This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
There are four NHL games Sunday, but one starts at 12:30 p.m. EST, and it's Pittsburgh vs. Boston. While both teams obviously have a lot of offensive talent, the Bruins have the second-lowest GAA in the NHL, and Tristan Jarry has a 2.16 GAA and .929 save percentage. As such, I'm going to focus on the two games taking place at 7 p.m. EST. It's a light slate, but here are the players to target, and to avoid, for your daily fantasy lineup.
GOALIE
Igor Shesterkin, NYR vs. CLM ($30): The Rangers have used three goalies recently, but Shesterkin gets the nod Sunday. He's only made two starts, but he has a .926 save percentage. The Blue Jackets, meanwhile, are on the road for the second leg of a back-to-back. Honestly, I'm not high on any of the goalies likely to start Sunday, so this is not a full-throated recommendation.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Connor Hellebuyck, WPG at CHI ($30): Like Igor Shesterkin, Hellebuyck faces a team on the second leg of a back-to-back. There are a couple differences, though. One, the Jets are on the road. Two, and probably more important, in his last 15 games Hellebuyck has a 3.38 GAA and .898 save percentage.
CENTER
Ryan Strome, NYR vs. CLM ($17): Strome is getting the biggest minutes of his career, as he's averaged 19:26 per game in ice time. He's also getting to skate on a line with Artemi Panarin, which is a great place to be. Case in point, Strome has 16 points in his last 16 contests.
CENTER TO AVOID
Pierre-Luc Dubois, CLM at NYR ($18): Honestly, finding players to recommend avoiding is hard for Sunday. However, Dubois is on the road for the second leg of a back-to-back. Also, he has only two power-play points in his last 24 games, so he's missing the opportunity to take advantage of time with the extra man.
WING
Patrik Laine, WPG at CHI ($24): Laine isn't scoring goals like he has in the past, but his 9.9 shooting percentage may be part of the reason for that. Besides, he's finally making plays, as he has 28 assists in 46 games. Plus, he's put 151 shots on goal. Meanwhile, the Blackhawks allow the most shots on net per game and are on the second night of a back-to-back.
Alex DeBrincat, CHI vs. WPG ($17): DeBrincat only has 12 goals, but his 8.8 shooting percentage is well below his career average, so he could regress. Plus, eight of his goals, and three of his assists, have come on the power play. The Jets have a bottom-5 penalty kill, so this matchup is right up DeBrincat's alley.
WINGS TO AVOID
Brandon Saad, CHI vs. WPG ($16): After a lengthy ankle injury, Saad returned Saturday night. However, he's not in line to be able to take advantage of this matchup. The Jets, as noted, have a bad penalty kill. Saad doesn't have a single point with the extra man. That's not likely to change.
Pavel Buchnevich, NYR vs. CLM ($14): Buchnevich is on New York's top line, but he's struggling to light the lamp. The Russian only has seven goals in 46 games, including only one on the power play. I'm curious about what the Blue Jackets will do Sunday. Elvis Merzlikins has been great, but will Columbus give him two starts in as many days? If so, what will he do Sunday? Or, alternatively, will Matiss Kivlenieks get his first career start? Either way, I'm down on Buchnevich.
DEFENSE
Zach Werenski, CLM at NYR ($19): With only four teams playig, and with none of these matchups particularly daunting, I figure you can go with at least one or two players on every team. My primary argument is that Werenski has been hot. He has nine goals and four assists in his last 15 games. The Rangers do allow 34.9 shots on net per contest. Even if Igor Shesterkin plays well, he's going to be busy, and that can lead to goals.
Neal Pionk, WPG at CHI ($17): Somebody had to step up for the Jets on defense, and Pionk has been the guy. He's tallied 30 points in 48 games and put 101 shots on net. Even though Robin Lehner has been saved for this matchup, Pionk is facing a team on the second night of a back-to-back.
DEFENSE TO AVOID
Jacob Trouba, NYR vs. CLM ($17): Trouba has seven goals this year, but with a 6.0 shooting percentage that is above his career average. On that note, he only has two goals in his last 17 games, and both have come on the power play. The Blue Jackets have a penalty kill just outside the top 10, so they might be a little too tough for Trouba, even on the second night of a back-to-back.
Erik Gustafsson, CHI vs. WPG ($13): Gustafsson had 18 power-play points last season, but right now he's been moved to the second power-play unit for the Blackhawks. Over his last eight games he's only played 1:12 per contest with the extra man. Plus, though he's struggled recently, Connor Hellebuyck does have a 2.67 GAA and .920 save percentage.
