Yahoo DFS Hockey: Sunday Picks

Yahoo DFS Hockey: Sunday Picks

This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.

There are four games in the NHL on Sunday and all feature road favorites. However, only the Avalanche are receiving significant chalk. Here are picks and pans for each position for the featured contests at Yahoo.

All statistics from Natural Stat Trick and Hockey Reference.

GOALIE

Philipp Grubauer, COL vs. STL ($30): Until Grubauer's salary is prohibitive enough to fade him, he's a go-to option. He's stopped 85 of 90 shots through the first three games of the series and has also won nine of his past 10 starts going back to the regular season. 

GOALIE TO AVOID

Juuse Saros, NSH vs. CAR ($35): At best, the Finn is a contrarian consideration. Carolina has driven possession and generated eight more high-danger scoring chances than Nashville through three contests, including peppering Saros with 56 shots on Friday. This salary leaves little room for error, and the Hurricanes have been the better team through the first three games of the series. 

CENTER

Connor McDavid, EDM at WPG ($35): This should be a perfect spot to target McDavid. He's been held off the scoresheet through the first two games of the series while attempting 16 shots and generating seven high-danger scoring chances. Look for the levee to break Sunday.

CENTER TO AVOID

Nicklas Backstrom, WAS vs. BOS ($20): With just a single assist and two shots, Backstrom's a fade candidate. He's also only attempted four shots all series, and the Bruins have only allowed six goals to the Capitals after allowing the fourth fewest goals per game during the regular season.

WING

David Pastrnak, BOS vs. WAS ($31): It was a breakout showing in Game 4, as Pastrnak finally found the back of the net and added a helper in the win. He's registered a team-high 25 shots, 45 attempts and 10 individual high-danger scoring chances during the series, so don't expect the offense to cool Sunday.

Eeli Tolvanen, NSH vs. CAR ($10): A minimum-salary target, Tolvanen registered six shots and nine attempts during Friday's overtime victory and is skating in a top-six role and receiving power-play time. There's a definite plus-minus risk, but there's value in Tolvanen's 2.23 points per 60 minutes ranking him second on the club.

WINGS TO AVOID

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, EDM at WPG ($20): It's probably safe to take a wait-and-see approach with Edmonton's secondary scorers. Winnipeg, and in particular Connor Hellebuyck ($34), has held the Oilers to just a single goal through the first two games of the series and Nugent-Hopkins hasn't found the scoresheet while only registering four shots and seven attempts. 

DEFENSE

Cale Makar, COL vs. STL ($28): The leader in points-per-60 minutes among regular defenseman over the past two seasons, Makar is positioned for a bounce-back showing after missing the scoresheet in Game 3. He's locked into the quarterback role on the No. 1 power-play unit while the Blues are dealing with multiple injuries on their own blueline.

Charlie McAvoy, BOS vs. WAS ($19): This salary is probably too low. McAvoy is back quarterbacking the No. 1 power-play unit and has racked up five assists with the man advantage through the first four games of the series. He also ranks third in shots and attempts during the postseason, so his fantasy floor is high. 

DEFENSE TO AVOID

John Carlson, WAS at BOS ($22): It's been a somewhat quiet series for Carlson recording just two power-play assists and six shots. He's an obvious candidate to buck the trend, but is a potential a plus-minus risk as Boston's been the better possession team and generated 23 more high-danger scoring chances during the series.

Ryan Graves, COL at STL ($19): It's been an impressive fantasy start to the playoffs for Graves with three consecutive double-digit point showings. However, his salary has climbed significantly, and relying on secondary statistical production can be risky. After all, Graves doesn't receive power-play time and finished the regular season ranked 90th in points-per-60 minutes among regular defensemen. 

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Neil Parker plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: naparker77, DraftKings: naparker77.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Neil Parker
A loyal Cubs, Cowboys and Maple Leafs fan for decades, Neil has contributed to RotoWire since 2014. He previously worked for USA Today Fantasy Sports.
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