This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
Sunday's NHL main slate is a small one, with only three games on the docket after 7:00 PM Eastern time. Below, you'll find an overview of the matchups and suggested options for crafting an effective lineup.
SLATE PREVIEW
The Rangers-Golden Knights game figures to have the most open ice, Arizona-Chicago should be more of a defensive battle, and Sabres-Oilers doesn't lack star power. Five of these six teams come in fresh, while the Sabres are finishing up a road back-to-back.
GOALIES
Whomever Arizona chooses to deploy between Darcy Kuemper ($8,800) and Antti Raanta ($8,500) should find success against a bottom-10 Blackhawks offense that's mustering 2.72 goals per game. Kuemper has an outstanding 1.92 GAA and .937 save percentage, while Raanta isn't too far behind with 2.52 and .926 marks.
Only Arizona (2.61 goals per game) scores less than Chicago among teams in this slate, so it makes sense to roll with the Blackhawks' netminder if you don't pick Arizona's. Robin Lehner ($7,700) has been slightly better than Corey Crawford ($7,600), as Lehner has a 2.71 GAA and .929 save percentage compared to Crawford's 2.89 and .912 marks.
The Oilers are another team that could start either goalie, but either of Mikko Koskinen ($8,400) or Mike Smith ($7,800) would make for a solid option against a tired Sabres team that's won only four of its last 18 games.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Leon Draisaitl ($8,600) just keeps rolling along whether he's skating by Connor McDavid's side or not. With three goals and two assists over an active three-game point streak, Draisaitl has retaken the league scoring lead from McDavid with 53 points in 31 games to his teammate's 52. He should continue to produce at an elite level against the struggling Sabres.
Alex Tuch ($4,600) has a 4-3-7 line over his past four games, including a two-goal game against the Rangers. The affordable Golden Knights winger can still be had for just $4,600 despite his recent success, making Tuch a tremendous value play against a Rangers team that's giving up 3.21 goals per game.
Jack Eichel ($8,700) won't get as much attention as the other top skaters in this slate, but he's capable of carrying lineups for those who want to take a shot on him in GPP formats. The Sabres' star has a 12-game point streak going, with an excellent 10-12-22 line over that stretch.
Alex DeBrincat ($6,400) is riding a two-game goal streak, but he's still shooting only 8.1 percent after converting at an 18.6 percent mark last season and a 15.6 percent mark for his career. The diminutive forward should only get more expensive moving forward as his luck normalizes, so DeBrincat's an enticing against-the-grain play here.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Golden Knights vs. Rangers
Paul Stastny (C - $4,800), Mark Stone (W - $6,900), Max Pacioretty (W -$6,300)
This line is $1,200 cheaper collectively than Vegas' other top-six group, even though Pacioretty leads the team in points (26) and shots (119) while Stone ranks third in points (24) and shots (80) while ranking second with 11 goals. Stastny has a disappointing 8-4-12 line, but the seven-time 50-point scorer is likely to pick up the pace. Vegas is facing the worst defensive team in this slate, making this line an even better option relative to the available alternatives.
Oilers vs. Sabres
Connor McDavid (C - $8,900), James Neal (W - $5,800), Josh Archibald (W - $3,600)
McDavid is a major scoring threat in all situations and will be eager to show the difference between himself and Eichel, who was selected second after McDavid in the 2015 draft. Neal is third on the Oilers in both goals (14) and points (20), while Archibald's lone goal this season came in December, as playing alongside McDavid can turn even the least skilled NHL forwards into offensive threats. A Sabres team that ranks in the middle of the pack defensively will have its hands full trying to defend this line.
Rangers at Golden Knights
Mika Zibanejad (C - $7,300), Kaapo Kakko (W - $5,100), Brendan Lemieux (W - $3,700)
Zibanejad has been sensational when healthy this season, putting together a 6-10-16 line in 15 games. Kakko has a 6-6-12 line through 26 NHL games, but there are likely better days ahead for the rookie second overall pick, who is getting more opportunities alongside the team's top forwards at even strength than he was getting to start the season. Lemieux is an agitator with enough skill to capitalize when he's moved up the lineup, as evidenced by his four goals in the past eight games.
DEFENSEMEN
Rasmus Ristolainen ($5,200) has taken on greater offensive responsibilities recently with Rasmus Dahlin (concussion) sidelined, and he's making the most of the additional opportunities. Ristolainen has a five-game point streak going (one goal, five assists), and he should provide value in a slate that doesn't have many high-profile defensemen.
Shea Theodore ($4,300) is the best offensive blueliner on the Golden Knights, who are facing the most vulnerable defense in this slate, as the Rangers are allowing 3.21 goals per game. The 24-year-old blueliner has just 12 points through 31 games, but that still leads all Vegas blueliners and he's likely to pick up the pace after scoring 37 points in 79 appearances last season.
Alex Goligoski ($4,600) is only three points off Arizona's team lead with 17 through 31 games. Given Goligoski's success and affordability, he should be a nice value play on the back end.
