This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
There are five NHL games Sunday, and though a couple of them start in the afternoon - including a 1:00 PM ET start - I am going to cover the full slate of games for DFS purposes. Since it's the weekend, getting a lineup in before that early start will be a bit easier. Plus, you can always just play a three-game evening slate and still use some of this info for your benefit. Here are the players to target, and to avoid, for Sunday.
GOALIE
John Gibson, ANA vs. CGY ($36): Gibson is off to another stellar start to the season with a 1.85 GAA and .941 save percentage. He's only had one off start, and that was on the road against the Bruins. Being at home against a Flames team on the second night of a back-to-back should be an easier night for the American.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Connor Hellebuyck, WPG vs. EDM ($32): Hellebuyck has posted a respectable .919 save percentage, but still maintains a 2.70 GAA. The problem is that the Jets have allowed 33.3 shots on net per contest and own the league's worst penalty kill so far. The Oilers are powered by the dynamic duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, and that has helped them averaged 3.75 goals per game.
CENTER
Elias Pettersson, VAN at NYR ($23): Pettersson has recorded a point in four of his last five games, and we all remember the 66 points he notched in 71 games as a rookie. While the Canucks are on the road for the second game of a back-to-back, I still believe in the Swede in this matchup as the Rangers come in with a 3.80 GAA and have given up 35.6 shots on net per contest.
CENTER TO AVOID
Sean Monahan, CGY at ANA ($27): The trip from Los Angeles to Anaheim is admittedly not a long one, but the fact remains Monahan and the Flames are on the road for the second leg of a back-to-back Sunday. The tenacious defense and goaltending of the Ducks will also likely prove more difficult than a game with the Kings, as Anaheim boasts a league-low 1.75 GAA.
WING
T.J. Oshie, WAS at CHI ($21): Oshie already has six goals this season, including three on the power play. He's played 4:27 per game with the extra man, and has averaged 3:22 on the power play over the previous two seasons. The Blackhawks own the 25th-ranked penalty kill, and last year their penalty kill ranked last.
James Neal, EDM at WPG ($21): Speaking of guys off to hot starts, Neal has surprised everybody by scoring nine goals in eight games. The crux of his success has been his spot on Edmonton's top power-play unit, as that's where six of his goals have come. As I noted earlier, the Jets enter with the worst penalty kill in the league to start the season.
WINGS TO AVOID
Johnny Gaudreau, CGY at ANA ($29): While Gaudreau is off to a good start to the season on the whole, he hasn't registered a point over his last five games. This is mostly about the matchup, of course. As I mentioned earlier, the Ducks have an NHL-best 1.75 team GAA.
Jonathan Drouin, MON at MIN ($17): Drouin has posted eight points in eight games, but he's also on the road for the second game of a back-to-back. The Wild have a not-so-good GAA, but that's mostly because of Devan Dubnyk's terrible start to the season. Alex Stalock has actually impressed with a 2.07 GAA and .929 save percentage.
DEFENSE
Oscar Klefbom, EDM at WPG ($22): Speaking of Edmonton's excellent top power-play unit, four of Klefbom's nine points have come with the extra man. That means he's also produced five even-strength points through eight games, which is great for a defenseman. The Jets have only been successful on 56.3 percent of their penalty kills. Yes, that's bound to improve, but it's also staggeringly bad.
Hampus Lindholm, ANA vs. CGY ($15): Lindholm doesn't have any goals yet, but he scored 13 times in 69 games just two years ago. And he has five assists in eight games, so it's not like he hasn't been involved. Since the Flames are on the second night of a back-to-back, they may be starting Cam Talbot. Since he struggled to an .892 save percentage last year, that likely won't bode well for the Flames.
DEFENSE TO AVOID
Mark Giordano, CGY at ANA ($25): The Flames are on the road for the second night of a back-to-back against the team with the best GAA in the league. Obviously, that has made me skeptical about their best players. Giordano won the Norris last year, but he's pricey for your lineup and it's going to be hard for him to live up to that billing.
Erik Gustafsson, CHI vs. WAS ($20): Gustafsson broke out last year, notching 60 points seemingly out of nowhere. This season, he's got four points through five games - all assists - while putting six shots on goal. However, the Capitals have allowed a league-low 27.8 shots on net per game, so Gustafsson may have some trouble being as active as usual.
