This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
With just three Sunday NHL games, owners may be looking to stack lineups with players from the same team. The first puck drops at 7:00 Eastern time. Here are some players to target with the small slate and a few to stay away from:
GOALIE
Mike Smith, CGY at NYR ($29): The Flames have given Smith plenty of help this season with the fifth-best Corsi For percentage (55.95) and they'll have a favorable matchup against the Rangers, who have scored just 2.4 goals per contest. Smith has been shaky on a game-to-game basis, but the opponent makes him a high-value choice as the second-cheapest option available.
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GOALIE TO AVOID
Ryan Miller, ANA vs. BUF ($35): Miller gets the start since John Gibson tended twine Saturday night. Although he's one of the top backups in the league, it doesn't justify being the most-expensive goaltending option. The Ducks own the worst team Corsi For percentage (40.21), while the Sabres aren't much better in the category (46.14). Best to save money in net, as offense will be at a premium.
CENTER
Jonathan Toews, CHI vs. TB ($23): Although he's the third-most expensive center on the slate, his value is unmatched with points in each of the first six games to give him five goals and five assists on the year. Remarkably, no points have come on the power play and Tampa Bay hasn't allowed a power-play goal yet this season, but Toews has racked up plenty of chances at even strength with a 57.4 Corsi For percentage thus far.
CENTER TO AVOID
Adam Henrique, ANA vs. BUF ($17):Ryan Getzlaf returned from a groin injury Saturday, bumping Henrique off the top line in the process. Henrique was effective in the role with three goals and two assists in seven games, but his ice time could be sporadic with Getzlaf and Ryan Kesler in the fold. His unpredictable nature makes him a risky play.
WINGS
Chris Kreider, NYR vs. CGY ($17): Kreider's hot right now, scoring four goals while adding two helpers and 19 shots on goal over the last five games. He's solidified his spot on the top line at both even strength and the man-advantage – the latter counting for two of his scores. On a team that's struggled to make chances, Kreider is flaunting a 52.7 Corsi For percentage, making him a desirable option at the price.
Matthew Tkachuk, CGY at NYR ($21): Tkachuk has struck for three goals and seven apples in seven games and has gone pointless just once this season. He's also been incredibly effective at even strength with a 62.4 Corsi For percentage, and has notched five points with the man-advantage. Tkachuk is a steal at this price considering the aforementioned stats and the fact he has registered a point in all three career games against the Rangers.
WINGS TO AVOID
Rickard Rakell, ANA vs. BUF ($24): Rakell is a dark horse option for the Rocket Richard Trophy after scoring 77 goals over the last two seasons, but he's off to a slow start this year. Of his four points this campaign, three came in the season opener followed by a five-game drought that dropped his ice time to 14:34 last outing. Rakell's too expensive for his boom-or-bust projection.
Kyle Okposo, BUF at ANA ($18): Okposo remains on the Sabres' third line with power-play minutes, but he has recorded just three points and a minus-2 rating through seven games. His usage is therefore tied to time on the man-advantage, but the Ducks are a disciplined bunch with just 3.3 minor penalties per game to rank 11th in the league.
DEFENSEMEN
Hampus Lindholm, ANA vs. BUF ($18): Lindholm's logging major minutes with 24:04 over the last five games, and it's blossomed into two goals and five assists – with two on the power play – during that span. The Sabres are also a good matchup, having allowed one goal and eight assists to defensemen in the last five games.
Mark Giordano, CGY at NYR ($20): Giordano is punching in nearly five minutes on the power play each game, and the Rangers are a juicy matchup ranking 27th in the league with a 69.6 penalty kill percentage. With one goal and six points through seven contests, the price is right for this short slate.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Kevin Shattenkirk, NYR vs. CGY ($18): Since the start of the 2013-14 season, over half of Shattenkirk's points have come with the man-advantage. The Flames are strong on the penalty kill, allowing power-play goals in just two of seven games. Furthermore, he's averaging 17:53 per game, so Shattenkirk's simply overpriced with just two points in six games to show for it.
Duncan Keith, CHI vs. TB ($19): Another high-risk, high-reward option, Keith is the third-most expensive blueliner in the lineup but has gone pointless in four of the first six games of the year – while posting four helpers through the other two outings. The Lightning have little to be desired in an opponent, allowing just two goals per game thus far.
