This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
There are seven games in the NHL on Sunday, so it's a sneaky-deep player pool. Here are a number of recommendations across multiple price ranges to considering while assembling your DraftKings lineups…
GOALIE
Jake Allen, STL at COL ($8,100): It took Colorado over 59 minutes to score at Winnipeg on Saturday, and now the Avalanche head home to host the Blues on Sunday. St. Louis has lost five consecutive games and is in dire need of a soft matchup. Since Mike Yeo has taken over bench duties, the Blues have allowed just 1.92 goals and 9.61 high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes, and Allen owns a .933 save percentage and 2.02 GAA during that stretch. Expect him to be popular, though. Colorado is the worst team in the league by a significant margin, along with ranking last in goals per game and high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes.
CENTER
Evgeni Malkin, PIT vs. BUF ($7,700): Since returning from a knee injury, Malkin has posted six goals, 11 points and 22 shots while averaging 3:04 of power-play time. His 3.64 points per 60 minutes pace all skaters with at least 500 minutes of ice time this season, so this salary doesn't match the dominant offensive numbers he's posted. Buffalo is also on the wrong end of a back-to-back set and playing its third game in four nights.
Christian Dvorak, ARI vs. CAR ($3,500): With a top-six role and power-play time assured, Dvorak's fantasy stock is on the rise. The rookie has seven goals and 11 points through his past 15 games and has averaged 18:06 of ice time and 2:27 with the man advantage since Martin Hanzal was dealt. Don't forget, the offensive upside is legit. Dvorak recorded 92 goals and 230 points through 125 games over his final two OHL seasons. Carolina has also lost six of seven and allowed at least three goals in each of those six loses.
WING
Vladimir Tarasenko, STL at COL ($7,500): Over the past three seasons, Tarasenko ranks second in goals (1.57), fourth in points (3.04) and third in shots (11.34) per 60 minutes among all skaters with at least 4,000 minutes. His elite offensive profile fits nicely against Colorado. The Avalanche enter on the wrong end of a back-to-back set with the second-worst team save percentage (.897) in the league. Tarasenko is also ripe for positive offensive regression with an active four-game point drought.
Jaden Schwartz, STL at COL ($5,100): Entering 2016-17, Schwartz posted a 21st-ranked 2.64 points per 60 minutes among all skaters with at least 1,500 minutes over the prior two seasons. His 2.06 mark this season has been a serious disappointment. However, he's beginning to turn his season around with a goal, five points and 24 shots through his past eight games. Additionally, he's projected to skate with Vladimir Tarasenko, and the duo boast a rock-solid 3.05 goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five over the past four seasons. As noted, this is also an excellent matchup.
Josh Ho-Sang, NYI at CGY ($2,700): The polarizing scorer owns oodles of offensive upside and talent galore. Sporting No. 66, Ho-Sang is playing a second-line role and receiving power-play time. He generated four high-danger scoring chances Friday against Chicago in just 11:04 of ice time at five-on-five, so his first NHL point should come sooner than later. This salary also opens up significant cap space to spend up elsewhere.
DEFENSE
Justin Faulk, CAR at ARI ($6,100): With the Coyotes allowing the second-most goals per game (3.23) and the most high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes (13.46), this is a ripe matchup for Faulk to kick his recent funk. He's failed to find the scoresheet in each of the past eight outings despite 24:21 of ice time per game (2:26 with the man advantage). Even with his dip in offense this year, Faulk still sports a 23rd-ranked 1.37 points per 60 minutes among all defensemen with at least 4,000 minutes the past three years.
Mark Giordano, CGY vs. NYI ($5,000): The Islanders have allowed the third most high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes (12.0) and sport an underwhelming 10-14-5 road record with 3.1 goals against per contest. Giordano has found his form of late with three goals, seven points, 13 shots and 21 blocked shots while averaging 24:17 of ice time through his past eight outings. He provides a high floor and significant upside at this salary, especially considering his 1.6 points per 60 minutes over the past four seasons rank seventh among all defensemen with at least 6,000 minutes.
