NHL Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Forwards Pickups Dec. 31 - Red-hot Garland Visits Flames, Drouin Returns To Avalanche Lineup

On every game day this season, THN Fantasy will highlight players and goalies for fantasy managers to stream or roster for the rest of the season. The recommended players and goalies can be used in standard fantasy leagues or for daily fantasy games.

Bryan Rust, RW, PIT at DET (48% rostered)

Rust looked a lot more attractive a week ago but I do like the matchup. Both teams are among the top 10 teams that allow the most goals per game, and the new coach bump hasn't quite happened for the Red Wings, who have allowed at least four goals in five of their past six games dating back to Derek Lalonde.

Anders Lee, LW, NYI at TOR (43% rostered)

Even with Mathew Barzal and Anthony Duclair back in the Islanders lineup, Lee has maintained his spot on both L1 and PP1. He's been excellent after a slow start and his scoring is starting to pick up again with five points in his past four games. The Leafs have not been as stout on defense as they normally have with three losses and 16 goals allowed in their past four games.

Tyler Toffoli, LW/RW, SJ vs. PHI (43% rostered)

Toffoli's a great source of shots and he's a good option while he's hot with a three-game points streak. The Flyers are expected to start Samuel Ersson, who's been very shaky since returning from injury, and they're generally not a good defensive club. They've allowed at least five goals in five of their past eight losses. Toffoli is playing L3 but plays with Macklin Celebrini on PP1, and averages over three minutes per game on the power play.

Conor Garland, RW, VAN at CGY (41% rostered)

Garland's goal against the Kraken on Saturday extended his points streak to three games, and the Canucks are counting on him a lot for offense with Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes unavailable. Garland has registered three points, 15 shots, five hits and six blocks in his past five games.

Jonathan Huberdeau, C/LW, CGY vs. VAN (39% rostered)

Huberdeau's four-game points streak was snapped against Vegas, but if the Canucks' performance Saturday was any indication - they blew a 4-1 lead and lost in overtime - it's more than likely Huberdeau gets on the board again. The Canucks will be very shorthanded and expected starter Thatcher Demko has struggled to get back to his all-star level since returning from a long-term injury.

Nick Schmaltz, C/RW, UTA at EDM (33% rostered)

Schmaltz is riding a four-game points streak even though the Utah offense has sputtered lately with only nine goals in their past four games, four of which were against the Ducks. Schmaltz has posted solid numbers against the Oilers throughout his career with 12 assists and 13 points in 20 games. Dating back to Utah's days in Arizona, their matchups against the Oilers tend to feature a lot of offense, averaging 8.6 goals per contest over the past three seasons.

Jonathan Drouin, LW, COL vs. WPG (20% rostered)

The good news is Connor Hellebuyck played Monday, which means backup Eric Comrie might get the start. The bad news is Drouin will not be skating with Nathan MacKinnon, though Ross Colton and Mikko Rantanen on the second line is a very nice consolation prize. We shall see how Drouin responds after such a lengthy time away, but the Avs' offense is fantastic overall, making Drouin an ideal streamer with potentially some more long-term value.

Viktor Arvidsson, LW/RW, EDM vs. UTA (17% rostered)

Arvidsson doesn't need power play time to produce, and three of his four points were scored at even strength. His minutes are limited but he's playing with Leon Draisaitl on L2, and a lot of Arvidsson's offense depends on who he gets to play with. Utah is expected to start backup Jaxson Stauber, and in a worst-case scenario, Arvidsson can still pile up the shots.

Victor Olofsson, LW/RW, VEG vs. MON (11% rostered)
Pavel Dorofeyev, LW/RW, VEG vs. MON (11% rostered)

Between the two, I very much prefer Olofsson because he has the better deployment on L1 and PP1 with Mark Stone. He's scored 10 points in his past 12 games since returning from injury and rekindled some of the chemistry he had with Eichel when both were with the Sabres.

Dorofeyev is on L3 and PP2 but still has some value because he's such a high-volume shooter. He's scored a point in consecutive games and registered at least one shot in every game since the first two weeks of the season.

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