALIE
Montreal Canadiens, MTL vs. NYR ($14,000): Consider this a bet on the Canadiens getting things figured out. Not only is their offense destined to get better, Carey Price (.887 save percentage) is going to turn things around, and likely soon. He hasn't had a save percentage lower than .923 in his last four seasons. Soon you aren't going to have the chance to get the Canadiens this cheap.
CENTER
Claude Giroux, PHI at TOR ($12,300): Giroux was still a fantasy dynamo even in a "down" year last season, thanks in part to a whopping 31 points on the power play. In fact, he's had more than 30 points with the extra man in three of his last four seasons. Giroux already has three power-play points, and he has 11 points total in 10 games. Toronto, by the way, has allowed 3.60 goals per game.
Aleksander Barkov, FLA vs. DET ($11,200): Barkov has played quite well recently, riding a four-game point streak with seven points in that time. While Barkov has never stayed healthy for a full season, when he plays he's generally been successful. The Red Wings allowed 2.98 goals and 30.6 shots on net per game last season, and this year those numbers are up to 3.00 and 33.8, respectively.
WING
Patrick Kane, CHI at COL ($15,100): Both the Blackhawks and Avalanche played Friday, but only one, Colorado, gave up seven goals to the Golden Knights. Let's not forget the Avalanche allowed a league-high 3.37 goals per game last season. Kane is up to his usual tricks with 12 points and 35 shots on goal in 11 games. He's not cheap, but in this matchup he's worth it.
Anthony Mantha, DET at FLA ($11,000): This looks like a favorable matchup going both ways. The Panthers have allowed a league-high 36.2 shots per game, which bodes well for Mantha. He has 29 shots on net (and four goals) through 11 games. Florida has also allowed 3.67 goals per game, so this looks like a high-scoring affair that should be a fantasy goldmine.
Marcus Johansson, NJD vs. ARI ($9,200): Johansson isn't off to the fastest start with his new team, but he has started 57.8 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, second most among New Jersey forwards. Plus, the Coyotes have tended to be good for what ails you this season. They've allowed a whopping 4.40 goals per game. That's the most in the league, and the second-worst team, Montreal, has allowed only 3.80.
DEFENSEMEN
Shea Weber, MON vs. NYR ($10,500): Weber is another Hab whose price is down thanks to Montreal's struggles out of the gate. He has not been among the strugglers though, as he's averaged 15.50 fantasy points per contest. Weber has put 20 shots on goal over his last four games, and if he keeps that up against the Rangers it should work out well for him. Henrik Lundqvist has not looked good (3.11 GAA, .900 save percentage), but unlike Price he had issues last season too (2.74 GAA, .901 save percentage).
Jared Spurgeon, MIN vs. PIT ($9,000): Spurgeon had a career-high 38 points last year, and he already has seven points through six games this season. That's encouraging heading into a matchup with a Pittsburgh team that has been lax defensively. The Penguins have allowed 3.73 goals and 32.9 shots on net per contest. This isn't a one-season issue either, as Pittsburgh gave up 32.6 shots on goal last year.
