This article is part of our FantasyDraft NHL series.
Friday is the last day before the big Christmas weekend, presuming you haven't gotten an early start on your celebration. Why not work Friday's four NHL games into the festivities? Here are the players I recommend targeting for your daily fantasy lineup.
GOALIE
Philadelphia Flyers, PHI at BUF ($16,600): Sure, the Flyers are on the road, but the Sabres are a lowly 4-10-2 at home, so there is no reason to fear. In fact, there is basically no reason to fear Buffalo at all, as it has a league-worst 2.12 goals per game average. Brian Elliott won't have any reason to fret, as he has a 1.98 GAA and a .931 save percentage in his last eight outings.
CENTER
Nicklas Backstrom, WAS at ARI ($13,500): Backstrom has a point in his last three games, and eight in his last seven contests. That includes four goals, which is notable as the Swede has been primarily known as a playmaker (even if he scored 23 goals last season). It would not be surprising in the slightest if Backstrom kept his scoring streak going, as the Coyotes have a 3.44 team GAA, second worst in the NHL.
Sean Monahan, CGY vs. MON ($13,300): Monahan has started 61.2 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, third most on the Flames. He's used that to his advantage, as he has 17 goals and 14 assists in 35 games. Nine of those points have come on the power play, and he's averaged 3:38 per game with the extra man. Carey Price has been better since returning from injury, but in his last six contests he has a 3.54 GAA and a .899 save percentage. Montreal has the 25th-ranked penalty kill as well.
WING
T.J. Oshie, WAS at ARI ($11,600): Oshie seemed no worse for the wear in his first game back from injury, as he played 19:08, including 5:36 on the power play. He's averaged 3:33 per game with the extra man and has notched 11 power-play points in 29 tilts. Though Arizona's penalty kill has been pretty good, it's kind of hard to believe that will continue considering the Coyotes have a team GAA of 3.44 and a team save percentage of .895.
Mikael Granlund, MIN at FLA ($11,500): Granlund notched 26 goals last year, and though he only has seven this season he has 14 assists, and he's getting more opportunity. The Finn is averaging a career high in minutes (19:34) and power-play time (2:52). Don't be surprised if Granlund adds to his goal total in this one. The Panthers have a team GAA of 3.38, and they've given up a whopping 35.4 shots on net per contest, most in the NHL.
Alex Galchenyuk, MON at CGY ($11,200): Galchenyuk can be a bit of a whipping boy, but the fact is the third overall pick of the 2012 NHL Draft has 11 points in his last 11 contests. On top of that, he has eight power-play points in 34 tilts. That bodes well heading into this matchup, as the Flames have the 26th-ranked penalty kill.
DEFENSEMEN
Shayne Gostisbehere, PHI at BUF ($12,100): Gostisbehere has been putting a lot of pucks on net (89 in 31 games) and has six points in his last six contests. Overall, he has 26 points in 31 games, including 16 on the power play. The Sabres have allowed 32.0 shots on net per game, and they also have a 3.32 team GAA.
Mathew Dumba, MIN at FLA ($9,300): The Wild have a few notable defensemen, but Dumba is the one with four points and eight shots on net in his last three games. The Panthers, as previously noted, have allowed a league-high 35.4 shots on net per tilt. That's not good, especially with James Reimer (3.38 GAA, .901 save percentage) starting for Florida with Roberto Luongo out due to injury.
