This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
This is the last weekend before the NHL trade deadline, and it kicks off with five games Friday night. You don't need to make any trades, though. All you have to do is set your daily fantasy lineup, and here are my recommendations.
GOALIE
Jimmy Howard, DET vs. MIN ($7,400): Howard is on the trade block himself and he hasn't been great recently. That being said, he does have a 2.88 GAA and .910 save percentage, which aren't terrible numbers. What I'm really interested in, though, is the fact the Wild have only scored 2.72 goals per game. On top of that, they were in New York taking on the Rangers on Thursday night.
CENTER
Pierre-Luc Dubois, CLM at OTT ($5,800): Dubois has solidified himself as Columbus' top center with his performance in his sophomore campaign. The 22-year-old has 22 goals and 51 points in 59 games. While the Senators are better at home than on the road, they still have a 3.71 GAA, and they are still on the second night of a back-to-back in this one.
Carl Soderberg, COL at CHI ($4,500): Soderberg has already set a personal high with 19 goals, even though he's only played in 60 games. He's also thrown in 18 assists as Colorado's second-line center. The Senators and their 3.71 GAA may be highest in the league, but the Blackhawks are right behind them with a 3.70 GAA.
WING
Brandon Saad, CHI vs. COL ($5,500): Saad's first year back with the Blackhawks didn't go great, but he had a 7.6 shooting percentage holding him back. This year, his shooting percentage is up to 14.6, and not coincidentally he has 21 goals in 59 games. The Avalanche have somewhat collapsed defensively in the new year, which is why they now have a 3.39 road GAA.
Anthony Mantha, DET vs. MIN ($5,100): Mantha has turned heads recently, as over his last five games he has eight points and 26 shots on net. As previously noted, the Wild are on the road for the second game of a back-to-back. Alex Stalock, who has mostly been riding the pine recently, will likely be in net. That bodes well for Mantha, as Stalock has a 3.08 GAA and .890 save percentage.
Matthew Tkachuk, CGY vs. ANA ($5,000): Tkachuk has been a consistent player even since he was a rookie but he's definitely taken his game to a new level this year. He's tallied 59 points in 60 games, including 21 with the extra man. The Ducks, no longer being bolstered by a Herculean performance from John Gibson, have a 3.23 GAA on the road and have given up 34.6 shots on net per contest in those matchups.
DEFENSE
Seth Jones, CLM at OTT ($5,500): Jones hasn't scored a goal in a while, but he has seven assists in his last 10 games, including three on the power play. Like Tyson Barrie, Jones could light the lamp Friday given his matchup. The Senators have a 3.71 GAA and have allowed 36.4 shots on net per game, and they are on the second night of a back-to-back as well.
Tyson Barrie, COL at CHI ($5,200): Sure, Barrie doesn't have a goal in his last 10 games but he's put 33 shots on net in those contests, so that won't continue. Plus, he's averaged a whopping 4:13 per game with the extra man, notching 19 power-play points in 59 contests. That could easily pay off in this matchup, as the Blackhawks have the bottom-ranked penalty kill.
