This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
Finally, the NHL really feels like it's back in the swing of things. After what felt like essentially an extended All-Star break, there were a handful of games Friday. And for Saturday, there are 11 games on the evening slate. Here are my recommendations for your daily fantasy lineup.
GOALIE
Connor Hellebuyck, WPG vs. ANA ($8,600): Hellebuyck hasn't been quite as good as last season, but he does have a 2.63 GAA and .919 save percentage over his last 19 games. However, he should be able to remind us of the goalie he was last year against the lowly Ducks. Anaheim has only averaged 2.29 goals and 27.1 shots on goal per game.
CENTER
Dylan Larkin, DET at OTT ($6,900): Larkin has carried the Red Wings offense at times by notching 22 goals on 199 shots and adding 27 assists. Both the Wings and Senators are playing the second night of a back-to-back, but the Sens enter with a league-worst 3.74 GAA and the 29th-ranked penalty kill.
Kevin Hayes, NYR vs. TAM ($5,500): Hayes has looked fine since returning from injury, with two power-play points and seven shots on net in two games. Overall, he's tallied 35 points in 41 games. The Lightning will be on the road for the second game of a back-to-back, and Louis Domingue – with his 2.99 GAA and .905 save percentage – is in line to get the start in this one.
WING
Zach Parise, MIN vs. CHI ($7,000): Parise has life left in his legs, with 44 points in 50 games. He's also averaged 2:43 per game with the extra man. The Blackhawks, who come in with a 3.71 GAA, also own the league's worst penalty kill. That bodes well for Parise if he gets some good power-play time.
Ryan Dzingel, OTT vs. DET ($6,400): It's easy to overlook players on the Senators unless you are scouting potential trade targets, but Dzingel has potted 20 goals on the year. He's also notched 14 points over his last 12 contests. The Wings have struggled to a 3.64 road GAA, and they are on the second night of a back-to-back. Additionally, Jonathan Bernier and his .892 save percentage are expected in net for Detroit.
Sven Baertschi, VAN at COL ($4,600): Baertschi is currently skating on Vancouver's top line with Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser, which certainly can't damage his fantasy potential. Since returning from injury, the Swiss forward has racked up seven points in 11 games. January proved to be an awful month for Colorado's goalies, as they sported a 3.90 GAA and a staggering .848 save percentage during that time.
DEFENSE
Jared Spurgeon, MIN vs. CHI ($5,300): Spurgeon has notched eight goals and 21 assists in 51 games this year. Though he only has five power-play points, he totaled 13 last year in 61 contests. And since the Blackhawks boast the league's worst penalty kill, you don't exactly have to be Brent Burns to have success with the extra man. The fact Chicago is on the second day of a back-to-back doesn't hurt either.
Nick Leddy, NYI vs. LOS ($4,500): Leddy has only recorded 18 points, but that's with an 1.5 shooting percentage that seems almost guaranteed to improve. Besides, he's averaged 3:13 per game with the extra man, tallying 10 power-play points in 50 games. That's encouraging in this matchup, as the Kings come in with the 30th-ranked penalty kill.
