This article is part of our FantasyDraft NHL series.
Nobody wants Jack Frost nipping at their nose, so why not stay home Thursday to watch one or more of the 10 NHL games on the slate? Also, why not play some daily fantasy hockey as well? Here are some recommendations for your lineup…
GOALIE
San Jose Sharks, SAN vs. VAN ($16,400): If we can get a confirmation that the Sharks will be wise and give Aaron Dell (1.75 GAA, .939 save percentage) the start over the struggling Martin Jones, this looks even better. Regardless, the Sharks have only allowed 29.6 shots on net per game, and they have the second-ranked penalty kill. The Canucks are in the bottom four in goals per game (2.66), and they've also only notched 29.2 shots on goal per contest.
CENTER
Brayden Point, TAM vs. OTT ($12,800): Sure, Point didn't get a point in his last game, but that broke a seven-game scoring streak where he notched five goals and five assists. Overall, he has 31 points in 33 tilts. The Senators have a team GAA of 3.28, fifth worst in the league, and their goalies have a collective save percentage of .894.
Adam Henrique, ANA at NYI ($9,400): Since moving to the Ducks, Henrique has eight points in 10 games. Ryan Getzlaf has returned, so Henrique has moved down the depth chart, but he's still played hearty minutes and has 24 points total in 34 games this year. Regardless, this is a great matchup for the veteran pivot. The Islanders have the league's worst team GAA (3.50), and they are also at the bottom of the barrel in penalty-kill percentage.
WING
Phil Kessel, PIT vs. CLM ($14,800): Kessel has been an offensive dynamo once again. He's notched 15 goals and 38 points in 35 games, put 135 shots on net and registered 19 power-play points. The Blue Jackets are going to be on the road for the second night of a back-to-back, and they will be starting Sergei Bobrovsky. Normally, that would be a reason for concern, but Bob has struggled recently. In his last eight outings he has a 3.81 GAA and .878 save percentage.
Tyler Toffoli, LOS vs. COL ($11,500): Toffoli has tallied 115 shots on goal through 35 games, most of any King. In that time, he's notched 16 goals, including three in his last five tilts. Now he gets to square off with an Avalanche team that has a team GAA of 3.27 and has allowed 32.1 shots on net per contest.
Kevin Labanc, SAN vs. VAN ($6,200): Labanc has started 63.1 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, most of any San Jose forward. He also has five points in his last five games despite a 5.9 shooting percentage that will likely improve. Meanwhile, in his last 15 games, Jacob Markstrom has a 2.99 GAA and .902 save percentage. Vancouver also has a bottom-10 penalty kill, and Labanc has seven power-play points.
DEFENSEMEN
Drew Doughty, LOS vs. COL ($11,000): Doughty has been in a bit of a scoring lull recently, but even with that he's averaged 13.91 fantasy points per contest. He's tallied 25 points in 35 games, and the 27-year-old has averaged 3:16 per game on the power play. As previously noted, the Avalanche have a team GAA of 3.27.
Johnny Boychuk, NYI vs. ANA ($8,900): Boychuk has put a whopping 95 shots on net in 31 games, which bodes quite well heading into this matchup. The Ducks have allowed 35.3 shots on goal, second most in the NHL. The veteran defenseman should have the chance to put a few pucks on target. He's also blocked 73 shots, so he adds a little fantasy value on that front.
