Daily Fantasy Hockey 2015: NHL DFS Must-Starts for Each Position December 10

Can't get enough of daily fantasy hockey this season? Good, because less than 30 games into the season for every team, the action is heating up as the midway point of the season approaches.

Coming off a night with just four games, there are seven matchups to pick apart on the Thursday NHL slate. Some of the sport's biggest stars will hit the ice, but there are others to target to fill up a potent lineup. Here's a look at some of the best players at each position for December 10.

Center: Ryan Johansen, Columbus Blue Jackets ($5,700)

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Ryan Johansen has cooled off a bit from his torrid finish to November, but he's still worth targeting. Why? Because the 23-year-old is coming off a night where he scored six fantasy points against the Los Angeles Kings. Oh, and he happens to face a mediocre Winnipeg Jets defense.

The young first-line center is capable of catching fire, as he showed with four goals and six points during a previous six-game stretch. Can he keep the strong play going after tallying an assist and six shots on goal on Tuesday? At just $5,700, DFS owners should find out with him in their lineups.

Winger: Max Pacioretty, Montreal Canadiens ($7,600)

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Alex Ovechkin and Patrick Kane might provide consistent points, but Max Pacioretty is a steady force for DFS owners at a lower price. In fact, over the last 10 games, Pacioretty's production is on par with both studs at 4.8 points per game—Ovechkin is at 4.7.

At over $1,000 less for Pacioretty, that's not a huge margin.

How's he doing it? Regardless of whether he scores a goal, Pacioretty is peppering opposing goalies with a barrage of shots on goal. Pacioretty tallied 19 total shots on goal over the last three games.

Facing a stingy Detroit Red Wings defense has reduced his price for Thursday night. But as long as he keeps getting the puck on his stick over the blue line, expect Pacioretty to continue producing for DFS owners.

Defenseman: Kevin Shattenkirk, St. Louis Blues ($5,400)

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We rarely go against matchups, but Kevin Shattenkirk makes too much sense to ignore. The St. Louis Blues' second-line defenseman is getting plenty of ice time on the first power-play unit. He's also working hard to produce offensively with 10 shots on goal in the last three games.

Sure, Shattenkirk didn't look great early in the season, but he's been on fire recently. His hot streak goes back to the last 12 games, scoring 13 points—four goals—over that stretch. He's also registered at least two blocked shots in the last four games played.

Not only have the Philadelphia Flyers allowed 2.71 goals per game, they're also inefficient offensively. With Shattenkirk contributing on both ends, he's a perfect addition to any lineup.

Goalie: Jake Allen, St. Louis Blues ($7,700)

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Not sure if you've heard, but the Flyers offense isn't great. Out of 30 teams, Philly ranks 29th in goals per game in front of only the Anaheim Ducks. So yeah, that's kind of bad. Starting any goalie facing that inept offense should be a regular option for owners.

On Thursday night, the opposition is Jake Allen. While he's been erratic lately, Allen bounced back in a big way with 22 saves on 23 shots against the Arizona Coyotes Tuesday. At 12-6-2, the 25-year-old is good for a win against the Flyers for owners willing to pony up the salary for a top-five goalie on Thursday.

Follow R. Cory Smith on Twitter for more DraftKings advice.

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