This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
It's a busy NHL schedule Sunday with eight games. However, only the four evening matchups beginning at 7 p.m. EST are included in the main contests at Yahoo!. Additionally, seven of the teams in action Sunday are playing the second leg of a back-to-back set. The Senators are the only one that didn't play Saturday. Interestingly, but are also the largest underdog on the docket.
GOALIE
Matt Murray, OTT at CGY ($20): A position-low salary is a starting point to provide cap space to allot elsewhere and Murray has two solid showings against the Flames with 19.4 and 18.2 fantasy points, respectively. However, he's followed each of those outings up with a negative point total against Calgary and the veteran sports an underwhelming .883 save percentage and 3.72 GAA for the campaign. Still, this is a potential letdown spot for the Flames after losing to Edmonton 3-2 Saturday.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Pekka Rinne, NSH at DAL ($35): The Predators may opt to start Kasimir Kaskisuo ($23) to avoid Rinne playing back-to-back days. But either way, it's probably best to steer clear of Nashville's crease. Rinne has allowed 11 goals through his past two starts while Kaskisuo has made a single NHL start allowing six goals and posted a discouraging .909 save percentage in the AHL last season.
CENTER
Evgeny Kuznetsov, WAS at PHI ($15): It's been a nightmare season for Kuznetsov, and his salary reflects it. Statistical correction is ahead of his current 1.66 points per 60 minutes, as he posted a team-high 3.08 mark over the previous three seasons and continues to log high offensive minutes. The Flyers have surrendered the seventh-most five-on-five goals per 60 minutes in the league and enters with a 28th-ranked 71.8 penalty-kill percentage.
CENTER TO AVOID
Mika Zibanejad, NYR at PIT ($26): The 27-year-old center has missed the scoresheet in eight of the past 12 games and only posted double-digit fantasy points twice during the stretch, so it's surprising his salary remains this high. Additionally, Zibanejad was benched for a chunk of Thursday's 6-1 win over New Jersey. He'll likely spend a lot of time matched up against Sidney Crosby ($32) or Evgeni Malkin ($22), which probably won't be a plus-matchup on the road.
WING
Joel Farabee, PHI vs. WAS ($18): At best, the Capitals are a middling defensive team with 3.17 goals against per game and a 12th-ranked 81.1 penalty-kill percentage, so Farabee is worth a look considering his role and current form. The 21-year-old winger is skating on the No. 1 line and has racked up eight goals, six assists, 32 shots and a plus-8 rating through his past 11 appearances.
Conor Sheary, WAS at PHI ($10): With a top-line gig and contest-low salary, Sheary warrants attention. He's never been a go-to scorer, but offers plenty of experience skating atop the depth chart. As noted, it's favorable matchup and the veteran winger checks out as a stack candidate alongside linemates Evgeny Kuznetsov ($15) and Alex Ovechkin ($34).
WINGS TO AVOID
Johnny Gaudreau, CGY vs. OTT ($21): The American winger was held to just three assists during a recent four-game series against Ottawa and Calgary scored 13 goals in their two wins, so Gaudreau was hardly part of the action. He's obviously a strong candidate to find the scoresheet against Ottawa on Sunday, but he'll probably need a multi-point showing to truly move the needle and he's only done that once through the past 14 games. Just note, even with improved play over the past couple weeks, Ottawa has still allowed the most goals per game in the league.
Jamie Benn, DAL vs. NSH ($20): While Benn has collected an assist in consecutive games, he hasn't reached double-digit fantasy points in any of the past 11 contests and has only managef a single tally and three helpers during the stretch. The Predators are also a sound five-on-five team defensively with just 8.69 high-danger scoring chances allowed per 60 minutes and a third-ranked 53.8 Corsi For percentage.
DEFENSE
Adam Fox, NYR at PIT ($20): The Penguins sport a 27th-ranked 73.6 penalty-kill percentage, so Fox should have opportunities to pad his fantasy point total with the man advantage. The power-play quarterback is also in solid form with seven points through his past six games to improve to a rock-solid 1.54 points per 60 minutes this season.
Thomas Chabot, OTT at CGY ($17): This is the salary range to consider Chabot a modest-risk, high-reward target. As noted, Ottawa are the largest underdogs on the docket and the 24-year-old defenseman's minus-8 rating carries risk. However, he's logging huge minutes - 25:36 with 4:04 on the power play - while producing a respectable 16 points, 60 shots and 32 blocks for the campaign. If this does play out to be a letdown spot for Calgary, Chabot should have a solid showing.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Mattias Ekholm, NSH at DAL ($19): Since returning from injured reserve Feb. 27, Ekholm has three multi-point showings through five games to improve to 1.49 points per 60 minutes for the campaign. Considering he posted a 1.24 mark over the previous three seasons, his recent offensive binge is likely nearing its end. Dallas is also solid defensively at five-on-five with the third fewest goals and fourth fewest high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes allowed.
Shayne Gostisbehere, PHI vs. WAS ($18): The offensive defenseman scored Saturday to snap a three-game point drought. And while he's posted a respectable three tallies and a helper through the past six games, Gostisbehere's salary still seems steep. He only recorded a single assist through the first nine games of the season and has been a healthy scratch at times, although it helps he's climbed back into the quarterback role on the No. 1 power-play unit.
