This article is part of our FantasyDraft NHL series.
Thank God it's Friday, and thank god there's hockey. The NHL is giving us four games on the schedule, which is a fine way to kick off the weekend. Here are some players I recommend for your daily fantasy lineup.
GOALIE
Winnipeg Jets, WPG vs. COL ($16,600): The Jets are 21-5-2 at home, while the Avalanche are 11-14-3 on the road. Though Colorado has scored 3.13 goals per game, it's only put 29.5 shots on net per contest. Given that he has two backups injured, it's pretty much a lock Connor Hellebuyck will start in this game. That's good for the Jets, and fantasy players, as he has a 2.37 GAA and a .922 save percentage.
CENTER
Sean Couturier, PHI at CLM ($14,100): Couturier has 57 points in 57 games, including six in his last four. He's also averaged 3:19 per game with the extra man, notching 11 points with that time. The Blue Jackets have the 27th-ranked penalty kill, and they've also struggled a bit defensively recently. Since the All-Star break, they have a 3.14 team GAA.
Pierre-Luc DuBois, CLM vs. PHI ($10,400): DuBois has risen to the role of first-line center for the Blue Jackets, and he's started 67.0 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone. That's tops on Columbus. Though he's only averaged 1:47 per game on the power play, that number is up to 2:27 over his last 20 contests. He also has 10 power-play points in 57 games. More success with the extra man is possible here, as the Flyers have the 28th-ranked penalty kill.
WING
Jeff Skinner, CAR vs. NYI ($12,700): Skinner has started 69.0 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, most of the Hurricanes. He's put 197 shots on goal through 57 games, and now he's going up against an Islanders team who rank last in team GAA and shots allowed per game. New York is also on the road for the second night of a back-to-back. With zero days of rest, the Islanders have a 4.00 team GAA and they've allowed 35.9 shots on net per contest.
Anders Lee, NYI at CAR ($12,100): Lee has 29 goals through 58 games, thanks in part to the fact he generally gets to skate alongside John Tavares. The Minnesotan has also started 54.6 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, most among the Islanders' regular forwards. Carolina is on the second night of a back-to-back. Since Cam Ward started Thursday, there's a good chance Scott Darling (2.99 GAA, .894 save percentage) will be in net for this one.
Wayne Simmonds, PHI at CLM ($10,400): Simmonds has averaged 3:34 per game on the power play, and he's tallied 10 goals and six assists with the extra man. That's encouraging heading into this matchup because as previously mentioned the Blue Jackets have the 27th-ranked penalty kill. Simmonds has at least 21 power-play points in his last four seasons, so we know that he can handle his business on the power play.
DEFENSEMEN
Seth Jones, CLM vs. PHI ($11,800): Jones has grown quite proficient at putting pucks on the net. He's tallied 187 shots through 57 games, and he has 31 shots in his last six contests. Jones has also averaged 2:39 per game with the extra man while tallying 12 power-play points. As noted earlier, the Flyers have the 28th-ranked penalty kill.
Justin Faulk, CAR vs. NYI ($10,600): Faulk reminded people of his offensive skill when he posted a hat trick against the Kings, even if he hasn't quite been up to his old standards this season. In his previous three campaigns, the 25-year-old has registered at least 15 goals. The Islanders have a 3.67 team GAA and will be on the second night of a back-to-back. New York also has the 30th-ranked penalty kill, and Faulk has 14 power-play points.
