This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
Welcome back! The NHL returns from its Christmas break Saturday with an exciting slate of games with 12 starting at 7 p.m. EST. Hope you enjoyed the holidays if you celebrated. Here are my DFS lineup recommendations.
SLATE PREVIEW
There were no games from Wednesday through Friday, which is to say all these teams have gotten plenty of rest. There are four teams on the first leg of a back-to-back Saturday, though the only situation I'd be concerned about is if Chicago starts Arvid Soderblom instead of Spencer Knight against Dallas on Saturday.
GOALIES
Jake Oettinger, DAL vs. CHI ($8,500): Oettinger has a 2.08 GAA and .924 save percentage over his last 13 outings. The Blackhawks are bottom-eight in goals and shots per game while missing both Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar.
Juuse Saros, NAS at STL ($7,600): Saros didn't do well against Carolina, but he's still posted a 2.58 GAA and .917 save percentage from his last nine starts. The Blues are possibly the worst offensive team as they're bottom-five in goals and shots.
Thatcher Demko, VAN vs. SAN ($7,400): You never know how long Demko will be able to stay on the ice, but lists an 1.82 GAA and .929 save percentage in five starts since returning from his latest injury. I know the Sharks have some exciting offensive players and rank 20th in offense, though they're also last in average shots.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
William Nylander, TOR vs. OTT ($6,600): Nylander picked up two goals and two assists on Tuesday. He's also averaged 3:07 on the power play, yet only has seven points there after at least 28 during each of his last four campaigns. The Senators maintain the 31st-ranked penalty kill, so maybe Nylander will look like his usual self while up a man.
Nazem Kadri, CGY vs. EDM ($6,600): Kadri has notched 31 points, and that's with a 7.0 shooting percentage. Things have gone a bit better for him of late with four goals (and nine assists) over his last 12 games. The Oilers traded for Tristan Jarry, and then watched him immediately go on IR. Calvin Pickard is the top netminder for now who's produced an .894 save percentage the last nine seasons.
Jake DeBrusk, VAN vs. SAN ($4,000): DeBrusk has a tendency to be streaky and has five points in his last eight matchups with an overall 9.1 shooting percentage that should improve. Thanks to the way the stretch run before the break went down, the Sharks are now last in both GAA and shots allowed.
FORWARD LINE STACKS TO CONSIDER
Predators at Blues
Ryan O'Reilly (C - $5,000), Filip Forsberg (W - $6,800), Steven Stamkos (W - $4,800)
Nashville was significantly struggling on offense early on, though they've picked things up largely due to this trio. St. Louis comes in with a 3.39 GAA while Jordan Binnington has posted an .870 save percentage through 23 appearances.
O'Reilly has 19 points over his last 14 games with at least two in each of his last two. Forsberg is on a nine-game scoring streak, including seven goals. He's only managed one power-play goal so far, yet got to double-digits in three of his previous four campaigns. This is the Stamkos Nashville was hoping for as he's racked up 11 goals during his last 14 matchups.
Sabres vs. Bruins
Josh Norris (C - $4,900), Alex Tuch (W - $6,000) Noah Ostlund (W - $2,700)
Things can change quickly in the NHL. The Sabres are on a seven-game win streak and now they get to host a Bruins team that's fallen into the bottom-10 for GAA and shots allowed. Jeremy Swayman has struggled to an .850 save percentage over his last six starts while Joonas Korpisalo lists an .880 overall, which has me wanting to stack Buffalo's second line on Saturday.
Norris getting healthy has helped the Sabres develop some offensive depth. He's been back for nine games, where he's picked up 10 points - including five on the power play with Boston ranked 19th on the penalty kill. Tuch has 14 points over his last 15 games alongside 43 shots. He's also potted at least 30 goals in two of his last three campaigns. The 21-year-old rookie Ostlund got promoted and moved up the lineup while responding with three goals from his last five outings.
DEFENSEMEN
Jake Sanderson, OTT at TOR ($6,700): Sanderson has produced 26 points and 77 shots after 195 of the latter last season. Toronto's goaltending offers some promise, though their defense has allowed 31.1 shots per game.
Jackson LaCombe, ANA at LOS ($6,100): LaCombe held a sizeable role for the Ducks last season and is now their blueline cornerstone averaging 25:06, including 3:36 on the power play. He's also up to 22 points overall thanks to eight from the last 10 outings. Darcy Kuemper is hurt and may not be back for Saturday, which would leave Anton Forsberg to start. The 33-year-old journeyman has posted an .898 save percentage the last four seasons.
Filip Hronek, VAN vs. SAN ($3,400): You may have heard that Quinn Hughes is no longer with the Canucks. Hronek already operated as a fine complementary player alongside the star, but he's now the Canucks' No. 1 defender. He's also notched 20 points, with four in his last four games. The Sharks have struggled to a 3.46 GAA, so Hronek could shine in this matchup.
