This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
The NHL is wisely steering clear of the Super Bowl on Sunday. That means all three games are in the afternoon. You'll have to get your lineup in early, and then you can relax at your Super Bowl party. Here are some players to target, and to avoid, for daily fantasy hockey purposes.
GOALIE
James Reimer, CAR vs. VAN ($31): Three teams are playing their second game in as many days Sunday. Vancouver is one of them, and Carolina is not. That sounds good for Reimer, who has a 2.47 GAA in part because the Hurricanes have only allowed 28.9 shots on net per contest.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Tristan Jarry, PIT at WAS ($33): Jarry boasts stellar numbers, but he's recorded a 2.84 GAA and .906 save percentage over his last eight games. He should be just fine and still ranks in the top-five in both GAA and save percentage, but Washington has scored 3.60 goals per game and so this won't be an easy afternoon.
CENTER
Sebastian Aho, CAR vs. VAN ($27): The fact the Canucks are on the road for the second day of a back-to-back is also likely to benefit the Hurricanes on offense. When you talk about scoring in Carolina, you start with Aho and his 25 goals in only 31 games. Thatcher Demko will likely start for Vancouver, and he comes in with a 2.94 GAA and .909 save percentage.
CENTER TO AVOID
Sidney Crosby, PIT at WAS ($33): Crosby has jumped right back into his spot as Pittsburgh's first-line center after returning from injury, but honestly I feel like Evgeni Malkin's wings are more talented than Crosby's. Of course, that's probably because the Pens trust Sid the Kid implicitly. That being said, the Capitals maintain a 2.80 home GAA and have only allowed 29.8 shots on net per game during those contests. Washington also possesses the second-ranked penalty kill, and five of Crosby's 11 points since returning from injury have been with the extra man.
WING
Oliver Bjorkstrand, CLM at MON ($18): Bjorkstrand was on fire before he got hurt, and he's been just as hot since returning with five goals in three games. Both teams are finishing off a back-to-back, but the Canadiens have actually looked worse defensively at home with a 3.22 GAA.
Gustav Nyquist, CLM at MON ($15): Let's stick with the Blue Jackets. Nyquist is second on the Jackets with 33 points, including nine on the power play. The Canadiens own a bottom-10 penalty kill and Charles Lindgren is the current backup for the Habs. Over his career, he's compiled a 2.96 GAA and .910 save percentage.
WINGS TO AVOID
Brendan Gallagher, MON vs. CLM ($21): Gallagher is proficient at putting pucks on net, but he's surprisingly underperformed on the power play with only one campaign in his last four with double-digit PPPs. On top of that, the Blue Jackets have saved Elvis Merzlikins - with his 2.39 GAA and .926 save percentage - for this one.
T.J. Oshie, WAS vs. PIT ($21): Oshie often registers an elevated shooting percentage, but his 19.8 shooting percentage is high even for him. And while he's notched seven power-play goals in 52 games, only one of them has come in his last 19 contests. While I am wary about Tristan Jarry because of the overall talent on Washington's offense, the fact remains he enters with a 2.19 GAA and .928 save percentage.
DEFENSE
Zach Werenski, CLM at MON ($19): Werenski has produced 15 goals in 44 games. And though his 12.6 shooting percentage likely won't continue, he's also recorded 15 assists. On top of that, he's chipped in with 11 points with the extra man. Montreal has a bottom-10 penalty kill and is on the second leg of a back-to-back like Columbus, which bodes well for the 23-year-old defenseman.
Jaccob Slavin, CAR vs. VAN ($17): Slavin didn't play on the power play at all, and then Dougie Hamilton got hurt. Since then, he's averaged 3:03 per game with the extra man and has notched two power-play points in four contests. That really boosts Slavin's fantasy potential, especially with the Canucks on the road for their second game in as many days.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Quinn Hughes, VAN at CAR ($21): Hughes may win the Calder, and if he does it will be because of his power-play production. He's notched a whopping 18 of his 38 points with the extra man. However, the Hurricanes roll out a top-five penalty kill and - unlike the Canucks - they are well rested for Sunday afternoon.
Shea Weber, MON vs. CLM ($20): Weber's big slap shot hasn't done him much good recently, as he only has two points - both assists - over his last 14 games. With Elvis Merzlikins (2.39 GAA, .926 save percentage) red hot since taking over for the injured Joonas Korpisalo, I'm skeptical about Weber's potential Sunday.
