Yahoo Daily Fantasy Hockey: Shopping guide for Sunday’s NHL slate

By Sasha Yodashkin
RotoWire Hockey Writer

Sunday’s four-game slate gets off to an exciting early start with what promises to be a high-scoring Dallas-Detroit matinee, and features nonstop action all the way until the end of the late-night Oilers-Blackhawks contest.

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There aren’t a lot of teams to pick from, but plenty of the league’s premier scorers are in action. Whether you want to stack linemates or hedge your bets with stars from multiple teams, we’re here to pick out the best value plays to maximize both production and flexibility.

GOALIE 

Ryan Miller, VAN at NJD ($34) – Assuming Miller once again gets the nod after starting Saturday in Buffalo, he makes for an excellent play against a mediocre Devils offense. New Jersey’s 2.38 goals-per-game average ranks last of the eight teams in action Sunday, so whoever starts in net for the Canucks should be an excellent option. With Vancouver hungry to avenge a disappointing loss to the Sabres, expect it to bring a solid team effort and put Miller in position to pick up a win.

Goalie to Avoid: 

Petr Mrazek, DET vs. DAL ($30) – The logic here is simple: avoid the goaltender facing the red-hot Stars offense. There aren’t a lot of options to pick from Sunday, but Mrazek should definitely fall outside your top two.

CENTER 

Leon Draisaitl, EDM at CHI ($13) – Draisaitl has centered Edmonton’s top line in recent games, producing seven points over four games in that role. His excellent combination of ability and opportunity makes the 20-year-old an incredible bargain at $13. And those worried about his plus/minus risk should keep in mind that the Blackhawks have dropped four of their last five games.

Centers to Avoid: 

Frans Nielsen, NYI vs. BOS ($21) – Nielsen unsurprisingly registered just one shot on goal in John Tavares’ return to the lineup Thursday, as he was demoted back to third-line duties. His brief stint in a top-six role has raised his price, making him a questionable play Sunday despite the enticing matchup against a defensively-challenged Bruins team.

Jared McCann, VAN at NJD ($16) – McCann has displayed his offensive potential with five goals through 11 games, but the rookie’s lack of playing time serves as a limiting factor. The 19-year-old is seeing just 10:58 per game, and his production will dry up soon unless he earns bigger minutes.

WING 

Nikolay Kulemin, NYI vs. BOS ($14) – Kulemin plays top-line minutes alongside John Tavares and Kyle Okposo, making him an enticing option against a Bruins team that ranks 28th in the NHL in goals against per game. The 29-year-old Russian potted 30 goals in 2010-11, so he has the skills to flourish in an offensive role despite being priced only $2 above the minimum.

Taylor Hall, EDM at CHI ($29) – The matchup is far from ideal and the price is high, but Hall’s recent level of play makes him well worth the gamble. Prior to being held scoreless on six shots by the Penguins on Friday, Hall put up four goals and seven assists over his previous five games. The Blackhawks have allowed 20 goals in their last five games, and the 23-year-old winger is primed to take advantage of Chicago’s recent dip in performance.

Wings to Avoid: 

Adam Henrique, NJD vs. VAN ($20) – Henrique has just 15.0 fantasy points over his last five games, with no goals or assists in that span. While the first-liner is bound to get it going eventually, Vancouver’s top-10 defense will make life tough for him Sunday.

Marko Dano, CHI vs. EDM ($20) – Dano has a ton of potential, but he’s skating on the third line. As long as he’s separated from the team’s top forwards, $20 is too much to pay for the 20-year-old Austrian.

DEFENSEMEN 

Brent Seabrook, CHI vs. EDM ($22) – Chicago has underperformed as a team recently, but Seabrook isn’t the man to blame for the struggles. He has recorded at least one point in seven of eight games since fellow blueliner Duncan Keith went down with a knee injury, thriving in an expanded role. A date with the sub-.500 Oilers offers an excellent chance for the Blackhawks to get back on track, and Seabrook should be heavily involved.

Jason Demers, DAL at DET ($12) – Demers is playing a healthy 20:55 per game in his second season in Dallas, and has put up an impressive 4-4-8 line in 12 games. While he won’t sustain his current 55-point pace, it’s hard to ignore the 27-year-old’s offensive upside from the blueline at the minimum price. The Stars have played exceptionally well so far, so Demers isn’t much of a plus/minus concern due to the talent around him.

Defensemen to Avoid: 

Trevor Daley, CHI vs. EDM ($17) – Daley has struggled offensively in 2015-16, with just three points in 14 games after registering 38 in 68 games with the Stars a season ago. Considering Daley’s a defenseman seeing less than 17 minutes per game, he isn’t of much use if he’s not cashing in offensively.

Calvin de Haan, NYI vs. BOS ($15) – De Haan doesn’t possess much offensive potential, as he has just two points in 14 games this season. The 24-year-old defenseman has never topped 16 points in a campaign, and there are higher-upside options to be had against a suspect Bruins defense.

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