DraftKings NHL: Sunday Breakdown

DraftKings NHL: Sunday Breakdown

This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.

There are 11 total NHL games Sunday, and DraftKings splits it into two separate slates. The early four-game slate begins at 12:30 p.m. EST, and the later seven-game slate starts at 7 p.m. EST. We'll be going through both slates in this article. 

SLATE PREVIEW

With a whopping 22 teams lacing up their skates Sunday, there are a ton of options to sift through before setting your DFS lineup. The two separate slates help split it up, but it's still essential to have a good portfolio of surefire targets and some sneaky contrarian plays as well. 

GOALIE

Marc-Andre Fleury, VGK at ARI ($8,200): The Golden Knights have been switching off between Fleury and Robin Lehner this season, and it appears Fleury will get the nod Sunday. Both goalies have been strong, but Fleury seems to have the edge, recording a .933 save percentage and wins in each of his starts. 

Semyon Varlamov, NYI at NJ ($7,800): Varlamov has been the best goalie in the league thus far, allowing just one goal over the first three games. The Devils have averaged just two goals per game this season, and the win probability certainly rises with opposing goalie MacKenzie Blackwood (COVID-19 protocol) expected to be out. 

Jonathan Quick, LA at STL ($6,900): This play is contingent on who the Blues start in their crease. If Ville Husso makes his first NHL start, Quick is an intriguing fantasy option for tournaments. Husso is quite unproven, and the Blues' offense has struggled immensely, producing 1.81 xGF/60 at even strength this season -- 27th in the league, per Natural Stat Trick. There's an opportunity for Quick to sneak out a win.  

VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS 

Dominik Kubalik, CHI vs. DET ($5,100): Kubalik converted on 19.1 percent of his shots last season, but he's firing at a 10.1 percent rate to start the year. The 25-year-old is keeping up the volume with 19 shots through five games, so look for some upward trajectory soon, possibly against the up and down Red Wings.

Chandler Stephenson, VGK at ARI ($4,600): Stephenson's elite passing ability is the perfect complement for wingers Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty -- who have produced 12 combined points through five games. 

Matt Duchene, NSH at DAL ($4,900): The Predators were embarrassed Friday night in a 7-0 loss to the Stars. They generated plenty of chances, but Anton Khudobin was stellar in the season opener. He won't keep the net empty again. Duchene is set up well, as he centers the second line and has accumulated 10 shots on net and two assists over the last two games. 

Ryan Strome, NYR at PIT ($4,600): It's been a tough start to the year for Strome, as he hasn't produced a point over the first four games of the year. The 27-year-old racked up 59 points over 70 contests last season, so getting back on the right track is just a matter of time. A matchup against the Penguins, who have given up 3.86 goals per game, is an ideal opportunity.

LINE STACKS

Red Wings at Blackhawks

Dylan Larkin (C - $6,700), Anthony Mantha (W - $4,900), Vladimir Namestnikov (W - $3,000) 

The Blackhawks' defense has been abysmal this year, giving up 4.2 goals per game with no clear lead goalie. The Red Wings are the perfect tournament target as a result, as they (rightfully) carry the brand of a bottom-five team. Nevertheless, Larkin has five points through five games, and he's averaging four shots on net per outing. Both wingers had 20-goal seasons not too long ago, too. 

Islanders at Devils

Mathew Barzal (C - $7,200), Anders Lee (W - $6,800), Jordan Eberle (W - $5,800) 

The Islanders' top line already feasted Thursday night with a combined three goals, three assists and 10 shots on net, and the trio is primed for a repeat. The Devils likely will start Scott Wedgewood in net. Wedgewood struggled in the minors last year, and he sports a .902 save percentage and 3.09 GAA over 25 career appearances. 

Wild vs. Sharks

Nick Bjugstad (C - $3,100), Zach Parise (W - $4,800), Kirill Kaprizov (W - $5,400) 

The Sharks have started the year as one of the worst defensive teams in the league, recording 3.5 GA/60 at even strength -- the fourth-most in the league. Meanwhile, the Wild's offense has turned into a dynamic force, specifically because of Kaprizov's emergence. The rookie has accrued five points through five games, and his linemates contributed a point each in Friday's win over the Sharks.

DEFENSEMEN

Rasmus Andersson, CGY vs. TOR ($5,200): The 24-year-old looks poised for a breakout season after posting a point in each of the first three games. Andersson mans the top pairing, and he quarterbacks the Flames first power-play unit. He's positioned well to capitalize, as the Maple Leafs have allowed eight power-play goals in six games, and Frederik Andersen has been shaky at times as well. 

Alec Martinez, VGK at ARI ($5,300): Martinez is a shot-blocking maestro, registering 20 blocked shots through five games. That adds a concrete floor in DFS, and he's been a staple on the second power-play unit this season, which bodes well because the Coyotes' 79.2 penalty-kill percentage ranks 18th in the league.

Miro Heiskanen, DAL vs. NSH ($6,100): It's a bit surprising that Heiskanen contributed just one point during Friday's seven-goal barrage, but he still posted two shots on net and four blocked shots. The 21-year-old played just 18:54, and his ice time should increase moving forward, as he averaged 23:46 last season. 

Adam Fox, NYR at PIT ($5,800): The Rangers have handed the keys to the blue line to Fox, as he's averaged 23:47 of ice time so far, including 5:30 on the man advantage per game. All four of his points have been with an extra man, and the Penguins have struggled in that area, as opponents have converted on 25.9 percent of power-play opportunities. 

Ty Smith, NJ vs. NYI ($4,100): It's been tough to crack Varlamov this year, but Smith is appealing nonetheless. The 2018 first-round pick (17th overall) has notched a point in four straight games to start the year. The 20-year-old's a useful contrarian play.

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Jordan Mazzara plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: Mazz30 Yahoo: Mazz30 DraftKings: Mazz30.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jordan Mazzara
Jordan has produced NFL and NHL content for RotoWire since 2017. He's the beat writer for the St. Louis Blues and Seattle Seahawks.
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