This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Since the NHL plays so many games on Saturdays, Sunday usually features a few teams that haven't gotten much in the way of rest. This week is no different, as five of the six teams in action Sunday played a game Saturday. That certainly changes making daily fantasy hockey decisions. With that in mind, here are some players to target, and to avoid, for your lineup.
GOALIE
James Reimer, CAR at DET ($26): The Hurricanes didn't save Petr Mrazek to face his old team, which means Reimer gets the favorable matchup. Detroit ranks in the bottom-three in goals scored per game, while Carolina sits in the top-seven in the same category. The Hurricanes also rank in the top-10 in shots allowed per contest. This is a great chance for Reimer to pick up a win, and maybe also have an easy evening.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Carter Hutton, BUF at FLA ($32): The Sabres are the only team playing Sunday that didn't play Saturday, so you might believe Hutton would be a great choice. Think again. For starters, he only has a .909 save percentage. Second, the Panthers rank in the top-five in both shots on net and goals per game. Even though Florida played Saturday, it can still get it done offensively at home.
CENTER
Jack Eichel, BUF at FLA ($32): On the other hand, I do definitely like the Sabres' offense against the Panthers. Florida is mired in the bottom-five in GAA, so this is a case where Buffalo being rested while Florida isn't could pay off. Unfortunately, there's no cheap option on the Sabres at center, as the position has been lousy behind Eichel this year. At least he has 26 points in 22 games and provides a reliable source of offense - and fantasy points.
CENTER TO AVOID
Connor McDavid, EDM at ARI ($35): McDavid has been great, but he's going to facing a goalie who has performed just as well at his own gig. Darcy Kuemper has excelled with a 1.93 GAA and .935 save percentage. Both teams are on a back-to-back, but Arizona is at home and is getting six extra hours of rest. Hey, every little bit helps in decision making.
WING
Andrei Svechnikov, CAR at DET ($23): Andrei's brother Evgeny has played on occasion for the Red Wings, but he doesn't quite have the same game-breaking skills as his younger brother. The 19-year-old Svechnikov has racked up 18 points in his last 13 games. Detroit owns the league's highest GAA, making this perhaps the top matchup to target Sunday.
Jimmy Vesey, BUF at FLA ($10): If Carolina at Detroit isn't the best matchup Sunday, it's because this one is. The Panthers haven't been quite as awful as the Wings defensively, but in this case the Sabres retain the added advantage of having not played Saturday. Vesey has done little offensively, but there are still a couple points in his favor. He's started 60.4 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, second most among Buffalo forwards. And prior to his last game, he was moved to the Sabres' top line with Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart.
WINGS TO AVOID
Phil Kessel, ARI vs. EDM ($19): Kessel was brought in by the Coyotes to score goals, but that hasn't happened yet. He's still been getting his usual numbers on the power play, as six of his 14 points have come with the extra man. However, the Oilers maintain a top-five penalty kill, so this isn't the matchup for Kessel.
Frank Vatrano, FLA vs. BUF ($16): Vatrano broke out with 24 goals last season and has six goals to start this year. Having said that, he's only averaged 1:27 per game with the extra man with one power-play point. A lot of Buffalo's goal-prevention issues stem from a bottom-10 penalty kill. Vatrano won't get much of a chance to take advantage of that, and he is also on the second leg of a back-to-back.
DEFENSE
Rasmus Dahlin, BUF at FLA ($19): Dahlin hasn't found the back of the net much, but he has produced 13 assists in 22 games. He's also averaged 3:51 per game on the power play, where seven of those helpers have come from. The Panthers own a middling penalty kill, but playing their second game in as many nights won't help them on that front against a well-rested Sabres team.
Jake Gardiner, CAR at DET ($10): The obvious thing to do is to select Dougie Hamilton, but that will cost you a pretty penny. Gardiner gets the same matchup against the team with the league's highest GAA, but he's not going to break the bank. Also, Gardiner has started 56.3 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone - highest on the Hurricanes - and receives ice time with Carolina's second power-play unit.
DEFENSE TO AVOID
Oscar Klefbom, EDM at ARI ($20): Klefbom has been racking up the assists recently, though the goals have been harder to come by. The Swede has lit the lamp only once this year. I don't expect anything in the way of goals or assists for him in this matchup. After all, Darcy Kuemper has put up a 1.93 GAA and .935 save percentage.
Aaron Ekblad, FLA vs. BUF ($18): Ekblad's counterpart Keith Yandle is a power-play specialist, but that isn't Ekblad's role. He hasn't registered a single power-play point this year, and he's averaging the fewest minutes per game with the extra man in his career. That's not his role, nor his strong suit, which means he won't get many opportunities against Buffalo's penalty kill. This lowers his fantasy ceiling.
