This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
The featured contests at DraftKings consist of Sunday's three evening games beginning at 7 p.m. ET. Calgary visits Minnesota following the Wild's 3-2 overtime victory at home over Winnipeg on Saturday. The Blackhawks host the Red Wings, and Nashville plays its second road game in consecutive nights against Anaheim - with the Predators having defeated Los Angeles 4-1 on Saturday.
GOALIES
The Wild have been strong at home dating back to mid-November with an 8-3-2 record, but they've also scored a middle-of-the-pack 2.58 goals per hour at five-on-five during that stretch, and Minnesota is in the noted back-to-back set. David Rittich ($7,700) checks out as a mid-priced flyer in the potential favorable matchup. He's stopped just 32 of 37 shots through his past two outings, so banking on a bounce-back showing isn't out of the question. He's also recorded an impressive .919 save percentage through his past 16 road appearances.
John Gibson ($7,300) is cheap and draws Nashville on the second leg of a back-to-back road spot, and he's also looked significantly better on home ice with a .919 save percentage and 2.52 GAA. The Preds are dangerous with a sixth-ranked 3.36 goals per 60 minutes, but the savings in goal also allow you to spend up on skaters.
Admittedly, it's a tough goaltender pool. Alex Stalock ($7,800) has topped 20 DraftKings points in just one of his past 10 appearances, and Juuse Saros ($7,900) remains pricey for a netminder with an .890 save percentage and 3.23 GAA for the campaign.
Approach the Detroit-Chicago bout at your own risk.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
The Blackhawks have surrendered 3.72 goals and 12.46 high-danger scoring chances per hour during their active 6-6-1 stretch, and Dylan Larkin ($6,700) has recorded four points - including two goals - through his past four contests. The center will also probably face statistical correction ahead, as his 7.8 shooting percentage and 1.76 points per hour sit notably lower than his 11.1 and 2.64 marks from last season.
Anaheim has allowed 3.78 goals per game during its active 3-5-1 skid dating back to mid-December, so Nashville's high-powered offense could continue to click. Veteran Craig Smith ($3,600) is also dialed in, with six tallies, three helpers and 34 shots through his past eight outings.
The offense is definitely sporadic, but Luke Kunin ($2,800) is logging consistent minutes in a middle-six role and has collected four goals, four assists, 20 shots and 10 blocks through his last 11 outings. Those numbers move the needle at a salary nearing minimum price.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Chicago's lines have been in the blender most of the season, and in-game changes have been the norm. So, the best approach might be to stack a few pieces of the No. 1 power-play unit. Detroit ranks 30th in the league with a 73.0 penalty-kill percentage, and Patrick Kane ($7,500), Alex DeBrincat ($5,800) and Dylan Strome ($4,800) add up to a manageable cap hit and provide coverage to multiple projected even-strength lines and could even reunite at five-on-five in this favorable matchup.
Sean Monahan ($6,300), Johnny Gaudreau ($6,600) and Mikael Backlund ($4,300) look good on paper and are up to a respectable 4.13 goals per hour at even strength through 116:13 of ice time for the campaign. As noted, it's likely Alex Stalock ($7,800) starting for the Wild, and he owns an unimpressive .900 save percentage through 41 games over the past two seasons.
Over the past three years, Ryan Johansen ($4,800), Filip Forsberg ($6,000) and Viktor Arvidsson ($5,500) have shared the ice for 1418:37 and scored 5.08 goals per 60 minutes - including a 7.23 mark this season. And as noted, Anaheim also checks out as a ripe candidate to pick on.
DEFENSEMEN
With the highlighted solid matchup against Chicago in mind, Filip Hronek's ($5,400) recent offensive numbers are all the more encouraging. The 22-year-old defenseman is back to quarterbacking the No. 1 power-play unit and has recorded nine points, 20 shots and 14 blocks while logging 24:25 of ice time per contest through his past 12 games.
It's been an excellent stretch for Ryan Suter ($4,900). And from a shallow defense pool, riding the hot hand is an option. He's racked up three tallies, eight helpers, 23 shots and 18 blocks over the past 11 contests, and there's potential he plays half the game Sunday. Best of all, the salary is reasonable.
Returning to a potential Chicago power-play stack, Adam Boqvist ($3,500) has been quarterbacking the No. 1 unit of late and collected an assist with the man advantage last time out. He's seen his ice time climb recently with 19:52 per game - with 4:03 while up a man - through the past three contests, and the rookie is also beginning 60.7 percent of his five-on-five shifts in the offensive zone.
Yannick Weber ($2,500) received a shift with the man advantage Saturday and costs the minimum. The veteran has no fantasy floor, but he should remain in the lineup with Ryan Ellis ($5,800) and Dante Fabbro ($2,600) both likely out of action. If Fabbro does return, he's a suitable swap.
