This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
There are just two games in the NHL on Sunday. The Penguins are slight home favorites over Washington, while the Panthers make their season debut on home ice against Chicago. The Blackhawks are road underdogs and looking to avoid an 0-3 start. As always, it will be important to check the RotoWire news feed to keep tabs on all the latest happenings.
GOALIE
Chris Driedger, FLA vs. CHI ($29): The Blackhawks have only managed three goals and 15 high-danger scoring chances through two games and will be playing their third consecutive road matchup tonight. While the impact of away contests will probably require further analysis, it's probably still at least a slight disadvantage until proven otherwise. Regardless, the former Blackhawk Driedger turned heads last season with a 7-2-1 record, .938 save percentage and 2.05 GAA.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Tristan Jarry, PIT vs. WAS ($27): With only four goalies in play Sunday, all are in consideration. However, Jarry's poor start definitely makes him extra risky. The 25-year-old netminder has surrendered nine goals on just 33 shots, and Washignton ranks second in the league in goals-per-hour dating back to last season.
CENTER
Aleksander Barkov, FLA vs. CHI ($25): Not only have the Blackhawks struggled to score, they've also picked right up where they left off the past few seasons defensively by surrendering 10 goals and 22 high-danger scoring chances through two games. The matchup should set up nicely for Barkov, who has recorded a rock-solid 1.05 goals and 3.01 points per 60 minutes over the past two seasons to establish himself as a reliable offensive contributor.
CENTER TO AVOID
Evgeny Kuznetsov, WAS at PIT ($20): It's probably too early to call this a must-win game for the Penguins, but losing three straight to start the season wouldn't be a preferred follow to a first-round playoff exit in August. As a result, look for Kuznetsov to struggle to produce to his salary Sunday. The 28-year-old Russian's ice time is also down with an average of just 15:44 through the first two games of the campaign.
WINGS
Anthony Duclair, FLA vs. CHI ($18): Projected to skate alongside Aleksander Barkov at even strength and with the man advantage, look for Duclair to have a strong start to the campaign. The journeyman is coming off the best offensive season of his career (23 tallies and 17 helpers) and offers untapped scoring potential. As noted, the matchup is ripe for him to capitalize right away.
Brandon Tanev, PIT vs. WAS ($11): While the veteran winger isn't going to continue scoring on half his shots or find the scoresheet every game, he certainly is making a major impact to start 2021. Tanev has driven possession with a 75.0 Corsi For percentage at five-on-five while helping to generate seven high-danger scoring chances. He's definitely still in the cap-relief territory, but there's also some sneaky upside.
Kasperi Kapanen, PIT vs. WAS ($10): It's probably a long shot Kapanen plays Sunday, but his final COVID-19 test was Saturday and the organization is eager to insert him into the lineup. During the offseason, head coach Mike Sullivan suggested Kapanen could skate with Sidney Crosby ($34) and Jake Guentzel ($27), so the first-year Pen is going to be given an excellent opportunity to succeed immediately. Keep tabs on his status, especially since his current salary is too low.
WINGS TO AVOID
Patrick Kane, CHI at FLA ($29): The Chicago supporting cast around Kane doesn't instill oodles of confidence, and the 32-year-old winger is probably in the twilight of his offensive prime. He found the scoresheet last time out and has averaged 5:17 of power-play time through two games. However, Kane's also skating a lot of empty minutes based on just eight shot attempts and a single high-danger scoring chance this season.
Bryan Rust, PIT vs. WAS ($24): Expect Rust's salary to continue to decline for at least another week. The winger broke out last season with a unsustainably high 17.9 shooting percentage. And while he's still receiving power-play time on the No. 1 unit, he's a supporting piece and not a go-to scorer.
DEFENSEMEN
John Carlson, WAS at PIT ($25): With Pittsburgh's defensive and goaltending struggles in mind (11 goals against through two games), it's hard to ignore Carlson. He's paced all regular defensemen with 2.35 points per 60 minutes dating back to the 2018-19 campaign and also boosts his value through his high shot volume and willingness to block shots.
Adam Boqvist, CHI at FLA ($11): This salary makes the talented young defenseman a low-risk, high-upside candidate Sunday. Boqvist is widely regarded as one of the most promising blueliners in the league and has collected an assist with the man-advantage in consecutive games. And his role on the No. 1 power-play unit is all but etched in stone for the foreseeable future.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Keith Yandle, FLA vs. CHI ($14): The veteran defenseman hasn't been skating with the top-six defenseman of late and might not play Sunday. It's a notable development considering Yandle is the league's active ironman and hasn't missed a game since the 2008-09 campaign. If he does suit up and quarterback the No. 1 power-play unit, this salary is probably a bargain. The avoid recommendation is more a reminder to double-check his status before entering him in your lineup.
Duncan Keith, CHI at FLA ($14): The 37-year-old blueliner has seen a steep decline in ice time through two games this season while also been boxed in his own zone at five-on-five with a 43.3 Corsi For percentage. Keith is a plus-minus risk and the downtick in ice time also hinders his opportunities to pile up shots and blocked shots - his only reliable fantasy value at this stage of his career.
