This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
The featured contests at DraftKings include Sunday's three NHL games, and the Sabres are the only club playing the second leg of a back-to-back set after losing 6-5 in overtime to Vancouver Saturday afternoon.
Beginning with the Buffalo-Edmonton tilt, the Oilers are the second-largest favorite on the docket and are looking to build some momentum on home ice after topping the Kings 2-1 on Friday. Edmonton is 8-4-2 at Rogers Place despite being outscored and losing the possession battle at five-on-five. However, the real mismatch in this contest projects to be on special teams. Buffalo owned a 29th-ranked 74.2 penalty-kill percentage before allowing another power-play goal Saturday while Edmonton boasts the best power-play in the league.
Vegas comes in as the biggest favorite on the schedule and has won four of its past five contests and should have a significant edge Sunday. The Rangers own a league-low 43.4 Corsi For percentage at five-on-five and in overall expected goals against. Still, New York has delivered in the wins column of late with an active 5-2-1 record. However, the Blueshirts will be hard pressed to maintain their .930 team save percentage during the stretch.
The Arizona-Chicago bout could easily be the lowest scoring game of the three with the Coyotes allowing a league-low 2.21 goals per hour and boasting the top team save percentage in the league. Additionally, the Blackhawks have only topped three goals in one of their past nine outings and scored just 1.96 goals per hour during the stretch. It's definitely worth adding that Chicago's also surrendered the second most expected goals per 60 minutes this season.
GOALIES
Considering Marc-Andre Fleury ($8,300) has missed each of the past six contests, he carries more risk than usual - and especially as the highest priced netminder. However, his numbers are solid for the season (11-6-2 with a .919 save percentage and 2.54 GAA), and Vegas is heavily favored to win. As such, Fleury will probably be a popular target.
Even with Arizona's stout defense and his own dominant numbers, Darcy Kuemper ($7,700) remains affordable. He's allowed just four goals through his past three starts and boasts a .937 save percentage, 1.92 GAA and 16.92 GSAA for the campaign - all three marks lead the league among goalies with at least 12 starts.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Leon Draisaitl ($7,700) and Connor McDavid ($8,400) rank first and second in points in the league and project to be popular targets with Buffalo in a vulnerable schedule spot. Even with them skating on separate lines, it's not out of the question to consider rostering both because of their power-play prowess.
With two tallies, seven helpers and three power-play points through his past 10 contests, Christian Dvorak has been as consistent as any Coyote in the lineup of late, and his salary is still reasonable. However, with just three multi-point showings all season, his ceiling is also low.
While cap relief might be Cody Glass's ($3.700) best asset, he does receive consistent power-play time and has two helpers through his past three contests. At even strength, the rookie also centers Alex Tuch ($4,300) and William Carrier ($2,600) - a potentially dangerous line for the Rangers to contain.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
William Karlsson ($6,600), Jonathan Marchessault ($6,500) and Reilly Smith ($5,100) have shared the ice for 2112:19 over the past three years and clicked for a respectable 3.86 goals while driving possession to the tune of a 54.6 Corsi For percentage. They've also been solid lately with six tallies, eight helpers and 37 shots through their past five outings.
Those eyeing the Sabres should look no further than Jack Eichel ($7,900), Sam Reinhart ($5,200) and Victor Olofsson ($5,700). They skate together in all situations, don't break the bank and have combined for a rock-solid 4.58 goals per hour this year. It's also not out of the question to just load up Eichel as a solo bullet, as Saturday's two assists extended his point streak to 12 games (10 goals and 12 assists).
Even with the tough matchup, Dylan Strome ($4,500), Patrick Kane ($7,200) and Alex DeBrincat ($6,000) are worth a look. The trio have combined for three goals and four assists through the past two contests to improve to an elite 7.05 goals per hour dating back to last season. The three also skate together on the No. 1 power-play unit.
DEFENSEMEN
In a shallow defense pool, it could be advantageous to spend up for Oscar Klefbom's ($6,200) high-floor, high-ceiling profile. He's recorded double-digit DraftKings points in nine of his past 11 contests with a goal, seven helpers, 30 shots and 42 blocks. He's earned the three-point block bonus in nine of his past 10 outings as well.
The Golden Knights' power plays are quarterbacked by Shea Theodore ($4,900) and Nicolas Hague ($2,500), respectively, and both offer value. Theodore owns a five-game point drought but also recorded five shots last time out, which often leads to future offensive production. Hague checks out as more of a low-priced flyer offering cap relief.
Rasmus Ristolainen ($4,500) has filled in admirably with Rasmus Dahlin ($4,000) out of the lineup, as the Finnish defenseman sports a five-game point streak consisting of a tally and four helpers. It's definitely a tough matchup, but Ristolainen should also have positive regression ahead in the shots and blocks columns after recording 182 and 121 of each last season.
It's been a year-long struggle for Erik Gustafsson ($4,100) after recording 60 points during the 2018-19 campaign. However, he's still receiving looks with the No. 1 power-play unit, so there's upside at this salary. It's just important to know his fantasy floor is low.
The Rangers possess a pair of young defensemen producing solid offensive numbers. Anthony DeAngelo ($4,200) and Adam Fox ($3,800) have recorded 2.33 and 1.76 points per 60 minutes, respectively, and neither carry a cap-crippling salary. They each quarterback a power-play unit and project as potential price-point fits as underdogs against Vegas.
