When Santa gets busy, the NHL lays out. There aren’t any NHL games Sunday through Tuesday. However, Saturday there are a whopping 12 games on the slate starting at 7 p.m. EST or later. Here are my players to target, and to avoid, for your DFS lineups. Merry Christmas!
GOALIE
Jordan Binnington, STL vs. CHI ($29): Binnington’s season has been hit-or-miss, but Saturday he gets a visit from a Chicago team on the road for the second leg of a back-to-back. Chicago is in the bottom three in goals and shots on net allowed per game. That bodes well for Binnington.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Connor Ingram, ARI at COL ($31): Ingram has been a nice revelation for the Coyotes, as he has a 2.55 GAA and .919 save percentage. This matchup is akin to a lump of coal in the ol’ stocking for him, though. Colorado has the best offense in the NHL, I believe, as it has averaged 3.64 goals and 32.4 shots on net per game.
CENTER
Dylan Cozens, BUF at NYR ($20): Cozens recently had a three-point game against Vegas and a two-point game against Columbus. The Rangers are on the second leg of a back-to-back, and Igor Shesterkin is in line to start this matchup. While he’s won a Vezina, he has a .906 save percentage this season.
CENTER TO AVOID
Tomas Hertl, SAN at VAN ($20): The Sharks have had to really pile it on Hertl’s shoulders, and he’s averaged 21:01 per game in ice time. He’s produced, even with no talent around him, but this matchup is tough for the one-man show. Thatcher Demko has a 2.40 GAA and .920 save percentage.
WING
Jake Guentzel, PIT at OTT ($25): Guentzel has done everything he usually does this year, save for power-play production. That has changed, though. He has four power-play points over his last five games. This is a good time to get in gear with the extra man. The Senators rank last on the penalty kill.
Ilya Mikheyev, VAN vs. SAN ($16): Skating next to Elias Pettersson on Vancouver‘s first line, Mikheyev has 10 goals and nine assists through 30 games. The Sharks, meanwhile, have a 3.94 GAA and have allowed 35.9 shots on net per contest. Both are last in the NHL.
WINGS TO AVOID
Brad Marchand, BOS at MIN ($28): The Bruins are one of the teams on the second leg of a back-to-back Saturday. Marchand has been productive, naturally, but this is a tough matchup for a guy with a high salary. Filip Gustavsson‘s overall numbers aren’t impressive yet, but he has an 1.88 GAA and .930 save percentage over his last 12 games.
Troy Terry, ANA vs. SEA ($19): Terry’s played well recently, which was…