Yahoo DFS Hockey: Sunday Picks

Yahoo DFS Hockey: Sunday Picks

This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.

There are five games included in the main contests at Yahoo! on Sunday. Edmonton comes in as the largest favorite on the docket after topping Toronto 4-3 on Saturday. However, the Oilers are facing a well-rested Senators side. The other four matchups are rematches: Columbus topped Chicago on Friday, while the Islanders-Flyers, Avalanche-Wild and Blues-Ducks will be playing the second leg of a back-to-back set. It's worth noting there are a lot of affordable options in goal, so there's extra cap space to allot to skaters Sunday.

GOALIE

Ville Husso, STL at ANH ($23): With just 15 goals through nine games, Anaheim is a team to target as a favorable opponent for starting goalies. There's still risk here, as Husso's surrendered nine goals on just 48 shots through his first two NHL appearances and wasn't impressive in the AHL last season with an .871 save percentage and 3.67 GAA. Still, the salary is manageable and the matchup is soft.

GOALIE TO AVOID

Cam Talbot, MIN vs. COL ($31): Talbot should tend the crease Sunday after returning to backup duty in Saturday's loss. The veteran is also off to a respectable start with a .925 save percentage and 2.34 GAA through four appearances, but returning to action against the Avs isn't a plus-spot as they've rolled off three consecutive wins while scoring 15 times.

CENTER

Nathan MacKinnon, COL at MIN ($34): It was a strong showing for MacKinnon Saturday with 14.6 fantasy points, but he's still sporting an unsustainably low 5.0 shooting percentage. Considering he produced a 11.9 mark over the previous three seasons, look for statistical correction to kick in. After all, MacKinnon has recorded 24 shots through the past five games during his current goal drought. 

CENTER TO AVOID

Joel Eriksson Ek, MIN vs. COL ($17): It's been a strong start to the season for the 24-year-old center, but there are a few reasons for pause Sunday. Eriksson Ek's 17.9 shooting percentage is facing negative correction and he's also starting only 47.4 of his five-on-five shifts in the offensive zone, including just five of 12 in Saturday's loss. 

WING

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, EDM vs. OTT ($25): Held off the scoresheet in consecutive games against Toronto, look for Nugent-Hopkins to have a rebound showing against the lowly Senators. Ottawa has surrendered 33 goals during its current seven-game losing streak, and Nugent-Hopkins is locked into a top offensive role with Connor McDavid ($35) in all situations. 

Jordan Kyrou, STL at ANH ($13): Expect the 22-year-old winger to be a popular target Sunday. He's coming off a three-point night against Anaheim on Saturday, but the production has been there all season with five tallies, five helpers and 23 shots through eight games and locked into a scoring role. And while there should be some bounce back from the Ducks following Saturday's 6-1 loss, the Blues are a considerably stronger team so the matchup still checks out. 

WINGS TO AVOID

Zach Parise, MIN vs. COL ($18): This salary is out of whack with both the tough matchup against Colorado and Parise's underwhelming production. The veteran has only found the scoresheet in three of nine games this season and has only registered a single shot in each of the past two contests. Parise has also only hit double-digit fantasy points once all year. At best, he's an against-the-grain prayer. 

Dominik Kubalik, CHI vs. CLS ($18): After scoring 30 goals as a rookie last season, Kubalik has been held to two tallies through nine games. While there's likely statistical correction ahead of his current 6.7 shooting percentage, Columbus is rounding into form with just eight goals allowed through its past four while going 3-0-1 during the stretch. 

DEFENSE

Torey Krug, STL at ANH ($18): The first-year Blue appears to be settling in with his new club and has collected four points - including one goal - through the past six games while logging a respectable 21:24 of ice time with 2:47 on the man advantage. Anaheim is also in a mini slide with consecutive losses while allowing nine total goals, including six to St. Louis on Saturday.

Zach Werenski, CLS at CHI ($17): Another proven point producer, Werenski has found the scoresheet in three of the past four games for a goal, two assists, nine shots and six blocks while logging a hefty 24:37 of ice time - including 3:08 on the power play. There's nothing scary about a matchup against Chicago, as they have lost three straight and surrendered 30 goals through nine matchups this season.

DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID

Ryan Pulock, NYI at PHI ($18): For whatever reason, Pulock's shot volume is way down this season with only 14 shots through eight games. He's even receiving an uptick in power-play time to start the campaign with an average of 3:46 per contest compared to 1:46 last year. There's a definite case to be made statistical correction will kick in, but it would be more realistic if Pulock was peppering the net like the 527 shots he registered through 218 games over the previous three years. 

Justin Faulk, STL at ANH ($18): Without a consistent power-play role, it's hard to justify selecting Faulk at this salary. He's only recorded double-digit fantasy points twice all year and has missed the scoresheet entirely in seven of eight games. There's a respectable floor because of his shot volume (24) and plus-10 rating, but a quick look at his game log highlights the majority of his production coming from two solid performances.

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. Neil Parker plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: naparker77, DraftKings: naparker77.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Neil Parker
A loyal Cubs, Cowboys and Maple Leafs fan for decades, Neil has contributed to RotoWire since 2014. He previously worked for USA Today Fantasy Sports.
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