This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
Nine games firing up this Sunday, and this article will focus on the five games starting at 6:00 p.m. ET or later. Four of those games are between division rivals, with the only cross-conference game being the Senators and Stars.
GOALIES
Connor Hellebuyck ($8,000) is a chalky play, as he's been superb in February with a .927 save percentage and 2.53 GAA. It's an intriguing matchup, as the Blackhawks have posted just 1.71 GF/60 since the break.
Elvis Merzlikins ($7,600) continues to play quite well and is a formidable option against the mediocre (at best) Devils, but his counterpart MacKenzie Blackwood ($7,700) is another solid choice. He's allowed just one goal over the last 109 shots, and the Blue Jackets have averaged just 1.19 GF/60 at even strength since the All-Star break, per Natural Stat Trick.
Jordan Binnington ($7,700) can always take over a game, but he simply hasn't lately by allowing three or more goals in eight straight games. He's nothing more than a contrarian play in this contest.
The matchup against the Sabres is appealing for Frederik Andersen ($7,500), especially based on how strong he's been on the road this year where he's posted a .922 save percentage and 14-4-0 record.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Oliver Bjorkstrand ($6,900) carries an excellent floor with 3.2 shots on net per game. And although Blackwood's playing quite well, Bjorkstrand's major minutes on the top line make him a solid one-off play.
Zach Hyman ($5,000) has stacked up 10 points (five goals, five assists) across the past nine games, including two on the man advantage. Carter Hutton could be out, which would mean Jonas Johansson will be in net. Also, the Sabres' penalty kill has struggled immensely over the last nine games to the tune of 10.47 GA/60.
If the season started after the All-Star break, Zach Sanford ($3,900) already has achieved a new career-high with nine goals while adding three helpers during that stretch.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Toronto Maple Leafs (TOTAL: $17,500)
C - John Tavares ($7,200)
W - William Nylander ($6,700)
W - Alex Kerfoot ($3,600)
Tavares is on a seven-game tear where he's racked up 10 points (five goals, five assists) while firing a whopping 25 shots on net. Nylander and Kerfoot have also displayed scoring touches, with the former working on the power play and a decent play against Buffalo's 29th-ranked penalty kill.
Nashville Predators (TOTAL: $14,600)
C - Matt Duchene ($4,400)
W - Mikael Granlund ($4,400)
W - Filip Forsberg ($5,800)
This trio combined for seven points in Saturday's matchup against the Blues, who can't seem to keep the puck out of the net. Over the past 11 games, they've allowed three or more goals in each contest.
DEFENSEMEN
Roman Josi ($7,400) represents the most expensive blueliner, but it'll be awfully tough to pass him up. He averages nearly four shots and two blocked shots per game, and is a combined plus-24 this season. Josi's fixture on the power play makes him an excellent choice because the Blues' penalty kill ranks 31st since the break with 14.18 GA/60.
Neal Pionk has racked up eight power-play points over 19 games in 2020, and he continues to boast a solid floor due to shots on net. His power-play time is critical, as the Blackhawks rank 26th since the break at 9.41 GA/60.
Tyson Barrie ($6,000) and John Klingberg ($4,600) have 10 and 13 points with the man advantage, respectively, and they'll be up against bottom-10 penalty kills over the last month.
