This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Sunday's modest four-game slate is highlighted by two intriguing divisional matchups, as the Blackhawks look to build on their narrow lead over the Blues in the Central while the Sharks attempt to gain ground on the division-leading Kings in the Pacific. The teams involved in those games are very well acquainted with each other, so following trends from their past encounters could pay off when setting your lineup. Of course, there are also other factors to consider when looking for value, and the players listed below all check enough boxes to be strongly considered Sunday.
GOALIE
Henrik Lundqvist, NYR at OTT ($35) - Lundqvist's $35 price tag puts him right around the middle of Sunday's goaltending options, but his recent play has been far above average. The veteran has allowed just eight goals while winning four of his last five starts, flashing his elite early-season form after going through an extended slump. Lundqvist held the Senators to one goal in both of their first two meetings, and a repeat performance is well within his capabilities.
Goalie to Avoid:
Eddie Lack, CAR vs. CGY ($36) - Lack's season-long line of 7-9-3 with a 2.85 GAA and .896 save percentage is far below what you'd want from a $36 goaltender. Don't expect his stats to look any better following a matchup with a hot Flames offense that has 17 goals in its last five games.
CENTER
Jordan Staal, CAR vs. CGY ($17) - Staal has actually outperformed his more offensively gifted older brother in January, with eight points in 11 games compared to Eric Staal's four. That high level of production coupled with his prowess in the defensive zone has led Jordan to a plus-8 rating over that span, yet he's still priced at $2 less than the Carolina captain. It would be foolish not to take advantage of such a bargain against the NHL's third-worst defensive team.
Center to Avoid:
David Backes, STL at CHI ($19) - While he does have three assists in his last five games, the normally aggressive Backes hasn't been creating many chances with just two shots on goal in that span. Couple the lack of goalscoring with his minus-1 rating in those five contests, and it's clear that Backes should be avoided until he starts putting more pucks on net.
WING
Vladimir Tarasenko, STL at CHI ($26) - Tarasenko has relished facing the Blackhawks this season, accruing three goals and an assist in their first two meetings. His price tag is high due to the Russian's status as one of the league's premier goalscorers, but he seems to take his game to a whole new level against the defending champs. In a slate heavy on high-priced skaters, Tarasenko has a strong chance of outperforming them all.
Patrick Marleau, SJ vs. LA ($15) - A nine-game goalless drought dropped Marleau's valuation all the way down to $15, but he finally snapped out of his funk with a tally Thursday in Arizona. The veteran is still asked to play a large offensive role as a top-six forward in San Jose, and he should be on the upswing after scoring in his last appearance. Marleau's pedigree suggests his production and price will both rise soon enough, so grab him while he's still this cheap.
Wings to Avoid:
Artemi Panarin, CHI vs. STL ($21) - The Blues have managed to bottle up the rookie winger in two previous meetings, holding him to just an assist and a minus-3 rating. It's possible he finally breaks out against them, but it makes more sense to draft some of his teammates with better track records than to expect a reversal of fortune for Panarin against a tough defensive team.
Max McCormick, OTT at NYR ($15) - Even his current $15 price is a massive overpay for McCormick. He plays on the fourth line, and his four points in 16 games is a fitting production level for a player in such a role. If you need to fill out your lineup with a low-to-medium priced winger, pretty much any other option in this price range offers higher upside.
DEFENSEMEN
Duncan Keith, CHI vs. STL ($23) - Keith and the rest of the Blackhawks played a very disappointing second leg of a back-to-back Friday in Florida, but the poor effort wasn't unexpected after the letdown of having a 12-game winning streak broken the night before. Now back at the United Center, Keith and the Blackhawks will look to redeem themselves in front of their fans. Considering the defenseman is averaging 9.3 fantasy points per game in six January home contests, another impressive showing is likely in the cards.
Ryan McDonagh, NYR at OTT ($22) - New York's captain has led by example lately, as he is currently riding a four-game point streak during which he has managed to amass double-digit fantasy points in every game. What's even more impressive is McDonagh's production in two meetings with the Senators this season: one goal, two assists, a plus-2 rating, two power-play points, four shots and six blocks for a total of 30.0 fantasy points. His combination of momentum and favorable history against the opposition makes McDonagh a terrific value play.
Defensemen to Avoid:
Erik Karlsson, OTT vs. NYR ($27) - Karlsson has had problems producing against his compatriot Henrik Lundqvist throughout his career. The defenseman's two goals, 12 points and minus-4 rating in 19 career games against New York represent a significant drop-off in performance compared to his history against most opponents. At $27, any doubts about Karlsson's ability to get on the scoresheet should leave him out of DFS lineups.
Marc-Edouard Vlasic, SJ vs. LA ($22) - Vlasic is a good, well-rounded defenseman who often makes for a solid value play when in his usual $17 price range. Nothing about his season or career-long stats suggests his three-goal, two-assist outburst in three games from Jan. 14 to Jan. 18 is sustainable, yet Vlasic's price still spiked all the way to $22 as a result of that scoring spree. Those hoping for him to keep it up are going to be let down, so the smart move is to look elsewhere until the blueliner's price dips back to its usual value.
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