This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Anything notable happening in the world of sports Sunday? The NHL has four games on the slate, all in the afternoon. It's almost as if they're trying to avoid playing in the evening for some reason. Whatever the reason, you'll have to have your lineups in by 12:30 p.m. ET. Here are some players to target, and to avoid, for your DFS lineups.
GOALIE
Craig Anderson, BUF at MON ($29): A 40-year-old goalie who's spent most of the season injured? Well, look at the matchup. The Canadiens are last in goals per game and GAA. Also, they're on the second leg of a back-to-back. I really like Anderson's chances of picking up a win, and the Habs shouldn't challenge him too much either.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Jake Oettinger, DAL vs. COL ($25): Oettinger has posted a 2.58 GAA on the season and a 2.24 mark over his last six appearances. I don't want to mess with the Avalanche offense as they've averaged an NHL-second-best 4.07 goals.
CENTER
Nicklas Backstrom, WAS vs. OTT ($17): Once he got healthy, Backstrom fell right back into his playmaking role with 10 assists in 16 games. Matt Murray has recently been playing better for the Sens, but he started Saturday. That likely leaves Anton Forsberg to go Sunday, and he's managed a 3.02 GAA and .911 save percentage.
CENTER TO AVOID
Nico Hischier, NJD vs. PIT ($19): Hischier is riding a three-game point streak to give him 29 on the year. I expect the streak to end Sunday because Tristan Jarry has a 2.21 GAA and .925 save percentage.
WING
Alex Tuch, BUF at MON ($20): When Tuch debuted with the Sabres, they dropped him on the top line. That's worked out quite well with him averaging 19:46 in ice time while tallying 14 points in 14 games. The Canadiens have struggled with the league's highest GAA and are so desperate in net they just traded for Andrew Hammond, who hasn't been in the league since 2017-18. Also, the Habs are playing on consecutive days.
Danton Heinen, PIT at NJD ($12): Heinen recently notched a two-goal performance, but that's not the only reason he's being recommended. He also participates at the point on Pittsburgh's second power-play unit. The Devils maintain a 3.50 GAA, which ranks them fourth highest in the NHL.
WINGS TO AVOID
Jason Robertson, DAL vs. COL ($23): Robertson has outdone his impressive rookie season with 44 points in just 37 games. That being said, Darcy Kuemper has been stellar with a 2.21 GAA and .929 save percentage over his last 16 appearances.
Brady Tkachuk, OTT at WAS ($20): I'd feel better about this if I knew Vitek Vanecek was going to be healthy and back in the lineup, but even so there are reasons to avoid Tkachuk on Sunday. In this battle of national capitals, the Sens are going to be on the road for the second straight day while the Caps have allowed a mere 28.9 shots on net per matchup.
DEFENSE
Rasmus Dahlin, BUF at MON ($17): Dahlin made the All-Star Game this year and has produced eight goals and 21 assists, including 11 points with the extra man. The Canadiens are in the bottom-five on the penalty kill, and are also on the second day of a back-to-back.
Brian Dumoulin, PIT at NJD ($15): Dumoulin doesn't play on the power play, but he does skate with Kris Letang on Pittsburgh's top defensive pairing. He's averaged 22:17 in ice time and has posted 14 points. As I noted previously, the Devils have a 3.50 GAA.
DEFENSE TO AVOID
Miro Heiskanen, DAL vs. COL ($17): Heiskanen has recorded four goals and 23 assists on the season, but hasn't managed a goal in his last 16 games. It may be hard for him to break that drought Sunday with Kuemper and his previously mentioned excellent recent stats.
Damon Severson, NJD vs. PIT ($17): Severson has stepped up in the absence of Dougie Hamilton. That being said, Jarry enters with a 2.21 GAA and .925 save percentage. 10 of Severson's 26 points have come with the extra man, and the Penguins have the second-ranked penalty kill.
