This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
The college football season is over - unless you play for Army or Navy - and now we have to wait for bowl season. You know what's a great way to kill time? Watching some NHL hockey AND playing some DFS. There are five NHL games on the slate for Sunday. The first game starts at 3:00 PM ET, so you'll have to get your lineup in a little earlier than usual, but not too early. Here are some players to target, and to avoid, for lineup purposes.
GOALIE
Connor Hellebuyck, WPG vs. ANA ($37): Hellebuyck hasn't found consistency in his career just yet, but he's clearly an elite goalie at the top of his game as his 2.20 GAA and a .934 save percentage this season will prove. While the Jets have allowed 33.2 shots on net per game, the Ducks have only managed 28.8 shots on goal, so Hellebuyck may not be as busy as usual.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Marc-Andre Fleury, VGK vs. NYR ($33): Fleury will likely make his return to the lineup after missing six games with a personal matter. Will there be any rust? Even if there isn't, the Rangers have scored 3.14 goals per game. And as opposed to past seasons, Fleury has struggled at home to the tune of a 3.01 GAA and .903 save percentage.
CENTER
Logan Couture, SAN at FLA ($24): Couture has been on fire, notching 19 points over his last 15 games. He's actually been a little unlucky as a goal scorer with only nine goals in 31 games, thanks in part to a dip in his shooting percentage that may regress toward the mean. Since the Panthers - like the Sharks - are on the second day of a back-to-back, Chris Driedger will likely be in net for Florida. He's a 25-year-old with a total of five NHL games to his name who's recently seen his first action in the big leagues since 2016.
CENTER TO AVOID
Jonathan Toews, CHI vs. ARI ($18): While Toews' 6.8 shooting percentage is likely to improve, the fact remains the Chicago's captain only has five goals through 29 games. He's also not exactly crushing it as a playmaker either, as he's only managed 10 assists. Maybe he's going to turn it around, but it likely won't be Sunday against a Coyotes team that boasts a 2.26 GAA.
WING
Clayton Keller, ARI at CHI ($17): Keller leads the Coyotes in shots on goal, putting 83 shots on net in 31 games. He's only recorded five goals, but also has 14 assists and has registered nine points with the extra man. I'm mostly up on Keller because the Blackhawks - in addition to owning a middling penalty kill - have given up 35.7 shots on net per contest.
James Neal, EDM vs. BUF ($15): Neal only has six assists on the season, but three of them have come over his last three games. He does have 14 goals and 14 of his points have come on Edmonton's excellent power play. That's perfect for this matchup, as the Sabres - who are on the road for the second game of a back-to-back - have struggled with a bottom-five penalty kill.
WINGS TO AVOID
Victor Olofsson, BUF at EDM ($18): Eleven of Olofsson's 26 points have come on the power play, although he only has five power-play points in his last 23 outings after a torrid start to the season. The Swedish winger will also be playing on his second night of a back-to-back against an Oilers' squad with a top-five penalty kill.
Rickard Rakell, ANA at WPG ($17): Rakell is about the only wing doing much for the Ducks. But with only eight goals through 29 games, he seems unlikely to return to his 30-goal form. As previously noted, Hellebuyck has posted a 2.20 GAA and .934 save percentage for the Jets. And while the Jets maintain a mediocre penalty kill, Rakell only has three power-play points and is not likely to take advantage of the situation.
DEFENSE
Oscar Klefbom, EDM vs. BUF ($21): Klefbom only has produced two goals, but he's put 75 shots on net. So if he keeps that up, that total should improve. He's also been quite active recently, firing 29 shots on goal over his last 10 contests. And of course we have to mention his role on Edmonton's power play, with the Swede counting 11 points with the extra man. Facing a Sabres' team with a bottom-five penalty kill should be right up his alley.
Shea Theodore, VGK vs. NYR ($17): Theodore has started 58.6 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, second highest among Vegas defensemen. He's also put 78 shots on goal in 31 contests. As for the Rangers, they enter with a 3.21 GAA and more notably have allowed a league-high 35.9 shots on net per game.
DEFENSE TO AVOID
Rasmus Ristolainen, BUF at EDM ($17): With Rasmus Dahlin out, Ristolainen has stepped up by registering a point in each of his last five games. However, I expect that good fortune to end here. After all, the Finn will be on the road for the second leg of a back-to-back. And Mikko Koskinen has impressed with a 2.53 GAA and .921 save percentage in net for the Oilers, so that's a matchup you would want to try and avoid.
Hampus Lindholm, ANA at WPG ($16): On the one hand, Lindholm has put up 12 assists in 21 games. That's good! On the other hand, he has zero goals and only 31 shots on net. That's a little less enticing. Besides, even if he had been scoring goals, Hellebuyck has looked solid with a 2.20 GAA and .934 save percentage.
