This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
It's a light schedule Sunday with only three games on the slate, and only the two evening games are included for daily fantasy contests. The pickings are slim, but here are the options that interest me the most.
GOALIE
Connor Hellebuyck, WPG vs. CAR ($8,600): You never really need a good excuse to use Hellebuyck, as he posted a .924 save percentage last season. Three of the six teams in action Sunday are on the second day of a back-to-back, including the Hurricanes. That makes the American netminder stand out above the competition even more than usual.
CENTER
Ryan O'Reilly, STL vs. ANA ($5,900): O'Reilly is new to the Blues, but they brought him in to center their top line, and he's also a member of their top power-play unit. That certainly makes sense, given he's notched at least 22 power-play points in four of his last five seasons. The Ducks are on the road for the second day of a back-to-back, and Saturday did not go well for them defensively. Both John Gibson and Ryan Miller had to play in net, so neither of them will be fully rested.
Adam Henrique, ANA at STL ($):Ryan Kesler is back, but Ryan Getzlaf is still out for a couple more games. That means Henrique's role should still be significant. After being dealt to Anaheim last year, he managed 20 goals and 16 assists in 57 games. The Blues will be on the second day of a back-to-back, and they have plans to start Chad Johnson in net. Johnson didn't particularly look impressive last season, posting a 3.55 GAA and .891 save percentage.
WING
Kyle Connor, WPG vs. CAR ($5,500): Connor turned heads as a rookie, potting 31 goals for the Jets. He already has three goals through four games this year, thanks in part to having started a whopping 74.4 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone. Curtis McElhinney started for the Hurricanes on Saturday, which means Petr Mrazek and his career .910 save percentage should be in net Sunday.
Nikolaj Ehlers, WPG vs. CAR ($4,400): Don't worry about Ehlers' slow start to the season, as the goals will come in time. After all, he has racked up 54 goals over his last two campaigns, and he's coming off a year where he notched 60 points. Perhaps a matchup with the Hurricanes on the road for their second game in as many days is what he needs to finally register a point.
Maxime Comtois, ANA at STL ($3,400): This may not be a name you know, but Comtois is interesting if you are looking for a bargain-barrel option. The 19-year-old rookie has tallied four points in five games to start the year, is currently skating on Anaheim's top line, and is even receiving power-play time. He's got the young legs that can handle the second night of a back-to-back, and getting to go up against Chad Johnson and his .891 save percentage from last season should also represent a major point in his favor.
DEFENSE
Dustin Byfuglien, WPG vs. CAR ($6,000): Big Buff has only registered one point this season, but that's bound to change. After all, he's never had fewer than 45 points in a full season with the Jets, and he recorded 22 points on the power play last year. The Hurricanes ranked 24th on the penalty kill in 2017-18, and they're probably not going to be better than usual on the road for the second game of a back-to-back.
Colton Parayko, STL vs. ANA ($4,600): Parayko puts a healthy amount of shots on net for a defenseman, as his 212 last year will show. Anaheim is on the road for the second game of a back-to-back, and last season allowed 33.1 shots on net per contest in away games – with 36.1 on zero days of rest. That could mean a busy night for Parayko on both ends of the ice, as he also blocked 141 shots last year.
