This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
Sunday's NHL main slate begins at 7:00 PM Eastern time and features four of the day's eight games. Below, you'll find an overview of the matchups and suggested options for crafting an effective lineup.
SLATE PREVIEW
Despite the limited selection of games, there are some mismatches to exploit, as three of the bottom four teams in the league standings are in action. The Flames will be heavy favorites in Detroit against the league-worst Red Wings, while the Golden Knights and Oilers will also look to capitalize on favorable road matchups in Anaheim and Los Angeles, respectively. The fourth matchup of the evening has the Blues visiting the Wild.
GOALIES
Mike Smith ($7,900) has flipped the switch since the calendar flipped to 2020, going 9-1-2 while allowing more than three goals only once. Between his strong recent play and a favorable matchup with a Kings team that's scoring only 2.48 goals per game, the Oilers' netminder has the highest floor among this slate's options in net.
David Rittich ($7,300) has allowed four goals in each of his last two starts, but this is an ideal buy-low opportunity on the affordable Flames goalie. Expect him to bounce back against a Red Wings offense that's scoring by far the fewest goals in the league at 2.00 per game.
If you don't trust Rittich, then Vegas' Malcolm Subban ($7,200) is a sensible low-cost alternative. After watching Marc-Andre Fleury defeat the Panthers on Saturday for the Golden Knights' fifth straight win, Subban will likely be tasked with trying to keep the streak rolling against a Ducks team that's potting only 2.48 goals per game.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Johnny Gaudreau ($7,800) hasn't been able to recapture the form from last year's 99-point for most of this season, but he has heated up recently. Gaudreau has a 1-8-9 line and 30 shots over his past seven games, and he's pulled into a tie with Matthew Tkachuk for the team points lead at 51. A Red Wings team that's allowing a league-high 3.73 goals per game should have no answer for Johnny Hockey.
Minnesota has been vulnerable on the penalty kill, ranking fourth-worst at 75.4 percent. David Perron ($6,300) is the Blues player best positioned to capitalize on that weakness, as he leads St. Louis with 26 power-play points and is a three-way tie for the team lead in goals with the extra man. Perron, Brayden Schenn and Jaden Schwartz all have nine power-play goals.
Kevin Fiala ($5,400) has unlocked a new gear over his past nine games, recording a 7-5-12 line and 39 shots in his past nine games. He should be the first Wild forward you turn to if you're looking that way.
As far as cheap lineup fillers go, you could do worse than Anaheim's Troy Terry ($3,300). The affordable winger has four assists and 23 shots in his last seven games, while Subban has been vulnerable in Vegas' net with a 3.09 GAA and .893 save percentage.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Flames at Red Wings
Mikael Backlund (C - $5,300), Matthew Tkachuk (W - $6,200), Andrew Mangiapane (W - $4,200)
This line offers a nice mix of effectiveness and affordability against the league's worst defensive team. Backlund is playing his best hockey of the season, with a 6-5-11 line and 28 shots in his past eight games. Tkachuk's 20-31-51 line has him tied for the team points lead and includes at least one point in each of the last eight games. The affordable Mangiapane has showcased what he's capable of against lower-tier opposition recently. The Flames have faced the lowly Ducks twice in their last four games, and Mangiapane has produced three goals and three assists over those two contests.
Oilers at Kings
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (C - $6,700), Leon Draisaitl (W - $8,500), Kailer Yamamoto (W - $4,600)
This has been one of the best lines in the league in the 20 games since Yamamoto was promoted to the NHL. Draisaitl has a 13-23-36 line since then and leads the league with 97 points in 61 games overall. Nugent-Hopkins has a 10-18-28 line over those most recent 20 games, and Yamamoto himself has been performing at a point-per-game pace with a 9-11-20 line. On the other hand, the Kings are just 5-13-2 in their last 20 games.
Golden Knights at Ducks
Paul Stastny (C - $4,900), Jonathan Marchessault (W - $7,000), Reilly Smith (W - $5,100)
This is a recommended line for the second time in as many days, as it offers superior bang for the buck and comparable production to Vegas' top line heading into this matchup with the 24-30-7 Ducks. Stastny dishes out two assists in Saturday's win over Florida to bring his season line to 17-18-35. Smith stretched his point streak to four games with two goals Saturday and now has a 25-24-49 line. Marchessault has peppered the net with 25 shots in the past five games and has a 2-3-5 line to show for his efforts over that stretch.
DEFENSEMEN
Vince Dunn ($3,800) slid up to St. Louis' top power-play unit Friday with Alex Pietrangelo sidelined by an illness. Even if Pietrangelo is able to make his return, Dunn will have a nice opportunity to add to his season total of eight power-play points against the vulnerable Wild penalty kill.
Shea Theodore ($5,400) has mustered a point-per-game pace in his last 15. He'll remain a prominent offensive threat from the Vegas blue line in Anaheim.
Jared Spurgeon ($5,400) recorded a hat trick in Edmonton last time out, and the Wild blueliner has lit the lamp five times in his last six games.
Rasmus Andersson ($3,900) is getting a chance on Calgary's top power-play unit, and he's showed off some offensive touch recently with a point in four of his last six games. He's worth locking in at just $3,900 against the lowly Red Wings.
