This article is part of our FantasyDraft NHL series.
Friday is not always a day where a lot of work gets done, and that's true in the NHL this week as well. There are only two games on the slate, so your daily fantasy lineups options are limited. Still, some players are better choices than others, and these are some of the choices I would make.
GOALIE
Detroit Red Wings, DET vs. BUF ($16,300):Jimmy Howard has picked up where he left off when he got injured last season, as he has a 2.32 GAA and .930 save percentage. Buffalo, meanwhile, has only scored 2.44 goals per game. Meanwhile, the Sabres have a team GAA of 3.56, so the chances of the Wings picking up a win seem strong Friday.
CENTER
Dylan Larkin, DET vs. BUF ($10,900): After picking up three points in Detroit's rout of Calgary on Wednesday, Larkin now has 18 points in 19 games. That's despite the fact he only has three goals, owing to a 6.3 shooting percentage which is well below his career average. As was just noted, the Sabres have a team GAA of 3.56, and their team save percentage is a paltry .888.
Nick Foligno, CLM vs. NYR ($9,800): After a hot start, Foligno has been on a bit of a scoring drought. However, he's also played a career high in ice time (19:58) and power-play time (2:56). Eventually, he's going to snap out of his funk. Perhaps it will be against the Rangers. New York has a team GAA of 3.37, and Henrik Lundqvist has a .904 save percentage. With only four teams in action, it's worth betting on Foligno getting back on the score sheet.
WING
Anthony Mantha, DET vs. BUF ($11,300): Mantha has 19 points in 19 games, but he's been even better recently. Over his last eight contests, he has 11 points, including five on the power play. Overall, Mantha has seven points with the extra man. Buffalo's penalty kill has been middling, which shouldn't threaten Mantha, and its 3.56 team GAA is definitely favorable.
Jason Pominville, BUF at DET ($10,500): If you want to expand your horizons beyond Wings and Jackets, consider Pominville. He's started a whopping 66.1 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, most of any Sabre. That has probably helped him notched six goals and seven assists to start the season. Detroit has allowed 33.6 shots on net per game, so Pominville may get a few opportunities in this one.
Josh Anderson, CLM vs. NYR ($7,400): Anderson has started 58.2 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, fourth-most on Columbus. He's averaging 4:40 more minutes per game than last year when he scored 17 goals. Anderson has made the most of his extra ice time, as he already has seven goals in 17 contests. Since the Rangers have a team GAA of 3.37, Anderson is quite enticing at this price in this matchup.
DEFENSEMEN
Zach Werenski, CLM vs. NYR ($9,400): After bursting onto the scene as a rookie (47 points, 21 on the power play) last season, Werenski has 11 points in 19 games this year. He's also playing even more on the power play, as he's averaged 3:04 per game with the extra man. Werenski has already shown himself to be a dynamic offensive player at the age of 20, and I've already gone into the defensive issues the Rangers have had this year.
Niklas Kronwall, DET vs. BUF ($5,900): To be perfectly frank, after the top five defensemen playing Friday, there is a steep drop off in quality. Kronwall hasn't done a ton offensively, but what he has done is start 74.2 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, a massive number for any player, let alone a defenseman. The Sabres have also posted a 3.56 team GAA. Kronwall is incredibly cheap, which would give you a lot of money to spend elsewhere. If he can take advantage of his starting ice position and this matchup, then he'll be a huge steal.
