This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
Sunday, the day before New Year's Eve, is a weird one for the NHL. There is only one game, and it's the Golden Knights visiting the Coyotes. And yet, you can still play daily fantasy hockey if you want. It will be using single-game competition rules. You pick three forwards, two defensemen, and a captain who is worth 1.5 times the points. Here is the lineup I would put together.
CAPTAIN
Jonathan Marchessault, VGK at ARI ($12,000): Marchessault has gone from being a surprise breakout player to one of the top forwards in the league in only a matter of a couple years. He scored 27 goals on a whopping 268 shots last season, and this year he has 13 on 146 shots through 41 games. Both of these teams are on the second leg of a back-to-back, so there isn't much of an advantage for either team. However, Darcy Kuemper will be in net for the Coyotes. Since returning from injury, he has posted a 2.87 GAA and .907 save percentage through six starts.
FORWARD
Paul Stastny, VGK at ARI ($10,500): Stastny is back from injury, and he's been making up for lost time. The 33-year-old has notched seven points in eight games since returning to action. Seems like he's finally found his footing in Vegas. As was just noted, Darcy Kuemper has had more issues getting his feet under him since returning from his own injury.
Alex Galchenyuk, ARI vs. VGK ($9,500): Moving onto the wing alongside Nick Schmaltz at center seems to have made something click for the former Canadien. Galchenyuk is riding a four-game point streak, which includes three points with the extra man. The Golden Knights will have Marc-Andre Fleury in net, but he only has managed a .908 save percentage. Beyond that, Vegas has struggled to a 3.36 GAA in away games.
Christian Fischer, ARI vs. VGK ($8,000): You've got to work a cheaper forward into the mix, and I like Fischer in that role. He's skating on Arizona's top line, and he's averaged more than two minutes per game on the power play. As previously noted, the Golden Knights sport a 3.36 road GAA, and they will be on the road for the second game of a back-to-back. On top of that, they come in with the 17th-ranked penalty kill in away games.
DEFENSE
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, ARI vs. VGK ($8,500): The Coyotes boast the league's top penalty kill, which makes it harder to recommend any Golden Knights defenders. On the other hand, Ekman-Larsson will be facing a Vegas penalty kill that ranks 17th on the road. The Swede has averaged 3:35 per game on the power play, and has recorded 10 points with the extra man through 38 contests.
Jakob Chychrun, ARI vs. VGK ($6,000): Chychrun is quite cheap for a defenseman who has averaged 9.3 fantasy points per game. The 21-year-old has also gotten hot, with a point in four of his last five outings. Now he faces Marc-Andre Fleury and his .908 save percentage behind a defense on the road for the second game of a back-to-back.
