Hunter Skoczylas previews the Boston Bruins’ fantasy hockey matchups for the upcoming week.
Published Dec 23, 2025 10:21 AM EST
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – DECEMBER 20: Pavel Zacha #18 of the Boston Bruins speaks with teammates David Pastrnak #88 and Charlie McAvoy #73 during over time against the Vancouver Canucks at TD Garden on December 20, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by China Wong/NHLI via Getty Images)
Audio By Carbonatix
Following some very strong play over the past two months, the Boston Bruins came back down to Earth last week, dropping three of four matchups. Boston topped the Utah Mammoth, 4-1, on Dec. 16, but it dropped its final three matchups of the week to the Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks and Ottawa Senators.
As the new year approaches and the Atlantic Division grows tighter, the Bruins must not lose focus, especially for this upcoming slate of games, which includes two divisional opponents. On tap for this week are the Montreal Canadiens, Buffalo Sabres and Calgary Flames.
Bruins’ upcoming schedule for the week of December 23
Tuesday, December 23 vs. Montreal Canadiens
Saturday, December 27 at Buffalo Sabres
Monday, December 29 at Calgary Flames
Boston Bruins’ DraftKings Fantasy Preview
Tuesday, December 23 vs. Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are in third place in the Atlantic Division and sixth place in the Eastern Conference with a 19-12-5 record, 43 points, and a -5 goal differential.
Montreal enters the week having won two of its past three games. The month of December has been average for the club, with a record of 6-4-2, while averaging 2.9 goals per game and allowing 2.9 goals per game. While the Canadiens rank ninth in the NHL in goals per 60, a significant portion of that production has come from the power play. The club ranks sixth in PP% and ninth in power play goals for, but inconsistent 5v5 play is an unsustainable brand of hockey. Inconsistencies especially show up when the once elite goaltending no longer looks elite, as the club ranks ninth in goals against per 60.
When you take a look at Montreal’s firepower, it begins to make sense how the team has been able secure wins. Nick Suzuki (10G, 30A) and Cole Caufield (17G, 18A) lead the way, while Lane Hutson (5G, 27A) continues to make his mark as one of the best playmaking defenseman in the league. As Samuel Montembeault (3.65 GAA, .857 SV%) continues to struggle in his seventh season, the club called up 21-year-old Jacob Fowler (2.49 GAA, .915 SV%), who has averaged 14.6 DraftKings fantasy points across four starts.
Saturday, December 27 at Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are in seventh place in the Atlantic Division and 14th place in the Eastern Conference with a 17-14-4 record, 38 points, and a -6 goal differential.
While the Sabres find themselves grouped among the bottom Eastern Conference teams, they’ve received a team morale boost following a front office change last week and have won six straight games. Buffalo ranks 11th in 5v5 goals for per 60, which is nice and all, but it certainly loses it allure when the club also ranks fifth in 5v5 goals against per 60. The special teams play has been surprisingly above average, too, with the club ranking 15th in PP% and first in PK%, while drawing the 12th-most penalties per 60. What has held this team back has been its goaltending, and it’s never a great sign when three different goaltenders have started at least eight games already this season.
Buffalo has scored at least three goals in each of its past six wins, thanks to Tage Thompson (18G, 14A), Alex Tuch (11G, 18A) and Rasmus Dahlin (4G, 24A). Dahlin is currently on pace to average a point per game, and it has shown up in the stat department with 13.9 DK FPTS per game. Alex Lyon (2.92 GAA, .906 SV%) has been the Sabres’ most dependable goaltender thus far, ranking 31st in goals saved above expected, but Buffalo has started three different goaltenders this season. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (2.73 GAA, .892 SV%) missed the start of the season and has posted a few strong games, but his inconsistencies tend to show up at inopportune times.
Monday, December 29 at Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are in seventh place in the Pacific Division and 13th place in the Western Conference with a 15-17-4 record, 34 points, and a -11 goal differential.
Much like the Sabres, things may have started rough for the Flames, but the recent play suggests that they can turn it around. The Flames have won six of their last eight games, while averaging a whopping 3.9 goals per game. Calgary may rank 28th in goals for per 60, but it also ranks 12th in Corsi% and 16th in xGoals%, suggesting that positive regression may be nearing. Still, this club has been able to secure wins due to a strong goaltending duo and an above-average penalty kill unit. The club is interesting in that it has drawn the third-most penalties per 60 yet ranks 30th in PP%, and it has taken the fifth-most penalties per 60 yet ranks ninth in PK%.
Offensive consistency and production have been hard to come by, but Nazem Kadri (8G, 23A) has led the way with eight points in his last six games. 11 different skaters have eclipsed the double-digit point mark, but only two of them have scored double-digit goals, so more offensive production will be needed as the season progresses. The Flames’ goaltending duo of Dustin Wolf (2.92 GAA, .896 SV%) and Devin Cooley (2.40 GAA, .914 SV%) is a big reason for the club’s turnaround, particularly Cooley, who ranks 17th in goals saved above expected and eighth in SV% above expected. Their records are a bit misleading, given the club’s offensive struggles, but both Wolf and Cooley have averaged at least 9.5 DK FPTS per game this season.
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