This article is part of our FantasyDraft NHL series.
There are but three games on the NHL slate Sunday, but hopefully that will be enough to tide you over. If nothing else, it means you can spend your lazy Sunday playing daily fantasy hockey. If you want to do that, here are some players to target for your lineup.
GOALIE
Washington Capitals, WAS at CGY ($16,300): This is a rough day for goalie options. Washington played Saturday, so Philipp Grubauer likely be in net. He's struggled this year, but he had a 2.04 GAA and a .926 save percentage last season. The Flames have only scored 2.27 goals per game this year, so hopefully they don't challenge the Capitals too much. That is, if you use their goalies.
CENTER
Rickard Rakell, ANA at CAR ($13,000): Rakell broke out with 33 goals in 71 games last year, thanks in part to the fact that he started 56.2 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone. He's off to a hot start to this season with five goals on 31 shots through 10 games, and he just notched his first power-play point of the year. Scott Darling hasn't solved Carolina's goaltending woes, as he has a 2.70 GAA and a .899 save percentage with the Canes.
Mark Scheifele, WPG vs. PIT ($12,800): Winnipeg's top center has 29 and 32 goals in his last two seasons, and last year he also had 82 points in 79 games. He also averaged 20:34 per game in ice time last season, and he's actually increased that number to 21:20 this year. Pittsburgh has struggled defensively this year, as they had ceded 3.73 goals and 32.9 shots on net per game before Saturday night.
WING
Phil Kessel, PIT at WPG ($14,000): Kessel is on a tear to start the season. He already has 12 points and 52 shots on goal through 12 games. His shooting percentage is only 8.0 as well, so he's not even getting puck luck. Of course, he's helped by the fact he's started 72.7 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone. The Jets, meanwhile, have allowed 3.33 goals and 35.0 shots on net per game.
Jeff Skinner, CAR vs. ANA ($11,900): The Ducks will be on the second night of a back-to-back, and Ryan Miller could get his first start of the season after returning from a wrist injury. Skinner has put at least 235 shots on net in his last four campaigns, and he already has six goals on 30 shots in nine games this year.
Bryan Rust, PIT at WPG ($9,400): Rust is no Kessel, but he has started 63.1 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone. He only has one goal this year, but he has eight assists to his name. As noted, Winnipeg has given up 3.33 goals and 35.0 shots on net per game this year, and it allowed 3.11 goals per contest last season.
DEFENSE
Dustin Byfuglien, WPG vs. PIT ($10,700): Byfuglien has had more than 50 points and 240 shots on goal in three of his last four seasons. He doesn't have a goal yet this year, but he has five assists in seven games, and eventually he'll find the back of the net. It could definitely happen against the Penguins. Pittsburgh is on the second night of a back-to-back, and the Penguins also gave up 32.6 shots on net last season as well.
Jaccob Slavin, CAR vs. ANA ($7,500): Slavin has averaged a respectable 12.00 fantasy points per game this year. The 23-year-old has three points, 19 shots on goal and 20 blocked shots. As noted, the Ducks will be on the road for the second night of a back-to-back, and Anaheim gave up 3.14 goals per game on zero days rest last season.
