NHL DFS Slate Preview: Top Goalie Picks, Value Forwards & Line Stack Tips for Dec. 9 Games

We got plenty of action with 10 games set for tonight. Half of those matches begin at 7:00 p.m. ET (Tampa Bay at Montreal, New Jersey at Ottawa, Vegas visits the Islanders, San Jose at Philadelphia, Anaheim at Pittsburgh), followed by starts at 7:30 (Columbus at Carolina), 8:00 (Boston at St. Louis, Dallas at Winnipeg), 9:00 (Buffalo at Edmonton) and 9:30 (Colorado at Nashville).

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SLATE PREVIEW

Tampa Bay and Buffalo are each in the second half of a back-to-back, so fatigue might be a factor working against those squads. The Lightning might be especially tired because this will be their third game in four days, fourth in six and fifth in eight.

Top Goalie Picks with Strong Recent Statistics

Scott Wedgewood, COL at NAS ($8,100): Wedgewood is set to make his return from a back injury Tuesday, which marks the resumption of a great campaign. He's13-1-3 with a 2.07 GAA and a .920 save percentage through 19 appearances this year. Nashville ranks 29th in goals per game with 2.61 and has a 10-14-4 record.

Akira Schmid, VGK at NYI ($7,700): Schmid has a 10-2-4 record, 2.35 GAA and .903 save percentage in 16 outings in 2025-26. The availability of Carter Hart will likely eat into Schmid's playing time, and his role becomes precarious once Adin Hill (lower body) is ready to return. All the same, Schmid is a nice goalie to take when he starts, thanks in no small part to the fantastic team in front of him.

Jeremy Swayman, BOS at STL ($7,300): Swayman has been excellent lately with a 4-2-0 record, 2.05 GAA and .935 save percentage over his past six appearances. The Blues are a favorable opponent with their 11-12-7 record and just 2.57 goals per game, which ranks 30th in the league.

Undervalued Forward Players Poised to Outperform

Brayden Point, TBL at MON ($5,100): Point has recorded over 40 goals and 80 points in each of his past three regular seasons, so having him this cheap is a steal. Granted, he got off to a slow start with three goals and 11 points through his first 21 appearances, and then he missed seven consecutive games due to an undisclosed injury. However, he returned Monday, and given his track record, it's fair to believe the 29-year-old will pick up the pace offensively.

Fabian Zetterlund, OTT vs. NJD ($4,000): Zetterlund has taken 17 shots over his past eight games, which is an above-average pace for him this campaign compared to his 45 shots in 28 outings overall, and that's paid off with five goals and six points in that eight-game span. It's unusual for him to score anywhere close to this rate, but he's a nice selection while it lasts.

Thomas Novak, PIT vs. ANA ($3,900): Novak is on a three-game scoring streak and has two goals and six points across his past five outings. That gives Novak four goals and 13 points through 27 appearances in 2025-26.

High Yield Forward Line Stack Strategies

Dallas Stars at Winnipeg Jets - 8:00 p.m. ET

Wyatt Johnston (C - $7,800), Mikko Rantanen (W - $7,800), Sam Steel (W - $4,200)

Rantanen is on a six-game scoring streak in which he's collected three goals and 11 points. That brings him up to 13 goals and 39 points in 29 outings this year. Johnston is a great linemate for him with 16 goals and 34 points in 30 appearances in 2025-26, including five goals and 13 points in his past eight games.

Steel isn't noteworthy offensively with four goals and 10 points in 30 appearances this season, so you might want to sub him out for Jason Robertson (W - $7,900), provided you can afford the upgrade. Robertson has an incredible 15 goals and 25 points in his past 15 appearances, and he's projected to play alongside Rantanen and Johnston on the top power-play unit.

Colorado Avalanche at Nashville Predators - 9:30 p.m. ET

Nathan MacKinnon (C - $8,400), Martin Necas (W - $7,600), Artturi Lehkonen (W - $6,500)

MacKinnon has been the best forward this season with 24 goals and 49 points in 29 appearances. He's showing no signs of slowing, either with seven goals and 12 points across his past seven outings. Necas is naturally overshadowed by his linemate, but he's having a great campaign too, with 14 goals and 39 points in 29 outings, including a goal and 11 points over his last seven appearances.

Lehkonen is holding his own with his elite linemates, supplying 10 goals and 25 points through 29 outings, so he's not a bad grab to round out the line.

Offensive Defensemen Big Point Producers

Evan Bouchard, EDM vs. BUF ($6,900): Bouchard has accumulated two goals and 10 points across his past six appearances. The Sabres are fatigued given that they're playing for the second straight night and they rank 30th in goals per game with 3.55, so the Oilers defenseman is in a good position to add to his offensive totals.

Jake Sanderson, OTT vs. NJD ($6,700): Sanderson is having a strong campaign with six goals and 23 points in 28 outings in 2025-26. He's been especially effective lately, collecting three goals and eight points across his last six appearances.

Darren Raddysh, TBL at MON ($5,600): Raddysh had a slow start to the season with a goal and three points across his first 11 appearances, but he's completely turned things around with two goals and 15 points in his last 12 outings.