This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
Sunday's NHL slate is a light one, with only three games on tap starting at 5:00 PM Eastern time. Below, you'll find an overview of the matchups and suggested options for crafting an effective lineup.
SLATE PREVIEW
The most stackable team in this slate is a Stars club taking on a rebuilding Red Wings team, with both clubs playing their second game in as many nights. Tampa Bay's always full of intriguing fantasy options, though some of the luster is taken off in the second half of a road back-to-back against a tough Hurricanes team. The Jets-Islanders game offers an intriguing clash of styles between the explosive Winnipeg squad and a physical, defensive-minded New York club.
GOALIES
A lot of backups are being thrust into action, with every team except the Jets and Islanders completing a back-to-back set.
Anton Khudobin ($7,900) stands out as the go-to goalie in this slate given his combination of effectiveness and matchup. The dependable backup appeared in 41 games for the Stars last season, posting a .923 save percentage, while Detroit finished with the fourth-fewest points in the league (74) last season.
Speaking of reliable backups, Curtis McElhinney ($8,100) is set to make his Lightning debut against the team he played for last season. He recorded a 2.58 GAA in 33 games with Carolina last season and a 2.15 mark in 18 games for Toronto the year before.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Nikolaj Ehlers ($4,900) is off to a blistering start on Winnipeg's top line, with four assists and 10 shots through two games. Despite the hot start, he can still be had for at least $2,700 cheaper than either of his linemates.
Tyler Bertuzzi ($5,300) starred in Detroit's opener Saturday with two goals and two assists in a 5-3 win over the Predators. He's worth going right back to here.
Center Erik Haula ($4,700) has a goal in each of his first two games as a member of the Hurricanes, so he's a nice value play here despite the modest competition given his modest valuation.
Andrei Svechnikov ($5,000) is a major breakout candidate in his second season following a 20-goal rookie year. The second overall selection from the 2018 draft has two helpers through two games, and he likely won't be this cheap much longer if he lives up to his billing this season.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Islanders vs. Jets
Mathew Barzal (C - $6,300), Anders Lee (W - $6,60"), Jordan Eberle (W - $6,100)
With plenty of talent up front but a barren defense corps, the Jets have played a pair of high-scoring affairs early on, with eight goals for and 10 against. That should be the case again here, making New York's top line a strong stacking option. Barzal has 147 points since the start of the 2017-18 season, Lee has averaged 34 goals in the past three seasons, and Eberle found a new gear lady postseason with nine points in eight games.
Stars at Red Wings
Radek Faksa (C - $3,800), Tyler Seguin (C - $7,900), Jamie Benn (W -$7,500)
Seguin and Benn are two of the league's top offensive weapons, with Seguin riding a streak of six consecutive seasons with at least 72 points and Benn racking up at least 69 points five times over that span. Faksa is currently the lucky man sharing the ice with those two stars, making him a great value pick.
Jets at Islanders
Andrew Copp (C - $3,700), Kyle Connor (W - $6,600), Patrik Laine (W - $7,400)
While it's tempting to go with Winnipeg's star-studded top line, the second line still offers tremendous upside while leaving owners enough funds to lock in top players elsewhere. Copp has one helper through two games as the second-line center with Bryan Little sidelined by a concussion, while both Connor and Laine are coming off 30-goal seasons.
DEFENSEMEN
Miro Heiskanen ($4,300) is expected to take another step forward this season coming off a 33-point rookie campaign. He lit the lamp Saturday.
Kevin Shattenkirk ($5,100) has shown that he still has plenty left in the tank after being bought out by the Rangers in the offseason, with a point and five shots in each of his first two games with the Lightning. He has outplayed his price in the early going, so grab Shattenkirk at $5,100 while you still can.
Devon Toews ($3,800) has the Islanders' only goal this season after stepping up in the playoffs with five points in eight games.
Neal Pionk ($3,700) is a proficient offensive blueliner but lacks skills in his own zone, which is just fine as fantasy owners are concerned. With 32.8 fantasy points through two games, Pionk's a solid low-cost option with upside on the depleted Jets blue line.
