This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
Happy New Year! What will 2019 bring to you? Well, for starters, three NHL games Tuesday, including the Winter Classic between the Bruins and Blackhawks. It's always a little iffy to include players from that game in your daily fantasy lineup, but with only three games on the slate, you may have to. Here are my recommendations…
GOALIE
Marc-Andre Fleury, VGK vs. LOS ($9,100): The math on this one is easy. Vegas has the best home GAA in the league. The Kings have scored the fewest goals per game, and they are on the road for the second night of a back-to-back. You can draw your own conclusion from that, right?
CENTER
Paul Stastny, VGK vs. LOS ($6,000): So now we know why the Golden Knights wanted Stastny this offseason. He's finally gotten healthy, and he has a goal and an assist in each of his last three games. The Kings will be on the road for the second game of a back-to-back, while Stastny and crew will be well-rested. Also, Stastny should start getting more power-play time now that he's integrated into the lineup, and Los Angeles has the 30th-ranked penalty kill.
Ryan Johansen, NAS vs. PHI ($5,600): Johansen has 34 points through 40 games, and he's playing a career high in minutes (and power-play minutes). The Flyers have the third-highest GAA in the league, to which you might reply, "but, Carter Hart!" Well, Hart started Monday, which means he likely won't be starting this one, or he will be playing a back-to-back for the first time in his NHL career.
WING
Jake DeBrusk, BOS at CHI ($5,000): DeBrusk has started 64.2 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, fourth most among Boston forwards. He was dealing with an injury for a while, but he has a point in each of his two games since returning. As for the Blackhawks, they have a 3.61 GAA, second worst in the NHL, and they have the league's worst penalty kill to boot.
Kevin Fiala, NAS vs. PHI ($4,600): Fiala has gotten even more favorable positioning than DeBrusk, as he's started 68.5 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, third highest on the Predators. He broke out with 23 goals last year, but the Swiss forward has been hurt this year by a career-low shooting percentage. Perhaps he will have better luck against the Flyers, especially if Michal Neuvirth (4.79 GAA, .835 save percentage) is in net.
Brandon Pirri, VGK vs. LOS ($4,000): Some are not be aware that Pirri has been tearing it up at the AHL level, as he leads that league in scoring even though he's been playing with the Golden Knights for a few games now. He's kept that hot play up, as the 27-year-old has seven points through six games. The Kings are middle-of-the-pack in GAA, but being on the road for the second game of a back-to-back will not help them. On that front, and though it is a small-sample size, they have a 3.60 GAA with zero days of rest this season.
DEFENSE
Torey Krug, BOS at CHI ($6,100): Krug has started 66.7 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, highest among Boston defensemen, and he's played a whopping 3:54 per game with the extra man. It's paid off, as he has 23 points through only 28 games, including 15 on the power play. Now he faces a Blackhawks team with the league's worst penalty kill. That should add up to success for Krug.
Mattias Ekholm, NAS vs. PHI ($4,300): The Predators have four very good defensemen, and Ekholm is the cheapest of the bunch. That's not because of a lack of production, as he has 25 points on the season. The Flyers have a 3.85 GAA on the road, and they are on the second night of a back-to-back, both of which bode well for the Swedish defensemen.
