This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
Sunday's NHL main slate is a modest one, with just four games on tap after 5:00 PM Eastern time. Below, you'll find an overview of the matchups and suggested options for crafting an effective lineup.
SLATE PREVIEW
There's no shortage of offensive talent to be found despite the limited selection. The Oilers-Jets and Capitals-Blackhawks matchups both feature elite forwards on both sides, while there's value to be found in the Canadiens-Wild and Flames-Ducks matchups as well.
GOALIES
John Gibson ($8,800) is looking like a Vezina candidate in the early going, with four wins, a 1.85 GAA and .941 save percentage through six starts. He'll take on a Flames team that's playing its second game in as many nights, making Gibson this slate's go-to goaltender.
Given what we've seen from this slate's other offenses thus far, it's probably best to source your goaltender from the Flames-Ducks game. After David Rittich started on Saturday, look for Cam Talbot ($7,200) to get the call for the visitors Sunday. Talbot gave up three goals to the Sharks in his only start of the season, but his affordability makes him an enticing option against a below-average Anaheim offense that's averaging just 2.75 goals per game.
Another affordable backup likely to get into action is Montreal's Keith Kinkaid ($7,400). Minnesota managed just 17 shots in Thursday's 4-0 loss to Montreal, and Kinkaid could match Carey Price's shutout from that game if Minnesota delivers a similarly feeble effort.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
While Zack Kassian is the man who benefits from sharing the ice with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl at even strength, James Neal ($5,700) is that guy on the power play. Of his team-high nine goals, six have come on the man advantage. Winnipeg's league-worst, 56.3 percent penalty kill will have a hard time keeping Neal off the board.
Like Neal, T.J. Oshie ($6,600) has outperformed higher-profile teammates in the goal department early, as his six markers through nine games have him one ahead of Alex Ovechkin. Oshie still costs $2,000 less than Ovie, so he should offer strong bang for the buck against a Blackhawks team that's giving up 3.00 goals per game.
Jonathan Toews ($6,800) got off to a slow start, but Chicago's captain in heating up with a point and three shots in each of his past two games. He's due for a breakout performance coming off an 81-point campaign, and Toews' price should climb from its current $6,800 mark before long.
Max Domi ($6,700) has a five-game point streak going and is playing at a point-per-game pace through eight, showing that last year's 72-point breakout was no fluke. He should continue to produce when his Canadiens take on a Wild team that's been outscored 29-14 in a 1-6-0 start.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Blackhawks vs. Capitals
Dylan Strome (C - $5,100), Patrick Kane (W - $8,200), Andrew Shaw (W - $4,300)
Capitals netminder Braden Holtby has been extremely shaky to start the season, with a 3.83 GAA and .862 save percentage through six starts. This line is primed to add to his struggles. Strome broke out with 51 points in 58 games after getting traded to Chicago last season, and he has three points through five games this season. Kane is backing up last year's 110-point campaign with a 2-5-7 line in the early going, and Shaw has chipped in two goals as well.
Oilers at Jets
Connor McDavid (C - $9,300), Leon Draisaitl (W - $8,500), Zack Kassian (W - $4,300)
You know the drill with this line. Edmonton's two superstars don't come cheap, but they can singlehandedly carry you to victory, just as they often do for the Oilers. A matchup with a defensively challenged Jets team that's allowing 3.67 goals per game is a good time to pay up for this line. McDavid has a 5-12-17 line through eight games, Draisaitl's at 6-10-16 and Kassian has held his own with a 3-3-6 output.
Jets vs. Oilers
Andrew Copp (C - $3,600), Kyle Connor (W - $6,000), Nikolaj Ehlers (W - $5,400)
This line is a downgrade from Winnipeg's top line, but the second line doesn't lack talent and done considerably cheaper, which is quite useful given the multitude of expensive stars to choose from among the other teams. The affordable Copp continues to fill in as the second-line center with Bryan Little (concussion) out, and he's mustered three points in nine games. Connor's off to a slow start by his lofty standards, but his mediocre three goals through nine games can be attributed to an 8.1 shooting percentage after Connor exceeded 30 goals and 15 percent in each of the previous two seasons. Ehlers has been the best of these three players thus far with a 3-5-8 line.
DEFENSEMEN
With all the forward talent in this slate, it's important not to overlook John Carlson ($7,000) on the back end. Carlson has been as productive as pretty much anybody in this slate, with 17 points through nine games and six in his last two.
Oscar Klefbom ($5,700) has nine points through eight games, and four of those have come thanks to his role on Edmonton's star-studded top power-play unit. He gets a great chance to pad his stats with the extra man against Winnipeg's vulnerable penalty kill.
Chicago's players look less impressive statistically due to the team having played just five games thus far, but Erik Gustafsson ($5,100) is tied for second on the team behind Kane with four points. The 27-year-old Swede is capable of keeping this level up, as evidenced by last season's 60-point breakout.
Brad Hunt ($3,600) has been a solid source of offense from Minnesota's blue line despite his team's slow start, with two goals, two assists and 14 shots through seven games. If you don't believe in Kinkaid, Hunt's a cheap against-the-grain option to turn to from the blue line.
