This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
After a busy Saturday, the NHL is cooling it down for Sunday. There are only three games, and four of the teams are on the second night of a back-to-back. However, the two teams properly rested - the Jets and Islanders - are playing each other. That means neither enjoy any extra time advantage. There are some other facts for you to take advantage. Here are some players to target, and to avoid, for Sunday's DFS slate.
GOALIE
Anton Khudobin, DAL at DET ($31): The Wings struggled on offense last year, only averaging 29.2 shots on net per game. Meanwhile, the Stars boasted one of the top NHL goaltending duos. They posted a .923 save percentage as a team, with both Ben Bishop and Khudobin holding their own. Khudobin, in fact, recorded a .923 save percentage and a lot of those games were when his team played on the second leg of a back-to-back like this.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Petr Mrazek, CAR vs. TAM ($29): Last year, Mrazek heated up down the stretch and finished with a 2.39 GAA and .914 save percentage. However, he only managed a .902 save percentage over the previous two seasons, so last year feels like it might be a fluke. Fluke or not, a matchup with the Lightning is never favorable, as they led the league with 3.89 goals per game last year.
CENTER
Mathew Barzal, NYI vs. WPG ($21): Barzal's numbers dropped last season, when he went from 85 points as a rookie to 62 points in his sophomore campaign. However, he put more shots on goal, so it's not like he was less active. Plus, he notched 18 points with the extra man, and the Jets owned the 22nd-ranked penalty kill. By the way, the Jets lost a lot of defensive players from their roster last year, and they've allowed 10 goals through two games to start this season.
CENTER TO AVOID
Mark Scheifele, WPG at NYI ($28): Scheifele is off to a strong start to the season and he's been a true top center in the NHL for a few years, but this represents a difficult matchup as the Islanders registered a league-low 2.33 GAA last year. The magic of Barry Trotz is real. Four teams are on the second night of a back-to-back, so why go with a guy on the road against a well-rested defensive juggernaut?
WING
Joe Pavelski, DAL at DET ($21): Pavelski moved from San Jose to Dallas and immediately got plopped down on Dallas' top line with Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn. That's a great spot to be. Not that he needs the help, given his 38 goals in 75 games from last year. The Wings will be starting Jonathan Bernier in net, who produced a 3.16 GAA and .904 save percentage last season.
Alex Killorn, TAM at CAR ($13): If you play on the Lightning, odds are you have talented linemates. And if you end up on the power play, even better! Indeed, Killorn finds himself moved up to the second line for the Lightning this year, and he's also earning power-play time. He even registered two assists - including one on the power play - in Tampa's opener. I don't fully believe in Petr Mrazek - call it the Wings' fan in me. And with only three games on the slate, I'll bet on the talent of Tampa's offense.
WINGS TO AVOID
Blake Wheeler, WPG at NYI ($25): Wheeler enjoyed a huge opening game with two assists and nine shots on net. However, he also skated 5:42 of power-play time, and that won't happen most games. In his last outing, he posted zero points and three shots on goal. All that being said, this is about the matchup, as the Islanders had a 2.27 GAA at home last year.
Anthony Mantha, DET vs. DAL ($20): Mantha has been steady the last couple of years, with 48 points in each of his last two campaigns while notching 24 and 25 goals respectively in those seasons. He also produced three points in Detroit's season opener. However, I mentioned earlier the Stars had a dynamic goaltending duo. Anton Khudobin and his .923 save percentage from last year should give Mantha some trouble.
DEFENSE
Miro Heiskanen, DAL at DET ($15): Heiskanen really impressed in his rookie campaign by scoring 12 goals and 33 points as a 19-year-old. Most players can't put up numbers like that as a teenage defenseman, and he should improve further this year. He receives a good matchup here since Jonathan Bernier registered a .904 save percentage last season. Also, the Wings also struggled with the 28th-ranked penalty kill last year.
Nick Leddy, NYI vs. WPG ($13): Leddy's numbers dropped last year, as his shooting percentage took an unexpected dip that could have been the result of bad luck. He also scored zero goals on the power play, but still managed 10 assists while averaging 2:48 per game with the extra man. Leddy played over 21 minutes in the Islanders' season opener, and he's still in line for plenty of power-play time. That could bode well against a team ranked 22nd on the penalty kill last year.
DEFENSE TO AVOID
Dougie Hamilton, CAR vs. TAM ($20): There aren't a lot of good choices for defensemen to avoid Sunday, mostly because there aren't many you would normally consider. Can you even name one blueliner on the Wings? Can you name a Jets' defenseman who isn't Josh Morrissey? Could you even name Josh Morrissey? Anyway, Hamilton comes in as the top defenseman on the Hurricanes, but the Lightning can prove to be a tough matchup. That holds true even if Curtis McElhinney is in net, as he's been weirdly productive the last three seasons.
Josh Morrissey, WPG at NYI ($15): Speaking of Morrissey, he's left to shoulder the load for the Jets on defense thanks to trade, lost free agents, and the suspension of Dustin Byfuglien. This is a defense whose next best player might be Neal Pionk. As I have noted a few times already, the Islanders posted the best GAA in the NHL last year.
