This article is part of our FantasyDraft NHL series.
It's a light Wednesday in the NHL, with only three games on the slate. Maybe you can get in some late Christmas shopping. However, be sure to pick your daily fantasy lineup first, perhaps using some of these players.
GOALIE
Philadelphia Flyers, PHI vs. DET ($17,300): The Red Wings scored six goals Tuesday, but that was against the Islanders, and also that means Detroit is on the road for the second night of a back-to-back. Before their outburst, the Wings had averaged only 2.63 goals per game. Meanwhile, in his last seven outings, Brian Elliott has a 1.84 GAA and a .936 save percentage.
CENTER
Paul Stastny, STL at CGY ($11,800): Stastny's scoring has cooled down a bit, but he's averaged 10.42 fantasy points per contest. He's also averaged 3:04 per game on the power play, and the Flames have the 27th ranked penalty kill. Calgary also has a team GAA of 2.94 and has allowed 33.2 shots on net per contest.
Pierre-Luc Dubois, CLM vs. TOR ($10,400): Dubois has started 64.6 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, second most on the Jackets, and he's now the first-line center for Columbus. His offense has picked up recently as well, as the 19-year-old rookie has nine points in his last 11 tilts. The Maple Leafs have allowed 34.0 shots on net per game, and they will technically be on the second night of a back-to-back (they played Tuesday afternoon). Backup Curtis McElhinney will be in net for Toronto, another point in Dubois' favor.
WING
Wayne Simmonds, PHI vs DET ($11,800): Simmonds' scoring is down a bit this year, but he has 10 goals, and he's notched five points in his last seven contests. Philly definitely has the best matchup of any team in action Wednesday. Detroit is on the road for the second night of a back-to-back, and Jimmy Howard had a 3.68 GAA and a .872 save percentage in his last 12 contests.
Alexander Steen, STL at CGY ($10,100): Steen only has three goals, but he also has a 4.2 shooting percentage.. That would be the worst of his career, so it will likely improve. Plus, he has 14 assists in 29 games, and he's notched eight points on the power play. The Flames have a 2.94 team GAA, and that's with Mike Smith posting a .918 save percentage that would be the best of his career since the 2011-12 season.
Tomas Tatar, DET at PHI ($8,600): Philly's overall defensive numbers are pretty good, but it has really struggled on the penalty kill. The Flyers rank 28th on that front. Tatar has seven points with the extra man, including six goals. He also has a point in three straight games. At this price, it's worth seeing if Tatar's power-play prowess continues.
DEFENSE
Shayne Gostisbehere, PHI vs. DET ($11,700): Gostisbehere is tearing it up offensively once again. He's tallied 25 points (16 on the power play) and put 85 shots on goal in 30 games. This is why he's averaged a whopping 13.93 fantasy points per contest. Before their game Tuesday night, the Red Wings had a team GAA of 3.19 and they had allowed 31.8 shots on net per tilt. As previously mentioned, Howard has been struggling mightily recently as well.
Seth Jones, CLM vs. TOR ($10,300): The Maple Leafs have given up 34.0 shots on net per game, and Jones has registered 103 shots in 34 contests. That's second most on the Blue Jackets, and in his last eight tilts he has five points and 27 shots on goal. Jones should be able to get a few pucks on net, and with McElhinney in goal his chances of lighting the lamp are increased.
