This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
There are four NHL games Sunday, but I will omit the 12:30 PM ET start for those of you out on the West Coast. No worries, as we only lose the Ducks and the Rangers. Here are some players to target, and to avoid, for your daily fantasy lineup.
GOALIE
Antti Raanta, ARI at DET ($38): With Darcy Kuemper out for a while, Raanta steps into the void for the Coyotes. Fortunately for him, he's starting with about as easy of a matchup as you can find. The Red Wings rank last in the league in goals per game by a wide margin, and they are also playing their second game of a back-to-back.
GOALIE TO AVOID
David Rittich, CGY at DAL ($31): The Stars have only averaged 2.65 goals per game, so you might think this is a matchup to target. After all, Rittich has posted a decent 2.77 GAA and .913 save percentage. However, those numbers dip to 3.97 and .909 on the road. I would consider the Czech netminder if the Flames were at home. But deep in the heart of Texas, I'm out on him.
CENTER
Christian Dvorak, ARI at DET ($16): Dvorak now finds himself centering Arizona's top line between Taylor Hall and Phil Kessel. He's also the pivot on the Coyotes' first power play. Not only does Detroit own the league's worst offense, it also maintains the worst defense. On the second night of a back-to-back - even at home - the Wings won't be on the top of their game defensively.
CENTER TO AVOID
Logan Couture, SAN vs. VGK ($23): Couture is finally starting to turn things around on the goal-scoring front, but he's still only tallied 11 times in 37 games. His shooting numbers are also down, as he's only put nine shots on net over his last six contests. Marc-Andre Fleury comes in with a 2.63 GAA and .915 save percentage, and the Sharks are also playing the second night of a back-to-back.
WING
Clayton Keller, ARI at DET ($18): On top of all the aforementioned issues, the Red Wings have one of the NHL's worst penalty kills. And yes, they're seeing action on consecutive evenings. Keller has recorded at least 19 points with the extra man in each of his last two seasons, and he already has 11 to show this year.
Reilly Smith, VGK at SAN ($17): The Sharks have struggled to a bottom-three GAA despite, inexplicably, boasting the league's top penalty kill. As such, I wanted to find a player for the Golden Knights who's looked good offensively but hasn't been reliant on the power play. Enter Smith, who has produced 14 goals and 14 assists, but only four of those points have come with the extra man.
WINGS TO AVOID
Johnny Gaudreau, CGY at DAL ($23): The usually-reliable Gaudreau only has 10 goals this year after 36 last season. His 9.4 shooting percentage may improve, but he once finished with a 9.9 shooting percentage, so it's not a stretch to believe he might not improve that much. The Stars are coming off a bad game, but they still enter with a 2.43 team GAA.
Anthony Mantha, DET vs. ARI ($21): Mantha has missed time with injury, but he still has registered 24 points in 29 games. However, he's on the second game of a back-to-back. And while Antti Raanta hasn't been as outstanding as Darcy Kuemper, his .919 save percentage makes this a tough matchup.
DEFENSE
Shea Theodore, VGK at SAN ($18): Theodore has started 58.8 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, fourth most on the Golden Knights. He's also directed 102 shots on net through 38 games, third most on Vegas. The Sharks will likely be starting Aaron Dell, who is sporting a 3.17 GAA for the second straight season.
Jakob Chychrun, ARI at DET ($18): Chychrun scored two power-play goals in his last game, giving him nine goals through 37 contests. He's now usurped Oliver Ekman-Larsson's role as the best offensive defenseman on the Coyotes. Now he gets to face the Red Wings and their league-worst GAA.
DEFENSE TO AVOID
Erik Karlsson, SAN vs. VGK ($22): The goals aren't coming for Karlsson with only three on the year, but he's been racking up plenty of assists. I'm not so sure he will be able to do that on the second night of a back-to-back and facing the Golden Knights. Also, if you are worried about the Golden Knights' defensive numbers being a result of home cooking like they have in the past, Marc-Andre Fleury has posted a 2.30 GAA and .927 save percentage on the road.
Mark Giordano, CGY at DAL ($21): Giordano's chances of repeating as the winner of the Norris have dissipated thanks to the fact he only has 17 points through 37 games. As for the Stars, they come in with an NHL-best 1.89 home GAA.
