Maybe your holiday season continued into this weekend. But come Monday, the vast majority of us will be back to business as usual. So let's make the most of this Sunday with five NHL games and the first one starting at 2 p.m. EST. To end this weekend on a high note, here are my DFS lineup recommendations.
SLATE PREVIEW
Sunday features several teams on the second leg of a back-to-back as only three aren't in that situation, leaving us with two matchups featuring two clubs playing for a second straight day (Columbus-Pittsburgh and New Jersey-Carolina). Chicago gets to host Vegas while the Avalanche visit the Panthers and the Canadiens travel to face the Stars.
GOALIES
Carter Hart, VGK at CHI ($8,400): Neither Hart nor Akira Schmid has grabbed the reins in Vegas, but either should be able to handle the Blackhawks as they're bottom-10 in goals and shots while on their second consecutive night. Sunday isn't great for netminding matchups, though this one stands out as the most favorable.
Jake Allen, NJD vs. CAR ($7,400): This is a game where both teams played Saturday, though the Devils get to be at home for both. Allen has also been one of the better backups - and overall goalies - this season with a 2.52 GAA and .912 save percentage.
VALUE PLAY/ONE-OFF
Mavrik Bourque, DAL vs. MON ($3,300): Tyler Seguin is hurt and Jamie Benn isn't the player he once was, which has given Bourque a chance to climb up the depth chart. He's played over 15 minutes during each of his last six games and even recently joined the first line where he's totaled three points and 11 shots. The Habs are closing out a back-to-back on the road, and Jakub Dobes with his 3.01 GAA and .889 save percentage is in line to start Sunday.
FORWARD LINE STACK TO CONSIDER
Golden Knights vs. Blackhawks
Mitch Marner (C - $5,800), Mark Stone (W - $6,400), Brett Howden (W - $3,100)
Jack Eichel is back, but the Golden Knights are still using Marner as center for now. He and Stone also both operate on the top power play. The Blackhawks maintain a top-eight penalty kill, yet they'll be on the second leg of a back-to-back. Arvid Soderblom comes in with a career .887 save percentage, so he's not likely to be a formidable backstop killing penalties or at even-strength. Chicago may be doing well while shorthanded, though are also bottom-eight in shots allowed.
Marner has tallied 40 points on the season, including 11 on the man-advantage. There have been worries the former Leaf isn't shooting enough, and to address that he's directed 21 pucks on net from his last eight outings. Stone has been more power-play reliant with 14 of his 32 points coming there. Maybe the Blackhawks are a step slower killing penalties on Sunday, though Stone has been hot anyways racking up 19 points in 17 matchups since returning from injury. You don't have to worry about how Howden does against Chicago's penalty kill as he won't be involved. He still has seven goals and five assists overall and three points across his last five appearances.
DEFENSEMEN
Aaron Ekblad, FLA vs. COL ($4,200): Ekblad didn't get on the scoresheet last time out, but put five shots on net and blocked four shots and that still works for a DFS defenseman. He's also notched three multipoint efforts in his last nine games. Colorado is playing far from home on the second day of a back-to-back, though they've boasted a great goaltending duo. The problem is Mackenzie Blackwood got hurt and Scott Wedgewood started Saturday, so we may see Trent Miner in goal on Sunday.
Parker Wotherspoon, PIT at CLM ($2,800): I wouldn't risk rostering any of Pittsburgh's elder blueline skatesmen on a second straight day, even if they started Saturday at noon EST. But I'd still take a shot on Wotherspoon. It's fair if you aren't familiar with the 28-year-old journeyman as he's recently moved on to the top pair with Erik Karlsson and is shockingly doing well with five points over his last five outings. The last time the Blue Jackets faced a back-to-back, they played Jet Greaves in both. That's risky, and so is Elvis Merzlikins if he gets the nod Sunday as he's struggled to an .889 save percentage the last four seasons.
