This article is part of our FantasyDraft NHL series.
We lost an hour to Daylight Savings Time last night, but that just means we get to Sunday evening's three NHL games that much sooner. Here are some players I would recommend for your daily fantasy lineup.
GOALIE
Arizona Coyotes, ARI vs. VAN ($16,600): Though Arizona played Saturday afternoon, the fact Antti Raanta is expected to return for this game still makes this a solid choice. The 28-year-old netminder has a 2.43 GAA and a .924 save percentage this season. The Coyotes are also 6-3-1 in their last 10 contests, while the Canucks are 3-4-3. Vancouver, on top of that, has only scored 2.69 goals per game, placing them in the bottom 10.
CENTER
Mikael Backlund, CGY vs. NYI ($12,200): Backlund has a 7.5 shooting percentage, but he has scored three goals in his last seven contests. Maybe his puck luck is finally turning around. Players don't tend to need to be that lucky against the Islanders. New York has a league-high 3.57 GAA and has allowed an also league-high 35.7 shots on net per contest.
Derek Stepan, ARI vs. VAN ($11,800): Stepan has three points in his last four contests and 12 in his last 15. He too has had issues with puck luck, as he has a career-low 6.9 shooting percentage. It may feel a little late for regression toward the mean to kick in, but this matchup presents a solid chance for it to happen. The Canucks have allowed a symmetrical 3.25 goals per game and 32.5 shots on net per contest while carrying the 26th-ranked penalty kill.
WING
Alexander Radulov, DAL at PIT ($13,300): The Penguins are the lone team on a back-to-back Sunday night and they have a 3.71 GAA on zero days of rest. With Matt Murray out, Pittsburgh also will be missing its ostensible starting netminder. Radulov is having a fine season, as he has 24 goals and a career-best 59 points in 68 games.
Anders Lee, NYI at CGY ($12,200): Lee has notched 31 goals this season, including nine on the power play. The winger has averaged a career-high 3:04 per game with the extra man, and it's paid off to the tune of 16 power-play points in 68 games. Since the All-Star break, the Flames have a 3.30 GAA. Granted, that's mostly been with Mike Smith out, and he may return. However, even if Smith returns, it will be after a month-long break, so he may not be on the top of his game.
Micheal Ferland, CGY vs. NYI ($10,400): Since returning from injury Ferland has two points in three games. It's been a little while since he's scored a goal, but he does have 20 in 64 games. He also has a matchup with an Islanders team with a 3.53 GAA. New York has the 30th-ranked penalty kill, and Ferland has six goals with the extra man.
DEFENSEMEN
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, ARI vs. VAN ($10,100): Ekman-Larsson's four-game point streak ended Saturday, but he still has tallied nine points in his last 10 contests. Three of those points have come with the extra man, and overall he has 12 power-play points in 67 games. Since the All-Star break, the Canucks have a 3.42 GAA, which is fourth-worst in the NHL.
Ryan Pulock, NYI at CGY ($9,300): Pulock's scoring has dropped a bit, but he notched a point in his last outing. Plus, he has 31 shots on net in his last eight contests, so he's staying active offensively. As previously noted, the Flames have a 3.30 GAA since the All-Star break. It's worth seeing if Pulock can get back in the swing of things in this matchup.
