This article is part of our FantasyDraft NHL series.
Sure, the whole "bomb cyclone" thing sounded silly, but then an NHL game got postponed Thursday. Hopefully, the weather doesn't cause any chaos when it comes to Friday's five contests. Here are some players I'd suggest trying to put into your lineup for daily fantasy purposes.
GOALIE
Winnipeg Jets, WPG vs. BUF ($16,600): This is just too enticing a matchup to say no to. Not only are the Sabres on the road for the second night of a back-to-back, but they have scored the fewest goals per game in the NHL. That would bode well for the Jets, even if Connor Hellebuyck (2.38 GAA, .922 save percentage) wasn't playing so well in his own right.
CENTER
Sidney Crosby, PIT at NYI ($14,500): Yes, Crosby is having a "down" year by his standards, but he still has 14 goals and 22 assists through 42 games. He also has as established a track record as you are going to find in this league. Both of these teams are on the second night of a back-to-back, but the Islanders are the ones with the worst team GAA in the NHL. New York also has the 30th-ranked penalty kill, and Crosby has 19 points with the extra man.
Dylan Larkin, DET vs. FLA ($12,400): The Panthers may get an extra day of rest thanks to their game Thursday being postponed, but the chaos of having to travel from Boston to Detroit in this weather certainly isn't going to be beneficial. Larkin has also been red-hot recently, as he has 10 points and 34 shots on net in his last 10 tilts. The Panthers have allowed a league-high 35.5 shots on goal per game, so Larkin should have plenty of opportunities in this one.
WING
Nikolaj Ehlers, WPG vs. BUF ($13,000): Ehlers seems to be getting progressively better every season, and this year he already has 17 goals on 121 shots through 41 tilts. He's been great since the beginning of December, as he's tallied 12 points and 55 shots in 16 games since then. Buffalo had a team GAA of 3.28 before playing Friday night, and it had allowed 32.7 shots on net per contest.
Jordan Eberle, NYI vs. PIT ($10,200): Eberle has started 55.6 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, and he's notched 14 goals in 41 games in his first season with the Islanders. The longtime Oiler has at least 20 goals in his last four campaigns, so he knows how to light the lamp. The Penguins have been particularly woeful on the second night of back-to-backs. They have a league-worst 4.75 team GAA on zero days of rest.
Alex DeBrincat, CHI vs. VGK ($9,400): The Golden Knights will be on the road for the second night of a back-to-back. As you likely know, they have been much worse away from the bright lights of Las Vegas. The Knights had a 3.33 team GAA before on the road before Thursday's game, and they've posted a 3.43 team GAA with zero days of rest. DeBrincat, for his part, has 13 goals and 13 assists through 39 contests.
DEFENSEMEN
Keith Yandle, FLA at DET ($9,100): Somewhat surprisingly, the 31-year-old Yandle has averaged 24:50 per game in ice time, which is a career high for him. He's also played 3:18 a night with the extra man, and he's had at least 18 points on the power play in his last four campaigns. The Red Wings have a 3.05 team GAA, and they've given up 32.2 shots on net per contest. Their 16th-ranked penalty kill isn't bad, but it certainly won't worry Yandle.
Justin Schultz, PIT at NYI ($7,300): Schultz just returned from injury, and he's looked no worse for the wear so far. He's also averaged 2:26 per game on the power play, and last year with the Penguins he notched 20 points with the extra man. As previously noted, the Islanders have the 30th-ranked penalty kill. Of course, New York has the worst team GAA in the league overall, so regardless of the circumstances this is a great matchup for the now-healthy Schultz.
