This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
This weekend, if you're a sports fan, your mind might be on college basketball. Before that happens, don't forget about the six NHL games Friday night. Here are my recommendations for your daily fantasy hockey lineup.
GOALIE
Semyon Varlamov, COL vs. ANA ($7,700): Varlamov has been on top of his game recently, as he has a 2.53 GAA and .924 save percentage in his last 12 starts. Not that a goalie needs to stand on his head against the Ducks. Anaheim ranks last in goals and shots per game, and if that's not enough, they are on the road for the second game of a back-to-back.
CENTER
Bo Horvat, VAN vs. NJD ($5,700): With a point in each of his last two games, Horvat now has 50 points on the season. He's also put 204 shots on net, which dwarfs his previous personal best. Now he's taking on a Devils team that has a 4.00 GAA and has given up 34.0 shots on net per contest on the road.
Mikael Backlund, CGY vs. NYR ($5,700): A point in each of your last two games is good, but Backlund has four points in his last two outings. If you want a bigger sample size, the Swede has six goals and seven assists over his last 13 contests. Like their tri-state brethren, the Rangers struggle on the road. They have a 3.82 GAA in away games.
WING
Andreas Johnsson, TOR vs. PHI ($4,500): Apparently today is the day for players who have two-game point streaks. Johnsson is also in that camp, ending a five-game pointless streak he had prior to that. On the season, the rookie has 20 goals in 63 games, and he gets to skate on Auston Matthews' wing. While the goaltending in Philadelphia has gotten better with Carter Hart and Brian Elliott, the Flyers are still a team on the road for the second game of a back-to-back.
Josh Leivo, VAN vs. NJD ($4,300): Leivo may not be a big name, but he's notched four points in his last eight games, two of which have come with the extra man. Additionally, the Canucks have been switching lines around a lot recently, and the 25-year-old is currently on the top line. That makes him feel like a good value against the Devils, who have a 4.00 road GAA.
Derick Brassard, COL vs. ANA ($3,800): With Gabriel Landeskog out, Brassard is skating on Colorado's top line, and he's also getting a healthy amount of power-play time. In his last four games, Brassard has averaged 3:38 per game with the extra man. The Ducks have the 21st-ranked penalty kill, but they are also on the road for the second night of a back-to-back, which won't improve their play on that front.
DEFENSE
Tyson Barrie, COL vs. ANA ($5,300): Barrie has notched 47 points in 66 games. He's also put 183 shots on net, a new personal best. As for the Ducks, they've allowed 33.5 shots on net per contest on the road and are also on the second leg of a back-to-back. The veteran defenseman should be able to get plenty of pucks on goal.
Brady Skjei, NYR at CGY ($3,900): Skjei has picked it up a bit recently, as he has three goals and three assists in his last 10 contests. You may be wary about using him on the road, but actually this matchup is better than you might imagine. Surprisingly, the Flames have a 3.29 GAA at home. That's second worst in the NHL.
