This article is part of our FantasyDraft NHL series.
It's not your typical Monday (at least here in the United States). Today is President's Day, and what better way to celebrate than with some daily fantasy hockey? Here are some players I recommend Monday's three games…
GOALIE
Nashville Predators, NAS vs. OTT ($17,300): The Predators have a 2.54 team GAA, and both Pekka Rinne and Juuse Saros have both been excellent, so it doesn't matter who is in net for Nashville. Ottawa, on the other hand, has only scored 2.70 goals per game. The Senators are also 7-16-4 on the road, so the odds of winning in Nashville seem quite low.
CENTER
Anze Kopitar, LOS at CHI ($14,500): Kopitar has made last year's struggles a faint memory, as he's posted 25 goals and 38 assists through 58 games this season. That includes 19 points with the extra man. Corey Crawford is still working his way back, provided the Blackhawks don't shut him down, leaving Anton Forsberg as Chicago's No. 1 netminder for now. Forsberg has a 2.95 GAA and a .908 save percentage, which won't threaten the Slovenian. With a few formidable defenses in action Monday, it's worth shelling out for the reliability of Kopitar.
Kyle Turris, NAS vs. OTT ($10,500): Turris has started 62 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, tops on the Predators. He has struggled to score recently, but he nevertheless has 15 power-play points in 52 games. Ottawa has the 29th-ranked penalty kill, so perhaps that will help Turris get back on the scoresheet against his former team.
WING
James Neal, VGK vs. ANA ($12,500): Neal has started 55.8 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, second most among Vegas forwards. He's also tallied 24 goals on 164 shots through 58 contests. The Ducks have allowed 33.4 shots on net per game, so Neal should get the chance to put a few more pucks on goal.
Craig Smith, NAS vs. OTT ($11,100): Smith is on a three-game point streak and has seven points and 34 shots on goal over his last 10 contests. Overall, he's notched 17 goals on 166 shots through 56 games. The Senators have a 3.40 team GAA, which is second worst in the NHL, and they've allowed 33.3 shots on net on average.
Tanner Pearson, LOS at CHI ($9,400): Pearson has been quite active recently, notching 18 shots on net in his last five games. The winger's 7.5 shooting percentage is well below his career average, which has suppressed his fantasy numbers. Chicago has allowed 32.0 shots on net per contest, and since the All-Star break, it has a 3.67 team GAA.
DEFENSEMEN
Ryan Ellis, NAS vs. OTT ($10,200): Ellis has started 59.1 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, most among Nashville defensemen and fourth overall on the team. Perhaps this has been because Ellis spent most of the season injured, but the favorable positioning seems to have helped recently. The 27-year-old has four points and 25 shots in his last seven contests, and now he gets a great matchup with the Senators.
Colin Miller, VGK vs. ANA ($7,500): Miller has tallied 32 points and 121 shots on goal in 58 games. He's been helped by the fact that he's started 62.1 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, tops on the Golden Knights. The defenseman has also averaged 2:35 per game with the extra man, tallying 13 power-play points in the process. As noted, the Ducks give up plenty of shots, as well.
