This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
It's a big Sunday for sports, but not so much for the NHL. There are just three games on the slate, the first one starting at 5:00 PM ET. Your options may be scarce, but here are some recommendations.
GOALIE
Petr Mrazek, CAR vs. NYR ($27): A few teams are on the second night of a back-to-back Sunday, but not the Hurricanes. They got the day off Saturday, and they are hosting a Rangers team that is, in fact, playing their second game in as many nights. It's not a great group of goalies in action as a result, which makes Mrazek – a streaky goalie at best – a better option than he normally would be.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Jimmy Howard, DET at LOS ($27): Last year, Jimmy Howard posted a 2.85 GAA and .910 save percentage. Now, the Wings have a banged-up defense and no longer have Henrik Zetterberg on their roster. This is not a team likely to pick up many wins, especially on the road against the Kings.
CENTER
Jonathan Toews, CHI vs. TOR ($19): Toews scored 20 goals last year, despite the fact he had a 9.5 shooting percentage that was well below his career average. He's made up for that to start this season, with four goals already through two games. The Maple Leafs allowed 33.9 shots on net per contest last year, and they are on the road for the second game of a back-to-back.
CENTER TO AVOID
Dylan Larkin, DET at LOS ($18):Jonathan Quick is pretty clearly the best goalie in action Sunday. To that effect, the Kings finished with a 2.46 GAA last year, the best in the NHL. The Wings clearly have the worst matchup and Larkin is their most-expensive center, so put two and two together and you get this suggestion to avoid him.
WING
Patrick Marleau, TOR at CHI ($18): Despite his advanced age, Marleau scored 27 goals on 203 shots in 2017-18. He also potted 27 goals in his last year with the Sharks. He hasn't put the puck in net yet this season, but he has two assists and seven shots on net. The Blackhawks are on the second night of a back-to-back, and are without Corey Crawford. That leaves Anton Forsberg to tend the goal, and he had a 2.97 GAA and .908 save percentage last year.
Teuvo Teravainen, CAR vs. NYR ($17): Teravainen hasn't done much yet, but it's only been two games. His ice time is up from last season when he struck for 64 points, including 20 on the power play. The Rangers are on the road on the second day of a back-to-back. Last year, they allowed a staggering 37.4 shots on net per contest in away games.
WINGS TO AVOID
Andrei Svechnikov, CAR vs. NYR ($19): Svechnikov was the second-overall pick this summer, but he's yet to prove himself in the pros. He's also been skating on the fourth line for the Hurricanes as they ease him into NHL action. Though this isn't a bad matchup, the price feels too high. There are other, more reasonably priced options out there.
Tyler Bertuzzi, DET at LOS ($18): Bertuzzi also hasn't done much in the big leagues. Last season, his first getting real playing time, he managed only 83 shots on net in 48 games. As previously noted, the Kings boasted the league's lowest GAA last year, so this is also a bad matchup for the 22-year-old.
DEFENSEMEN
Jake Gardiner, TOR at CHI ($16): Gardiner managed a personal high of 52 points last year, thanks in part to 47 assists. He's also posted double-digit power-play points in each of his last three campaigns. The Blackhawks ranked 20th in penalty kill last year, and they are on the second night of a back-to-back. The fact Anton Forsberg will likely be in net is also a point in Gardiner's favor.
Jake Muzzin, LOS vs. DET ($14): Muzzin has notched at least 40 points in three of his last four seasons. He's also recorded double-digit points with the extra man in each of those campaigns, and he's played more than 2:00 per game on the power play over the last six years. The Wings slumped to a 3.34 GAA as a team last year and, as noted earlier, Jimmy Howard had a .910 save percentage.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Paul LaDue, LOS vs. DET ($18): This price is baffling. LaDue only played in 12 games last season, notching four points. One game he didn't play in was the season opener for the Kings this year, as he was scratched. Yet he's more expensive than Muzzin and Alec Martinez, not to mention many non-Kings defensemen. That just doesn't make sense.
Erik Gustafsson, CHI vs. TOR ($17): Gustafsson is off to a good start to the season, but it's only two games so it seems a little early to price him like this. After all, he played in only 36 games last year, notching 16 points. Though the Maple Leafs are starting backup Garret Sparks in net, he did record a 1.79 GAA and .936 save percentage in the AHL last season.
