This article is part of our FantasyDraft NHL series.
It's time to kick off the weekend! There are five NHL games Friday and, for some players, this will be their last weekend with their current team. However, this isn't a trade deadline article. It's a place for me to make recommendations for your daily fantasy lineup.
GOALIE
Pittsburgh Penguins, PIT at CAR ($16,600): The Penguins are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games and they've won five in a row. The Hurricanes, meanwhile, have lost their last three games. Matt Murray has also finally started to play better, as in his last eight games he's posted a 2.60 GAA and a .922 save percentage.
CENTER
Eric Staal, MIN at NYR ($13,300): Staal has tallied 17 points in his last 15 games, including five on the power play. The Rangers have a 3.12 team GAA and have allowed 34.0 shots on net per contest. New York is also on the second night of a back-to-back. Even though Henrik Lundqvist was saved for this game, he has a 3.78 GAA and a .892 save percentage in his last 17 outings. There's no reason to be afraid of King Henry at the moment.
Erik Haula, VGK vs. VAN ($13,100): Haula has seven goals and eight assists over his last 16 games, giving him 22 goals and 21 assists on the season. He's also tallied 14 points on the power play in his first year getting time with the extra man. The Canucks, for their part, have a 3.18 team GAA and also the 26th-ranked penalty kill. Additionally, Jacob Markstrom is banged up, so Anders Nilsson (3.34 GAA, .907 save percentage) may be in net.
WING
Mats Zuccarello, NYR vs. MIN ($11,500): The Wild have a 3.57 team GAA on the road, which is worst in the NHL. How could this matchup get any better for Zuccarello? Minnesota is also on the second night of a back-to-back. The pint-sized Norwegian has five points and 23 shots on net over his last seven games, and he's tallied 15 power-play points overall.
Timo Meier, SAN at CHI ($9,600): Meier has picked up his play recently, notching seven points in his last 10 contests. He's also currently skating on San Jose's top line and he's averaged 17:17 in ice time in his last 10 games. Corey Crawford is still banged up, leaving Anton Forsberg (2.90, .910 save percentage) as Chicago's top netminder for the time being.
Pavel Buchnevich, NYR vs. MIN ($7,800): Let's double up on Rangers given how good this matchup is for them. Again, the Wild have a 3.57 team GAA on the road and they've allowed 34.4 shots on net per contest in away games. Buchnevich has started 59.2 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, which is tops among Rangers forwards. He's also tallied two points in three games since returning from injury.
DEFENSEMEN
Ryan Suter, MIN at NYR ($10,700): Suter has tallied 38 points in 60 games, including 16 on the power play. He's also been on fire in 2018, as he has 14 points in his last 19 contests. The Rangers have struggled defensively this year, but especially since the All-Star break. Heading into their game Friday they had a 4.00 team GAA and had allowed 34.5 shots on net per game.
Colin Miller, VGK vs. VAN ($8,800): Miller has started 62.2 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, most of the Golden Knights. He's also averaged a career-high 19:03 per game this year, including 2:34 on the power play. That's paid off for him recently, as he has 12 points in his last 15 games, including six with the extra man. As previously noted, the Canucks have a 3.18 team GAA and the 26th-ranked penalty kill.
