This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
The NHL trade deadline is nigh. Before that, though, we have eight NHL games Sunday. They are all through the day, so the featured slate at DraftKings starts at 1 p.m. EST. Here are my DFS recommendations. Let's build some winning lineups!
SLATE PREVIEW
Sunday is teeming with teams that played Saturday as well. The Oilers are on the road again. Pittsburgh is also on the road after being at home Saturday. They had to travel from Pittsburgh to Columbus (which is the inverse of a trip I took as a kid to see NHL games in both cities, but I digress). Meanwhile, the Rangers have traveled from Pittsburgh back home to host the Canucks. The Islanders are finishing off the LA-area doubleheader against the Ducks. Then, the Sharks are at home for the second night in a row. Phew.
GOALIES
Frederik Andersen, CAR vs. EDM ($8,300): It's strength vs. strength Sunday. The Oilers have scored 3.27 goals per game. However, they are also on the road for the second day of a back-to-back. On the other hand, we have Andersen. He has a 2.06 GAA and .929 save percentage. Given the circumstances of this matchup, I think things are tiled in Andersen's scale.
Connor Hellebuyck, WPG at ARI ($8,200): Hellebuyck's numbers are mediocre, I will admit. His .912 save percentage is nothing to write home about. Having said that, the Coyotes' numbers aren't mediocre; they're terrible. Arizona is last in goals (2.27) and shots on net (25.9) per game.
Ville Husso, STL at CHI ($8,100): Two Blackhawks players had hat tricks in their last game, and the team still has averaged 2.47 goals per contest. One big outing doesn't change the entire trajectory of this offense. Also, Husso has emerged as the clear top goalie for the Blues this year. He has a 2.03 GAA and .935 save percentage.
VALUE PLAYS
Pierre-Luc Dubois, WPG at ARI ($5,000): Patrik Laine's play in Columbus has gotten attention, but the guy he was swapped for has been impressive in Winnipeg as well. Dubois has 21 goals and 17 assists in 51 games. Additionally, 10 of those goals have come with the extra man. That success on the power play is significant here, as the Coyotes have the 31st-ranked penalty kill.
Oliver Bjorkstrand, CLM vs. PIT ($4,500): Bjorkstrand has seven points in his last nine games, giving him 35 points in 50 games. He also has double-digit power-play points for the first campaign of his career, notching 12 so far. Tristan Jarry just blanked the Rangers, because Jarry is a top-notch goalie. However, since he played Saturday, he won't be in net Sunday. Instead, we'll see Casey DeSmith, who has an .899 save percentage.
Calle Jarnkrok, SEA at SAN ($3,400): With Jared McCann out, Jarnkrok is the first-line center for the Kraken at the moment. It's a good time for the promotion, as he has seven points in his last eight contests. With Adin Hill out, and the Sharks on the second leg of a back-to-back, Zach Sawchenko will likely be in net. He's played in two NHL games in his career.
LINE STACKS TO CONSIDER
Stars vs. Sabres: Roope Hintz (C - $6,600), Joe Pavelski (W - $7,000), Jason Robertson (W - $6,300)
It's worth going heavy on Dallas' top line in this matchup. The Sabres are on the road and they bring with them a 3.58 GAA. That's fourth highest in the NHL. They've also allowed 34.4 shots on net per contest. Meanwhile, this has been one of the more-productive lines in the NHL.
Hintz has scored a career-high 22 goals this year, and he's staying active offensively. The center has put 51 shots on net in his last 16 games, potting six goals in that time. After a brief cold stretch, Pavelski has six points in his last five outings. He also has 54 points in 51 games this year. Robertson has tallied 15 points in his last 15 contests. He's built off his rookie campaign with 22 goals and 47 points in 43 games.
Hurricanes vs. Oilers: Vincent Trocheck (C - $5,600), Martin Necas (W - $3,900), Seth Jarvis (W - $2,800)
The Oilers' 3.25 GAA is 10th highest in the NHL. They are also on the second day of a back-to-back. Mike Smith will presumably be in net, and the 39-year-old has not been able to replicate his performance from last year. The veteran netminder has a 3.65 GAA and .891 save percentage. That bodes well for Carolina's second line, which has a lot of upside but will cost you much less in salary than the first line.
Trocheck has three points over his last two games, and 12 points over his last 15 games. He's also averaged 3:04 per contest with the extra man. Necas has taken a step back this year, though his 9.0 shooting percentage seems a bit unlucky. His career shooting percentage is 13.1. The Czech winger does still have 28 points in 47 games. After an impressive start to his rookie campaign, Jarvis has slowed down. Maybe getting moved to the wing on Carolina's second line will help. He does have 19 points in 41 games, though.
DEFENSE
Jaccob Slavin, CAR vs. EDM ($6,100): After a down offensive campaign last year, Slavin has looked more like the guy who was good for 30-35 points per season, perhaps even a little better than that. He has 29 points in 49 games. Also, with Tony DeAngelo out, he'll likely see more time on the power play. He just played 4:14 with the extra man in his last outing. The Oilers have a 3.25 GAA like I said, and Smith has an .891 save percentage.
Mark Giordano, SEA at SAN ($5,200): There's been talk that Giordano might get traded, and his recent play has boosted his stock to be sure. He has nine points in his last 14 games, and he's put 36 shots on net in that time. San Jose may be at home, but it is still on a back-to-back, and it is also likely down to its third goalie Sawchenko on Sunday.
Quinn Hughes, VAN at NYR ($5,000): After a four-game absence, Hughes has a four-game point streak where he's totaled seven points. The playmaking defenseman has a whopping 37 assists in 49 games. Though the Rangers have allowed 32.0 shots on net per contest, they are in the top five in GAA because of Igor Shesterkin's play. However, Shesterkin was in net Saturday. We'll likely see Alexandar Georgiev, and he has an .898 save percentage.
