This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
Welcome to March! We are being introduced to a new month with eight NHL games Friday. To try and help you kick off the month right, here are my recommendations for your daily fantasy lineup.
GOALIE
Braden Holtby, WAS at NYI ($8,800): Holtby has had another disappointing season, but at least he's been playing well recently. Over his last nine starts he has a 2.69 GAA and .920 save percentage. The Islanders are great defensively but on offense they've only averaged 28.3 shots on net per contest. On top of that, this will be their second game in as many nights.
CENTER
Nico Hischier, NJD vs. PHI ($5,400): Hischier has started 54.1 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, most among Devils forwards. His scoring has dropped a bit recently, but this matchup could change that. The Flyers are on the road for the second game of a back-to-back, and with Carter Hart injured, their goalie issues are about to rear their ugly heads again. Cam Talbot (3.36 GAA, .893 save percentage) will be getting the start.
Joe Thornton, SAN vs. COL ($4,800): Thornton is on the opposite end of his career from Hischier, but the veteran pivot still has life left in his legs. In fact, he has 14 points in his last 15 contests. On the year, he also has 10 points with the extra man in 55 games. That's intriguing here, as the Avalanche have the 26th-ranked penalty kill.
WING
Sam Reinhart, BUF vs. PIT ($5,600): Reinhart has been reunited with Jack Eichel and Jeff Skinner, not that his scoring slowed down at all while that trio was broken up. The second-overall pick from 2014 has 57 points in 63 games, including 18 goals. The Penguins have a 3.10 GAA, which is mediocre, but on top of that they have allowed 33.5 shots on net per contest.
Patric Hornqvist, PIT at BUF ($4,800): After a long scoring drought, Hornqvist has a point in each of his last two games. Plus, with Bryan Rust injured, he's been moved up to being the wing alongside Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel. That's a great place to be. Meanwhile, the Sabres struggled in February, posting a 3.77 GAA last month.
Jakob Silfverberg, ANA vs. VGK ($4,800): Like many a Duck, Silfverberg hasn't had a great season. However, he does have 16 goals in 55 games, and this is a matchup I think is worth targeting. The Golden Knights have an .891 save percentage on the road, and they are also on the second leg of a back-to-back. That could mean little-used Malcolm Subban in net.
DEFENSE
Ryan Ellis, NAS at WPG ($5,000): Ellis has posted 33 points in 66 games, even though his 4.7 shooting percentage is well below his career average. He will be hoping that the Jets stay as cold in March as they were in February. Last month, they had a 3.75 GAA. If Ellis doesn't contribute on the offensive end, his 126 blocked shots shows that he can still help your fantasy lineup on that end of the ice.
Will Butcher, NJD vs. PHI ($3,700): Butcher has started 55.7 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, highest on New Jersey. He's also averaged 3:00 per game with the extra man, notching 12 power-play points in 62 contests. The Flyers have the 28th-ranked penalty kill, and they won't be on the top of their game on the road for the second game of a back-to-back with Cam Talbot in net.
