This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
There's no football Sunday. No J. Lo and Shakira. No bad ads you've already forgotten. What there is, though, are five NHL games. The earliest game of the day is at 12:30 PM ET, and it's Boston taking on Detroit. That'd be a great matchup to try and take advantage of. However, I know that's too early a time for many folks to get their daily fantasy lineups in by. On the other hand, if you wait for the evening slate, you'll only have two games. So here is what I shall do: I'm going to look at the full slate for my recommendations, but I will try and focus on the later games in the day. Besides, what can I tell you about the Bruins and the Red Wings you don't already know? Avoid all the Wings and go nuts with the Bruins, even if they're on the road for the second game of a back-to-back. With that said, here are some players to target, and to avoid, for your daily fantasy lineup.
GOALIE
Carter Hutton, BUF vs. ANA ($24): Hutton has admittedly endured a rough year, but he's produced a 2.79 GAA at home. This is more about the matchup, as the Ducks are far from home and have averaged 2.33 goals per game on the road. Anaheim has also put only 29.6 shots on net per contest in away games, so Hutton might not be too busy.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Alex Stalock, MIN vs. COL ($27): Stalock has produced a solid year by posting a 2.85 GAA and .905 save percentage. He's also at home, while the Avalanche are on the road for the second game of a back-to-back. I'm not buying in, as Colorado has scored more goals per game than any team in the NHL - even though key offensive players have missed time with injury. The matchup is still too daunting.
CENTER
Nazem Kadri, COL at MIN ($20): Kadri has enjoyed a nice run of play recently, notching eight points over his last seven games. He also plays on Colorado's potent top power-play unit, and he's averaged 3:48 per game with the extra man. The Wild's penalty kill has been plummeting recently, and they now are last in the league on that front.
CENTER TO AVOID
Jonathan Toews, CHI at WPG ($20): After a six-game point streak, Toews has been held without a point in his last four outings. While the Jets are on the second leg of a back-to-back, they are at home and have saved Connor Hellebuyck and his 2.69 GAA/.920 save percentage for this matchup. And while the Jets have struggled on the penalty kill, Toews has only managed six power-play points this year.
WING
Patrik Laine, WPG vs. CHI ($24): Not to toot my own horn, but I was circling around this selection even before Laine potted a hat-trick Saturday afternoon. While he has never scored fewer than 30 goals in a season, he did get off to a slow start on the goal-scoring front this year. Laine has started to put that behind him, as he's now tallied eight goals across his last eight games. The Finn also has fired 184 shots on goal in 54 games to lead the Jets. Speaking of shots, the Blackhawks have allowed a whopping 36.7 shots on pet per contest.
Chris Kreider, NYR vs. LOS ($19): Kreider is reportedly on the trade block, and he's doing a lot to boost his stock. The 28-year-old has racked up 13 points in 12 games, and he's registered a point in 10 of those contests. As for the Kings, they are on the second day of a back-to-back and Jonathan Quick enters with a 3.05 GAA and .894 save percentage.
WINGS TO AVOID
Tyler Toffoli, LOS at NYR ($18): The Kings have a pretty punchless offense, but Toffoli does have 14 goals in 55 games. However, Los Angeles is on the road for the second leg of a back-to-back. Toffoli also only has seven power-play points, so it's unlikely he'll do much against the weak Rangers' penalty kill. And Igor Shesterkin will be in net for New York, with the rookie producing a .922 save percentage.
Jason Zucker, MIN vs. COL ($16): Zucker, like Chris Kreider, is considered on the trade block but hasn't done as much to increase his value. He has recorded five points over his last 10 games, but he's only put 13 shots on net during that time. Though the Avalanche are playing the second leg of a back-to-back, Pavel Francouz will likely be in net and he's impressed with a 2.45 GAA and .924 save percentage.
DEFENSE
Adam Fox, NYR vs. LOS ($18): Fox has started 55.7 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, second highest of any Ranger. That's helped him tally 29 points, though 13 of those have also come with the extra man. The Kings maintain a bottom-five penalty kill and also own a 3.45 road GAA.
Samuel Girard, COL at MIN ($16): Cale Makar is the big name on Colorado's blue line, but Girard is a cheaper option that still possesses upside. He's notched 27 points in 53 games, even though he only has a 2.9 shooting percentage. The 21-year-old also has 10 power-play points and - as mentioned - the Wild own the league's worst penalty kill.
DEFENSE TO AVOID
Erik Gustafsson, CHI at WPG ($17): Gustafsson was a boon to many a fantasy player last year when he scored 17 goals out of nowhere. This season, he's only got six goals and his power-play numbers have also taken a big dip with only one PPP over his last 14 games. As previously noted, Connor Hellebuyck has a 2.69 GAA and .920 save percentage and he's used to bailing out his team, so being at home on the second day of a back-to-back is something he can manage.
Hampus Lindholm, ANA at BUF ($14): The Sabres have struggled on the penalty kill, but Lindholm likely won't take advantage of that. He's only averaged 1:49 per game with the extra man and has notched one power-play goal all season. Though the Sabres have trouble while down a man, they've only allowed 29.8 shots on net per game at home.
