This article is part of our FantasyDraft NHL series.
Friday is Groundhog Day, but I can't tell you if we'll have an early spring or six more weeks of winter. What I can tell you is the players I recommend for your daily fantasy lineup from the four NHL games on the slate.
GOALIE
Columbus Blue Jackets, CLM vs. SAN ($16,200): The Sharks have been struggling a bit recently, as they've lost four games in a row. Now they had to head on the road to take on the Blue Jackets. In January, Sergei Bobrovsky had a 2.30 GAA and a .932 save percentage in nine games. Those are impressive numbers from the defending Vezina Trophy winner.
CENTER
Eric Staal, MIN vs. VGK ($12,600): The Golden Knights will be on the road for the second night of a back-to-back, so don't expect them to be up to their usual standards. Vegas has a team GAA of 3.00 away from home, and a 3.56 team GAA on zero days of rest. Both of those facts bode well for Staal, who has 20 goals and 23 assists in 50 games. On top of that, the veteran center has six points in his last five contests.
Dylan Larkin, DET at CAR ($12,500): Though Carolina is at home, they are another team playing on zero days of rest. Since Cam Ward started Thursday, Scott Darling (3.02 GAA, .892 save percentage) will likely get the start in this one. Larkin may only have eight goals, but he has 30 assists. His 38 points lead the Red Wings, and his 121 shots on net are second on Detroit.
WING
Artemi Panarin, CLM vs. SAN ($12,500): Panarin has started a whopping 65.1 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, second on the Blue Jackets. He's also tallied 13 goals in 50 games despite having a 9.3 shooting percentage well below his career average. Don't be surprised if the goals start coming for the Russian, who has three goals in his last eight games. January was a month to forget for the Sharks. San Jose had a 3.29 team GAA in 14 games.
Anthony Mantha, DET at CAR ($10,500): Heading into Thursday, the Hurricanes had a 3.04 team GAA and a .896 save percentage. Having to play a second game in as many nights isn't going to do that defense any favors. Carolina also has the 26th-ranked penalty kill. Mantha has 10 points with the extra man in 47 games, including seven goals.
Bryan Rust, PIT vs. WAS ($6,000): Since returning to action, Rust has four points in three games. That's a small sample size, but what's arguably more interesting is that Rust is currently on the top line of Pittsburgh's depth chart, which means he's skating alongside Sidney Crosby. The Capitals have been surprisingly bad on defense away from home. In road games, Washington has a 3.39 team GAA, and it has given up 33.3 shots on net per tilt.
DEFENSEMEN
Ryan Suter, MIN vs. VGK ($9,500): Though Suter plays a ton of minutes (26:46 per game), he isn't losing his legs as the season progresses; he's tallied eight points in his last nine contests, and four of those have come with the extra man. Since the Golden Knights are on the road for the second night of a back-to-back, there is no reason to fear this matchup with Vegas. Plus, Suter has blocked 85 shots in 50 games. He can add some fantasy value that way.
Mike Green, DET at CAR ($8,900): Green is now a cagey veteran of 32, but he still had enough life in his legs to be named an All-Star this year. He's tallied 26 points in 49 games, but that notably includes 13 power-play points. As previously noted, the Hurricanes have the 26th-ranked penalty kill, and they are on the second night of a back-to-back.
