This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
It's Easter Sunday with six games on the slate, but note the scattered start times as FanDuel is offering five different contests. Only the all-day contest will feature all six matchups, while the rest will feature either two or three games. All salaries reflected are for the all-day schedule.
Key games include the Stars at Hurricanes (7 p.m. ET), with Dallas hoping to complete the back-to-back sweep. A win will bring them within three points of the fourth-place Predators with three games in hand. The Blackhawks lost again on Saturday and are in danger of getting passed very soon.
The Maple Leafs will visit the Flames (9 p.m.) with and the hosts in a race against time having already played 38 games but sitting sixth in the North. They'll need to get their points percentage up if they want to pass the Canucks while the Canadiens are struggling (again) and within striking distance.
GOALIES
Ilya Samsonov, WSH at NJ ($8,400): Samsonov has allowed 10 goals over his past two starts and also took a hit to the head in his most recent outing, but the assumption is he's healthy to start. Vitek Vanecek might be a better play after he limited the Devils to just one goal last time out, but the Caps should have the advantage in either case with a chance to sweep the season series.
James Reimer, CAR vs. DAL ($8,200): Reimer's chances will depend on how much goal support the Canes can provide. They're fourth in the league in 5v5 xGF, but the Stars are very strong on defense and opportunistic on offense (17th in GF/GP, but sixth in PP%). It's rare for the Canes to lose consecutive contests as their only losing streaks this year involved three straight on two separate occasions.
Chris Driedger, FLA vs. CBJ ($8,100): The most surprising thing about Saturday's game was how open it was with both teams registering plenty of shots. Aleksander Barkov is back in the lineup and played 19 minutes in his return, so he should get more playing time this time around. The Blue Jackets will be starting Joonas Korpisalo, who had to come in relief after Elvis Merzlikins was pulled.
VALUE PLAYS
Nick Schmaltz, ARI at ANH ($3,700): Schmaltz is riding a four-game point streak, including a goal and an assist in his last game against the Ducks. At even strength, Schmaltz gets moved all over the lineup and the Coyotes don't really have a "first" line, but he's a fixture on PP1.
Mason Marchment, FLA vs. CBJ ($3,100): Marchment remained on the top line with Barkov back in the lineup and skated 18 minutes while adding two shots. His role on this unit isn't to create offense, but few role players find themselves in a better position.
LINE STACKS
Red Wings at Lightning
Dylan Larkin (C - $6,400), Filip Zadina (W - $3,500), Robby Fabbri (W - $5,100)
This trio has generated a lot of shots, but not much to show for it. They're underperforming their 5v5 xGF over the past two weeks according to Natural Stat Trick, while the Lightning are expected to start Curtis McElhinney who hasn't been very good this season. These matinee games also tend to be more unpredictable than usual.
Capitals at Devils
Lars Eller (C - $4,200), Alex Ovechkin (W - $8,300), T.J. Oshie (W - $5,800)
Not sure if coach Peter Laviolette will keep this line together or move Eller back down the lineup, but they were the most productive line with 14 shot attempts in 12:21 5v5 TOI. Ovechkin has not scored in three straight – an eternity for him – which means he's probably due. Of note, the Great Eight has racked up five goals against the Devils this season.
Maple Leafs at Flames
Auston Matthews (C - $8,500), Zach Hyman (W - $4,700), Mitch Marner (W - $7,700)
Matthews and Marner have notched five points apiece against the Flames while Calgary's goaltending – which was supposed to be a strength – has looked shaky. They've lost six of their past seven and the Leafs have outshot the Flames in four straight.
DEFENSEMEN
Dougie Hamilton, CAR vs. DAL ($6,600): Hamilton continued his unbelievable season by notching his fourth goal of the season on nine (!) shots over 23 minutes last night. He has failed to record a point in only seven games this season.
John Klingberg, DAL at CAR ($5,600): Klingberg's recent play doesn't separate him very much from the top three of Hamilton, Victor Hedman and John Carlson, all of whom are at least $1,000 more in salary. Klingberg's on a six-game point streak, but note his raw production is catching up to his 5v5 xGF according to Natural Stat Trick.
Zach Werenski, CBJ at FLA ($5,100): If this game as wide open as it was on Saturday, Werenski represents a strong play because he's excellent in transition and frequently jumps up into the play. He's posted a point in each of his past three games and generally offers more offensive upside than Seth Jones ($5,400).
Jakob Chychrun, ARI at ANH ($4,500): Chychrun has enjoyed more success against the Ducks than any team this season having tallied three goals and six points. His ability to generate shots consistently makes him stand out among defensemen in the mid-tier and below.
