The NHL returned from Christmas break with a busy Saturday. Sunday offers five games on the DFS docket with the first starting at 5 p.m. EST. Here are my lineup recommendations for the final weekend of 2025.
SLATE PREVIEW
A handful of teams are on the second leg of a back-to-back. The Red Wings and Maple Leafs play each oother in Detroit. Chicago gets to be at home against Pittsburgh while Tampa Bay welcomes Montreal. The Islanders are the one team in particular trouble as they're on the road facing the Blue Jackets while Ilya Sorokin is on injured reserve.
GOALIES
Stuart Skinner, PIT at CHI ($8,200): Skinner hasn't looked great since the move from Edmonton, but hopefully he can handle this matchup. The Blackhawks, as noted, are one of the clubs on their second straight day. They're also bottom-eight in goals and shots and are currently without Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar.
Dan Vladar, PHI at SEA ($7,800): We're now 21 games into Vladar's resume building with the Flyers where he's posted a 2.39 GAA and .910 save percentage. Credit where it is due, maybe a change of scenery and new defensive strategy has helped. Beyond that, there is also Sunday's matchup as the Kraken are only averaging 2.54 goals and 25.8 shots.
VALUE PLAY/ONE-OFF
Travis Konecny, PHI at SEA ($5,700): Konecny was on fire before the break with 16 points over 13 games, four of those coming on Philly's top power play. That last part is what appeals to me the most here as Seattle enter Sunday with the league's worst penalty kill.
FORWARD LINE STACK TO CONSIDER
Blue Jackets vs. Islanders
Adam Fantilli (C - $6,300), Kirill Marchenko (W - $6,200), Mason Marchment (W - $3,800)
The Islanders are the only team on the road for the second day of a back-to-back playing a rested opponent. And while Ilya Sorokin was retroactively placed in injured reserve, Tuesday is the earliest target date for his return. Maybe they'll grit it out and have David Rittich start consecutive days. If not, it'll be fourth-stringer Marcus Hogberg getting the nod. Either way, I like it for Columbus.
Fantilli had slowed a bit, but still has three goals and three assists from his last 10 outings alongside 48 shots during the last 16. Marchenko has also gotten back on track having produced five points and 29 shots through his last 10 matchups. Marchment recently came over from Seattle and immediately paid off for his new club with three goals in two appearances.
DEFENSEMEN
Noah Dobson, MON at TAM ($5,100): Dobson has delivered for the Habs even though he doesn't hold the same power-play role he did in Long Island at 23 points and 87 blocked shots. Tampa played on Saturday and Andrei Vasilevskiy started. That leaves Jonas Johansson on Sunday with his .893 save percentage over 60 outings since joining the Lightning.
Kris Letang, PIT at CHI ($3,600): Now 38, Letang still has some life in his legs having notched 10 points from his last 14 games. He doesn't put a lot of pucks on net, though the Blackhawks are on the second day of a back-to-back and bottom-five in shots allowed. Even if Letang doesn't light the lamp, he can get a puck on the stick of someone who does.
