This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
This week's Sunday slate features six games with six teams on the second half of back-to-back contests. Many of the teams are also a long way from home, with five of six contests between clubs from separate conferences. The first puck drops at 3:00 ET, and here are some players to help guide your daily fantasy plays:
GOALIE
Curtis McElhinney, CAR at LOS ($33): McElhinney was picked up on waivers from the Maple Leafs to begin the year, and he's successfully won the starting job in Carolina by bumping Scott Darling down to the minors. The veteran netminder yielded just seven goals in the last five games to mark a .961 save percentage and a 4-0-1 record. Up against the league's worst offense, McElhinney's the safest pick and comes in at a fair price.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Henrik Lundqvist, NYR vs. WPG ($30): Lundqvist continues to be a dependable backstop at 36 years old, and he enters Sunday's contest with a .935 save percentage over the last five games. The odds are stacked against The King in this one, as the Jets offense has hit its stride with 21 goals in the last four outings and just two coming on the power play.
CENTER
Joe Pavelski, SJ at MON ($22): The Sharks are off to a disappointing start, but their captain is doing his best to lead by example. Pavelski has compiled nine goals and 14 points through the last 10 games, and his 21.6 shooting percentage on the season is a team best. He'll harvest on a juicy matchup against Canadiens' goalie Antti Niemi, who has allowed at least three goals in all seven appearances.
CENTER TO AVOID
Jonathan Toews, CHI vs. CGY ($23): The Flames have rotated goalies lately, but it hasn't mattered which one was in net as they've kept five of the last seven opponents to two goals or less. The tight window to light the lamp won't help Toews, who is in a minor slump with just one assist and a minus-4 rating over the last four outings.
WINGS
Tom Wilson, WAS vs. ANA ($21): Wilson flirted with suspension and felt the hockey masses calling for banishment with another unwarranted hit Friday. Let them yell. Wilson has been phenomenal in the last seven games, racking up six goals and 12 points while adding a plus-8 rating for good measure. His linemates Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom should continue stoking the fire, which provides monstrous bang for your buck.
Kevin LaBanc, SJ at MON ($14): LaBanc rolls into this matchup with five helpers – including four on the power play – in the last six games and he may receive more responsibility if Timo Meier (undisclosed) sits out his third straight game. His chances of registering points on the man advantage are favorable against the Canadiens, who have allowed opponents to score on 33 percent of chances through the last eight games.
WINGS TO AVOID
Dustin Brown, LOS vs. CAR ($18): Someone has to fill the score sheet for the league's lowest-scoring team, and Brown's led the way with eight goals in 16 games. However, his puck possession has been suspect with a 46.9 Corsi For percentage – the lowest mark of his career. That won't cut it against a Hurricanes team that has allowed two or less goals in five of the last six contests.
Chris Kreider, NYR vs. WPG ($19): After a masterful 20 points over the first 22 games, Kreider's hit a funk and has notched one assist in the last five. A third of his points this year have come on the power play, but those opportunities will be tough to come by against the Jets, who rank seventh in the league on the penalty kill at 82.3 percent.
DEFENSEMEN
Jacob Trouba, WPG at NYR ($17): Trouba rose to the top defensive pairing after Dustin Byfuglien was placed on injured reserve with a concussion. He's excelled in the role over the last two games with two goals, a plus-4 rating and seven shots on net. Expect the trend to continue against a Rangers team that has allowed 10 points to opposing bluelines in the last four games.
Michal Kempny, WAS vs. ANA ($17): The Capitals have won seven straight and look unstoppable by all metrics. The D spotlight shines on John Carlson, who has nine assists during the win streak. Kempny lurks in the shadows, compiling two goals, four assists, 19 blocked shots and a plus-10 rating during that span. The fantasy output between the two is comparable, but Kempny is on clearance with Carlson ringing up at a whopping $26.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Kevin Shattenkirk, NYR vs. WPG ($18): Shattenkirk's 4.6 fantasy points per game this year are the worst among defensemen priced over $15, while sporting zero points and a minus-5 rating over the last five contests. To make matters worse, it appears the 29-year-old was benched in the third period two games ago. Don't take on the risk.
Erik Karlsson, SJ at MON ($24): Karlsson put everything into Saturday's game versus his former club by firing a season-high nine shots on goal to no avail. He now has zero points and a minus-5 rating in the last five contests. The transition to San Jose hasn't gone as planned, so daily players will want to delay their expectations for the time being.
