This article is part of our FantasyDraft NHL series.
It's Halloween, and the most horrifying thing may be the quality of defense in action Tuesday. However, that should mean a lot of goals, which could be good for daily fantasy players. Here are some players to target for your lineups — hopefully they'll be a treat…
GOALIE
Detroit, DET vs. ARI ($16,600): The Red Wings have a team GAA of 2.92, and they are the second best in that category of all the teams in action Tuesday. This is really about the opportunity to pick up a win, though. The Coyotes have been the worst team in the NHL and are on the road for the second night in a row.
CENTER
Eric Staal, MIN vs. WPG ($12,500): Staal had a resurgent season last year, his first with Minnesota. He notched 65 points, including 16 with the extra man. This year, he has four goals and three assists through nine games, even without any power-play luck (yet). The Jets have a 3.10 team GAA this year after posting a 3.11 mark last season, so this matchup looks good for Staal.
Dylan Larkin, DET vs. ARI ($10,400): Last year the Coyotes had a 3.11 team GAA and gave up 34.1 shots on net per game. Larkin has 10 points through 12 games despite a 4.2 shooting percentage, which is likely to improve.
WING
J.T. Miller, NYR vs. VGK ($10,600): Miller hasn't put a lot of pucks on net, but it hasn't hurt his fantasy value, as he still has 10 points (three on the power play). He's been helped by the fact he's started 62.4 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, second most among Rangers forwards. The Golden Knights are off to a surprisingly good start, but they are still an expansion team on the road for the second night of a back-to-back. On top of that, they could be stuck starting their fourth-string goalie in this game.
Gustav Nyquist, DET vs. ARI ($10,600): Nyquist struggled a bit last year, as some rough puck luck left him with a 7.3 shooting percentage. Things have gone a bit better this season, as he has three goals on 36 shots through 12 games. All six of his points, and 28 of his shots, have come in his last eight contests as well.
Pavel Buchnevich, NYR vs. VGK ($8,600): The Rangers are giving Buchnevich a lot of opportunity with the extra man. He's averaged 3:59 and tallied four of his eight points on the power play. As noted, Vegas is likely to be giving rookie Max Lagace his first NHL start in this one, too.
DEFENSEMEN
Ryan Suter, MIN vs. WPG ($11,600): Suter has six points, including three on the power play. He's notched at least 11 power-play points in his last nine seasons, so success with the extra man comes naturally. The Jets, meanwhile, ranked 26th on the penalty kill last season, and they weren't any better at even strength (3.11 team GAA).
Dustin Byfuglien, WPG at MIN ($10,900): Minnesota has given up an average of 33.4 shots on net this year. Byfuglien doesn't have a goal yet, but that's sure to change, as he's never had fewer than 12 goals in a full season. Plus, he has six assists in eight games, so it's not like he's been completely lackluster offensively.
