This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
The Yahoo NHL contests on Sunday include the Heritage Classic played outdoors between Edmonton and Winnipeg, so you've got four games to choose from. The Oilers-Jets bout could be difficult to handicap because of the unknown elements, so it might not be ideal to grab too many players from either team.
GOALIE
John Gibson, ANA vs. VAN ($35): After posting a .930 save percentage at home last season, Gibson draws the Canucks in the Anaheim home opener. Vancouver is on the wrong end of back-to-back road games and lost its first game on Saturday. Gibson has also saved 46 of 50 shots in his last two starts.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Cam Talbot, EDM at WPG ($23): Winnipeg is averaging a seventh-ranked 3.5 goals per game this season, and despite his 4-1 record, Talbot owns an underwhelming .904 save percentage thus far. Add the potential for the sun's glare or poor ice conditions to impact his play, and there isn't a lot of reason to target Talbot with safer options available in goal Sunday.
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CENTER
Mark Scheifele, WPG vs. EDM ($25): The 23-year-old pivot is padding the scoresheet across all statistics, and his excellent run dates back to last season. Over his past 52 games, Scheifele has 54 points, and he's averaging 4:06 of power-play time. He's the top offensive center for Winnipeg, and the Oilers are allowing 3.2 goals per game to start 2016-17.
CENTER TO AVOID
The Yahoo NHL contests on Sunday include the Heritage Classic played outdoors between Edmonton and Winnipeg, so you've got four games to choose from. The Oilers-Jets bout could be difficult to handicap because of the unknown elements, so it might not be ideal to grab too many players from either team.
GOALIE
John Gibson, ANA vs. VAN ($35): After posting a .930 save percentage at home last season, Gibson draws the Canucks in the Anaheim home opener. Vancouver is on the wrong end of back-to-back road games and lost its first game on Saturday. Gibson has also saved 46 of 50 shots in his last two starts.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Cam Talbot, EDM at WPG ($23): Winnipeg is averaging a seventh-ranked 3.5 goals per game this season, and despite his 4-1 record, Talbot owns an underwhelming .904 save percentage thus far. Add the potential for the sun's glare or poor ice conditions to impact his play, and there isn't a lot of reason to target Talbot with safer options available in goal Sunday.
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CENTER
Mark Scheifele, WPG vs. EDM ($25): The 23-year-old pivot is padding the scoresheet across all statistics, and his excellent run dates back to last season. Over his past 52 games, Scheifele has 54 points, and he's averaging 4:06 of power-play time. He's the top offensive center for Winnipeg, and the Oilers are allowing 3.2 goals per game to start 2016-17.
CENTER TO AVOID
Ryan Kesler, ANA vs. VAN ($19): While he provides a nice fantasy floor because of his hefty workload and typically high shot volume, but Kesler has just two assists this year and none over his past three games. He's also deployed in more of a defensive role at even strength.
WING
Radim Vrbata, ARI at NYR ($14): The veteran has a goal and two helpers with 13 shots on net through his first four games of the season and is just a year removed from a 31-goal campaign. Additionally, Vrbata has averaged 3:32 of power-play time to start the season. The Rangers are also playing their second game in consecutive nights and could be in store for a letdown after beating Washington on Saturday.
Nick Ritchie, ANA vs. VAN ($12): Expected to continue riding shotgun with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry at even strength, Ritchie presents significant upside at a minimum price. Additionally, he registered five shots on net last time out. The Canucks are also playing their second road game in consecutive nights, which sweetens the deal.
WINGERS TO AVOID
Daniel Sedin, VAN at ANA ($21): The veteran continues to produce offensively with four points through five games this season, but enters the Anaheim home opener on the wrong end of back-to-back road games. Additionally, the Ducks will have last change to ensure they have their top defensive matchups against Sedin (and his brother) all night.
Jason Pominville, MIN at NYI ($18): While the 33-year-old veteran is in a top-six role and receiving power-play looks with the No. 2 unit, he's past his prime and coming off his worst offensive season since his rookie year in 2005-06. This just isn't a good spot to target Pominville with the Islanders allowing a respectable 2.8 goals per game thus far.
DEFENSEMEN
Ryan McDonagh, NYR vs. ARI ($18): Now the top offensive defenseman for the Rangers, McDonagh has averaged 3:16 of power-play time and recorded four points over his past three games. The Coyotes are allowing an average of 3.5 goals per game, and McDonagh also helps in the peripheral categories. His salary is as cushy as the matchup, too.
Cam Fowler, ANA vs. VAN ($16): Under head coach Randy Carlyle, Fowler's ice time has ascended to career-high marks of 24:46 per night, including 4:39 with the man advantage. The added minutes have come with two goals, two assists and 12 shots on net, too. Fowler's price doesn't match his role and current form.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, ARI at NYR ($23): There is always a plus/minus risk with Ekman-Larsson, and the Rangers are flying offensively to start the year (3.8 goals per game). The rearguard could easily post a big night, but he could just as easily bleed back half his offensive contributions through a minus rating. At this price, it's best to look for more reliability.
Andrej Sekera, EDM at WPG ($16): There is a good chance Sekera will spend plenty of his ice time matched up against the Patrik Laine-Mark Scheifele-Blake Wheeler line, which is a fantasy nightmare. He's also registered just four shots on goal through five games despite skating with the No. 1 power-play unit.
