We would like to wish every single reader a very Merry Christmas. Today there are 14 games in the National Hockey League, and due to the layover of games until December 27th, we are making this a very special article. It is our longest of the year, and is dedicated to all of you great new Front Office subscribers. The article contains over 3,000 words of full game previews, multiple suggested lineups, and a bevvy of player suggestions from each price range. Good luck tonight everyone.

Reminder, as always you can become a Fantasy Fix Front Office member by signing up at this link. It is just $9.99 for the full year-to-date of signup.

Game Previews:

*Authors note: since tonight features 14 games (28 of the 30 NHL teams), thanks to a large Christmas break that begins Tuesday, this article will be a very special long and detailed one. I began writing this Sunday since there were only two games and no Draft Kings NHL Daily Fantasy contests*

THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR NEW SUBSCRIBERS. This article length is a dedication to our appreciation of you all.

Phoenix Coyotes @ Buffalo Sabres

The Sabres come into this game with a 3-0-1 record in their last four games at First Niagara Center. However, just two of those wins came in regulation. In their wins over the Boston Bruins and Winnipeg Jets, the Sabres potted four goals in each game. No doubt, an underlying cause of that accomplishment is the fact that the Sabres received nine combined power-plays in those two games. Additionally, the Sabres gave their opponents just three power-play opportunities in those two games combined.

This game doesn’t scream “trap game” for the Coyotes, but it does scare us a bit. Phoenix will be playing on the road for the tenth time in their last 13 games, and while some might suggest that Phoenix should be used to it by now, it’s easy to look ahead to the long break and not be mentally prepared for the worst team in the league.

We would avoid this game for the most part, however one thing we have noticed, is that Ryan Miller, well the Sabres defense really, has struggled to limit odd-man rushes. This bodes well for Coyotes sniper Mikkel Boedker ($4,200), he of the blazing speed and excellent wrist shot. We like the 24-year-old Denmark native as the lone pick in this game.

Prediction: Phoenix wins 3-2.

Toronto Maple Leafs @ New York Rangers:

Trying to predict what the Maple Leafs will do in a given game is like running into traffic on the Autobahn – you have no faith in the decision that you made and, if the plan succeeds, you don’t feel good about your ability to repeat the accomplishment. There are five things we know about Toronto.

1) They have a terrible penalty-kill. – 27^th ranked

2) They take way too many penalties – Fourth most minor penalties taken

3) They have a good power-play at home (30%) but not on the road (15%)

4) They must get excellent goaltending to win – Allow the most shots per game (35.9)

5) They have poor center depth and therefore struggle in the face-off circle- 27^th in NHL (46.5%)

So ultimately the recipe for success is: stay out of the penalty box, capitalize on power-plays, get great goaltending, and hope the opponent also lacks center depth.

Without question the Maple Leafs most impressive win this season was their recent 7-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Hawks came into the game with: a lethal power-play, a terrible penalty-kill, the third most shots on goal, the fifth fewest shots allowed, a top-15 face-off percentage, the fifth most power-play attempts (penalties drawn), and the ninth fewest minor penalties taken. So one would assume the Hawks would win this game fairly easily because the Leafs can’t stay out of the penalty-box and they give up a ton of shots. Neither of those things will fare well against a team with a lethal power-play, and the third most shots on goal.

So, let’s look at the checklist for that game. The Leafs drew four penalties and converted twice for two power-play goals. They only took two penalties (although Chicago did convert on one of them). They out-shot the Hawks – which is only the sixth time the Maple Leafs have out-shot someone all season, and they kept the face-off battle very close. They lost just 31 to 27 in the face-off circle.

What? Where did this come from? The Leafs have lost twice to Buffalo, they were on their third game in four days, and had lost to the Boston Bruins 5-2, the Los Angeles Kings 3-1, and the St. Louis Blues 6-3 in their last three games. Surely the Blackhawks, who had scored 6+ goals in their past three games coming into their match with the Leafs, would light up Toronto like a Christmas tree. So how exactly did Toronto win this game?

Well, other than the team stats laid out two paragraphs ago, the evidence lies with the Joffrey Lupul, Mason Raymond and Peter Holland line. The trio combined for four of the Leafs seven goals, this despite being the first game the trio spent with each other. Okay, so coming into a game Monday December 16^th, against a Pittsburgh Penguins team without their second line stars James Neal and Evgeni Malkin it would be rational to assume this line continues its production against a Penguins team lacking secondary scoring depth. You would be wrong. Lupul, Holland and Raymond mustered just three combined shots in the 3-1 loss.

In come the Florida Panthers for the Leafs’ next game. Surely they could get going against them, at home no less? Of course they couldn’t. They lost 3-1. Stay away from Toronto in Daily Fantasy until further notice, if you know what’s good for you.

Prediction: Toronto wins 4-3. So they will probably lose 5-1.

Anaheim Ducks @ Washington Capitals:

This game could get incredibly ugly if the zebras in orange stripes don’t get whistle happy. The Ducks lead the league in points with 57, and are second in the league in five-on-five for-and-against ratio with 1.44 goals for, for every goal against in even strength situations. The fraudulent Capitals, who bring eight shootout wins into this game, are 20^th in the league in even strength situations. They bring a 0.92 for-and-against ratio into this contest, as well as a just 11 “regulation + overtime” (ROW) wins.

Our concerns about unpredictability are fairly minimized in this one. Alex Ovechkin has zero interest in playing defense, as exemplified by his team worst minus-12. The Ducks top line of: Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, and Dustin Penner (or Kyle Palmieri), are a relentless and punishing trio to play against. Years of watching Ovechkin play against my Tampa Bay Lightning, have left me with the unwavering certainty of this fact: when the defense makes it very difficult for Ovechkin, he becomes incredibly lazy on both ends of the ice. Perry ($7,200) and Getzlaf ($7,700) are excellent plays against the Capitals.

Prediction: Anaheim wins 5-3.

Columbus Blue Jackets @ Carolina Hurricanes:

When $7.5 million dollar man Marion Gaborik returned to the ice against the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday, after missing 17 games due to injury, the Columbus Blue Jackets were hoping his addition would provide a boost to a surging team with increasing playoff hopes and aspirations. Such hopes gained by the Blue Jacket fan base were instantly crushed when the aging former superstar broke his collarbone in the first period of their eventual 6-3 victory.

All hope is not lost for the seventh-place team hailing from the Metropolitan division. Thanks to a hilariously bad division, the Blue Jackets, despite being in seventh place, are just three points out of third-place — where the New Jersey Devils reside after their 5-4 overtime victory against the second-place Capitals. Further, Columbus re-gained defenseman James Wisniewski on Saturday. The 29-year-old blue-liner from Canton, Michigan supplied an assist on the power-play after his shot from the point was tipped in by forward R.J. Umberger.

The Hurricanes are coming off a 3-2 overtime defeat to the Tampa Bay Lightning, a game in which they were out-shot 50-27. The Canes were fortunate that goaltender Justin Peters was on his game, because his efforts were the sole reason that Carolina came out of that game with a point.

It will be interesting to see how these two incredibly similar teams (on paper anyway), match up against each other, considering these division foes have yet to do so this season. We expect Columbus to gain the edge in this one, but it could go either way. Play it safe. If you take anyone from this game, make it Ryan Johansen ($5,800) and defenseman James Wisniewski ($3,300).

Prediction: Columbus wins 4-2

Pittsburgh Penguins @ Ottawa Senators:

We expect this game to get out of hand, as the Penguins, despite the multitude of injuries they face, come into this game with an impressive seven-game winning streak. Pittsburgh counters everything that the Senators do well. Ottawa is fourth in the league in face-off percentage, but Pittsburgh is eighth. Ottawa draws the second most penalties, but Pittsburgh doesn’t take very many (shorthanded the sixth fewest amount of times). Making matters worse for the Senators is the fact that Pittsburgh can capitalize on all of Ottawa’s weaknesses. The Penguins have the second best penalty-kill unit in the National Hockey league. This factor will allow Pittsburgh the ability to thwart the Senators power-play, which sits at 19% on the year (although it’s just 12.7% at home).

Go crazy in this one. Stack your lineup with Penguins. Chris Kunitz ($7,300), Sidney Crosby ($9,800), James Neal ($8,200), Pascal Dupuis ($4,800), Matt Niskanen ($4,800) and Olli Maatta ($4,700) are all excellent choices.

Prediction: Pittsburgh wins 5-2

New York Islanders @ Detroit Red Wings:

The New York Islanders are coming into this game fresh off a disappointing third period collapse, undertaken in their 5-3 defeat to the Anaheim Ducks. Winger Thomas Vanek supplied two goals for the Islanders, with Frans Nielsen potting the other one. The Islanders have been flummoxed this season by opposing number one lines, with head coach Jack Capuano flip-flopping between John Tavares’s line and Frans Nielsen’s line as the match-up for said opposing top-3 line.

The Detroit Red Wings are coming fresh off a 5-4 shootout win against Toronto on Saturday. Detroit has been bludgeoned by injuries this season, ranging from superstar, and captain, Henrik Zetterberg, all the way down to penalty-kill expert Darren Helm. Thankfully, Jonas Gustavsson has been the solution at goaltender with Jimmy Howard nursing an injury.

We like the Red Wings in this game, particularly Pavel Datsyuk ($6,200), Gustav Nyquist ($3,300), and Daniel Alfredsson ($5,700). Tomas Tatar ($2,500) and Danny DeKeyser ($3,800) are good value plays.

Prediction: Detroit wins 4-3.

Minnesota Wild @ Philadelphia Flyers:

This game is second to the Pittsburgh game when it comes to our favorite game to choose from. The Wild continue to miss their starting goaltender Josh Harding, who is on injured reserve. Niklas Backstrom has been absolutely brutal while filling in for Harding. The 35-year-old from Helsinki, Finland has allowed nine goals in his past two outings combined, and has a 3.19 goals-against average and .895 save percentage on the year.

We recommend making at least one lineup that streams Flyers. Claude Giroux ($7,900), Vincent Lecavalier ($4,500), Jakub Voracek ($6,400), Wayne Simmonds ($5,000), Sean Couturier ($4,000) and goaltender Steve Mason ($7,300)

Prediction: Flyers win 5-2

Full list of players we like tonight:

Luxury Tier:

Center- Sidney Crosby | Pittsburgh Penguins | $9,800 | @ OTT: Confidence A+

Center- Claude Giroux | Philadelphia Flyers | $7,900 | vs. MIN: Confidence A+

Center- Ryan Getzlaf | Anaheim Ducks | $7,700 | @ WSH: Confidence A+

Left Wing- Chris Kunitz | Pittsburgh Penguins | $7,300 | @ OTT: Confidence A+

Right Wing- Patrick Kane | Chicago Blackhawks | $8,300 | vs. NJ: Confidence: A+

Right Wing- Corey Perry | Anaheim Ducks | $7,200 | @ WSH: Confidence A+

Defense- Shea Weber | Nashville Predators | $6,800 | vs. BOS: Confidence B+

Goalie- Martin Jones | Los Angeles Kings | $10,000 | vs. DAL: Confidence A+

Upper Middle Class Tier:

Center- Pavel Datsyuk | Detroit Red Wings | $6,200 | vs. NYI: Confidence A

Center- David Backes | St. Louis Blues | $6,200 | @ CGY: Confidence B+

Center- Ryan Johansen | Columbus Blue Jackets | $5,800 | @ CAR: Confidence B+

Center- Anze Kopitar | Los Angeles Kings | $5,600 | vs. DAL: Confidence A-minus

Left Wing- Patrick Sharp | Chicago Blackhawks | $6,500 | vs. NJ: Confidence A+

Left Wing- Jeff Skinner | Carolina Hurricanes | $6,100 | vs. CLS: Confidence A-minus

Left Wing- Jaden Schwartz | St. Louis Blues | $5,800 | @ CGY: Confidence A

Left Wing- Zach Parise | Minnesota Wild | $5,500 | @ PHI: Confidence A-minus

Right Wing- Chris Stewart | St. Louis Blues | $6,300 | @ CGY: Confidence B+

Right Wing- Jaromir Jagr | New Jersey Devils | $6,000 | @ CHI: Confidence B-minus

Right Wing- Daniel Alfredsson | Detroit Red Wings | $5,700 | vs. NYI: Confidence B

Right Wing- Radim Vrbata | Phoenix Coyotes | $5,600 | @ BUF: Confidence B+

Defense- Niklas Kronwall | Detroit Red Wings | $5,400 | vs. NYI: Confidence A-minus

Goalie- Justin Peters | Carolina Hurricanes | $8,200 | vs. CLS: Confidence A

Middle Class Tier:

Center- Bryan Little | Winnipeg Jets | $5,000 | @ EDM: Confidence B

Center- Mike Ribeiro | Phoenix Coyotes | $4,600 | @ BUF: Confidence B

Center- Jussi Jokinen | Pittsburgh Penguins | $4,600 | @ OTT: Confidence B+

Center- T.J. Oshie | St. Louis Blues | $4,500 | @ CGY: Confidence B+

Left Wing- Mikkel Boedker | Phoenix Coyotes | $4,700 | @ BUF: Confidence A

Left Wing- Pascal Dupuis | Pittsburgh Penguins | $4,800 | @ OTT: Confidence A+

Left Wing- Kris Versteeg | Chicago Blackhawks | $4,400 | vs. NJ: Confidence A-minus

Left Wing- David Perron | Edmonton Oilers | $4,200 | vs. WPG: Confidence B

Left Wing- Brandon Saad | Chicago Blackhawks | $4,200 | vs. NJ: Confidence B

Right Wing- Wayne Simmonds | Philadelphia Flyers | $5,000 | vs. MIN: Confidence B+

Right Wing- Matt Read | Philadelphia Flyers | $4,800 | vs. MIN: Confidence B

Right Wing- Kyle Palmieri | Anaheim Ducks | $4,300 | @ WSH: Confidence B+

Right Wing- Reilly Smith | Boston Bruins | $4,300 | @ NSH: Confidence B+

Defense- Olli Maatta | Pittsburgh Penguins | $4,700 | @ OTT: Confidence A+

Defense- Matt Niskanen | Pittsburgh Penguins | $4,800 | @ OTT: Confidence A+

Defense- Drew Doughty | Los Angeles Kings | $4,500 | vs. DAL: Confidence B+

Goalie- Jaroslav Halak | St. Louis Blues | $7,300 | @ CGY: Confidence B+ (A+ win, B other points)

Goalie- Steve Mason | Philadelphia Flyers | $7,300 | vs. MIN: Confidence A+

Lower Middle Class Tier:

Center- Matthieu Perrault | Anaheim Ducks | $4,100 | @ WSH: Confidence B+

Center- Nick Bonino | Anaheim Ducks | $4,100 | @ WSH: Confidence B

Center- Brandon Sutter | Pittsburgh Penguins | $3,900 | @ OTT: Confidence B-minus

Center- Nazem Kadri | Toronto Maple Leafs | $3,900 | @ NYR: Confidence F, Upside A

Center- Patrik Berglund | St. Louis Blues | $3,700 | @ CGY: Confidence B-minus

Center- Mike Richards | Los Angeles Kings | $3,600 | vs. DAL: Confidence B-minus

Left Wing- Brenden Morrow | St. Louis Blues | $3,600 | @ CGY: Confidence B

Left Wing- Brayden Schenn | Philadelphia Flyers | $3,600 | vs. MIN: Confidence B-minus

Right Wing- Tommy Wingels | San Jose Sharks | $3,700 | vs. COL: Confidence B-minus

Right Wing- Vladimir Tarasenko | St. Louis Blues | $3,700 | @ CGY: Confidence B

Defense- Danny DeKeyser | Detroit Red Wings | $3,800 | vs. NYI: Confidence B

Defense- Cam Fowler | Anaheim Ducks | $4,200 | @ WSH: Confidence A+

Defense- Jay Bouwmeester | St. Louis Blues | $4,200 | @ CGY: Confidence B+

Defense- Marek Zidlicky | New Jersey Devils | $3,900 | @ CHI: Confidence A

Defense- Kimmo Timonen | Philadelphia Flyers | $3,800 | vs. MIN: Confidence A

Goalie- Cam Talbot | New York Rangers | $6,900 | vs. TOR: Confidence B+

Bargain Bin Tier:

Center- Riley Sheahan | Detroit Red Wings | $2,500 | vs. NYI: Upside B

Left Wing- Tomas Tatar | Detroit Red Wings | $2,500 | vs. NYI: Upside B

Right Wing- Chris Conner | Pittsburgh Penguins | $2,500 | @ OTT: Upside A-minus (skating with James Neal)

Defense- Simon Despres | Pittsburgh Penguins | $3,000 | @ OTT: Upside B+

Defense- James Wisniewski | Columbus Blue Jackets | $3,300 | @ CAR: Upside A+

Defense- Ben Lovejoy | Anaheim Ducks | $3,400 | @ WSH: Upside A-minus

Goalie- Jonas Gustavsson | Detroit Red Wings | $6,200 | vs. NYI: Upside A+

 

ALL VALUE LINEUP:

C- Pavel Datsyuk | $6,200 | 3.5 FP per game

LW- Zach Parise | $5,500 | 3.5 FP per game

RW- Marian Hossa | $6,300 | 3.4 FP per game

D- Cam Fowler | $4,200 | 2.8 FP per game

D- James Wisniewski | $3,300 | 2.3 FP per game

G- Cam Talbot | $6,900 | 5.3 FP per game

U- Pascal Dupuis | $4,800 | 2.4 FP per game

U- Patrick Sharp | $6,500 | 3.6 FP per game

U- John Tavares | $6,900 | 3.6 FP per game

All Upside Lineup:

C- Derek Roy | $5,200 | St. Louis | Five points in last four games

LW- Brenden Morrow | $3,600 | St. Louis | Five points in last five games

RW- Chris Stewart | $6,300 | St. Louis | Seven points in last four games

D- Cam Fowler | $4,200 | Anaheim | Potential blowout win

D- Victor Hedman | $4,200 | Tampa Bay | Three points in two games since return from injury

G- Antti Raanta | $6,800 | Chicago | Easy win vs. NJ

U- Ryan Getzlaf | $7,700 | Anaheim | Blowout win potential, and four points last game (3G, 1A)

U- Corey Perry | $7,200 | Anaheim | 3 A last game, and blowout win potential

U- Pascal Dupuis | $4,800 | Pittsburgh | Four game point streak and blowout win potential

Official Lineup:

C- Claude Giroux | $7,900 | Philadelphia

LW- Patrick Sharp | $6,500 | Chicago

RW- Patrick Kane | $8,300 | Chicago

D- Cam Fowler | $4,200 | Anaheim

D- Victor Hedman | $4,200 | Tampa Bay

G- Antti Raanta | $6,800 | Chicago

U- James Wisniewski | $3,300 | Columbus

U- Andrej Sekera | $4,300 | Carolina

U- T.J. Oshie | $4,500 | St. Louis