This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Sunday's NHL slate is neatly bifurcated between four afternoon games and four evening games. Since I don't expect you to be able to get a lineup in by 12:00 PM ET if you live in California - or, heaven forbid, Hawaii - I'm going to focus on the four night games. Here are some players to target, and to avoid, for your daily fantasy lineup.
GOALIE
Mike Smith, EDM at LOS ($29): Smith is not always the most reliable goalie, but he's managed a 2.56 GAA and .921 save percentage over his last 10 games. On top of that, the Oilers represent the rare team that performs better defensively on the road than at home, as their 2.97 GAA in away games will show. The Kings rank in the bottom-five in goals per contest, and they are also on the road for the second leg of a back-to-back.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Alex Stalock, MIN vs. STL ($32): Stalock has been hot recently and comes in with a 2.69 GAA, but he's also produced a .908 save percentage on the season. He's also never had a save percentage higher than .910 over his last three campaigns. There aren't many good offenses playing Sunday night, with the Blues and the Oilers being tied at 3.15 goals per game to lead the pack. But with all of Edmonton's injuries, St. Louis provides the greatest concern.
CENTER
Mikael Backlund, CGY at DET ($17): The Flames really needed somebody to step up among their depth forwards to get the team into the playoffs, and Backlund has done just that with 11 points across his last eight games. Not that a player needs to be hot for me to recommend them against the Wings. As a Detroit sports fan myself, I'm well aware of their horrendous 3.73 GAA.
CENTER TO AVOID
Anze Kopitar, LOS vs. EDM ($19): Despite the Kings trading away players like Tyler Toffoli, Kopitar has still been playing well although he only has one goal in his last 17 games. And being on the second leg of a back-to-back won't help. I'm also concerned about 19 of Kopitar's 55 points coming on the power play and the Oilers maintaining the NHL's second-ranked penalty kill.
WING
Kailer Yamamoto, EDM at LOS ($17): It's not all Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl for Edmonton, or at least those two - when healthy - are the rising tide that lifts all boats. Case in point, Yamamoto is skating on Edmonton's top line and has 20 points in 20 games. Meanwhile, the Kings enter with a 3.20 GAA and are playing their second game in as many days.
Troy Terry, ANA vs. VGK ($11): Terry has started 56.1 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, second highest on the Ducks. He's also getting time on the point on Anaheim's top power-play unit, and the trade of Ondrej Kase could lead to more opportunity for the 22-year-old. The Golden Knights will be on the road for the second night of a back-to-back. That could mean Malcolm Subban and his 3.09 GAA, .893 save percentage could be in net.
WINGS TO AVOID
Reilly Smith, VGK at ANA ($18): This is largely because the Golden Knights are on the road for the second leg of a back-to-back. But it's also because Smith only has five power-play points on the season, so it's unlikely he'll have much luck with the extra man. John Gibson hasn't been up to his usual standards this year, but he has posted a 2.80 GAA and .910 save percentage over his last 10 appearances.
Mats Zuccarello, MIN vs. STL ($16): Zuccarello hasn't been quite as expected for the Wild, despite the fact he's registered a career-high 16.3 shooting percentage. He's now on the second line - and second power play - and has been held without a shot on goal in four of his last six games. Also, remember the Jordan Binnington from last year? We've seen a glimpse of his recently, as he's reeled off back-to-back shutouts.
DEFENSE
Darnell Nurse, EDM at LOS ($17): With Oscar Klefbom hurt, Nurse has seen a massive increase in power-play time. While he hasn't notched a point in his last two games, he's directed four shots on goal in each outing and has blocked six shots over those contests. The Kings have struggled to a 3.20 GAA, thanks largely in part to an .891 save percentage and a bottom-five penalty kill.
Noah Hanifin, CGY at DET ($13): Mark Giordano is hurt, but this is a great matchup for which you have to try and take advantage. Hanifin has been the biggest benefactor of the absence of the reigning Norris winner with an assist in consecutive games while receiving actual power-play time on the top unit.
DEFENSE TO AVOID
Matt Dumba, MIN vs. STL ($18): Dumba has stayed offensively active by putting 145 shots on goal in 60 games. Unfortunately, most of them haven't found pay dirt, as he's recorded a 2.8 shooting percentage. The Blues tend to keep shots suppressed, having only allowed 29.7 shots on net per contest.
Drew Doughty, LOS vs. EDM ($14): Doughty, like Anze Kopitar, is one of the last men standing from the glory days of the Kings. He no longer has guys like Jake Muzzin and Alec Martinez to help him out on the blueline. Doughty has also tallied 12 of his 30 points on the power play and - like I mentioned earlier - the Oilers have the league's second-ranked penalty kill.
