This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
I wrote up my preview for Sunday knowing a few games had been postponed. Since I wrote it, more games have been called off. We're down to two games taking place Sunday night. I will still provide some recommendations for DFS purposes -- check them out below.
SLATE PREVIEW
Sunday we have the Penguins facing the Devils and the Kings facing the Capitals. Both New Jersey and Los Angeles are on the second leg of a back-to-back.
GOALIE
Tristan Jarry, PIT at NJD ($8,100): Jarry has allowed two or fewer goals in 11 of his last 12 games, and the one time he didn't he was on the road in Edmonton. While the Devils are just below the median in terms of goals per contest, they are on the second night of a back-to-back and the Penguins aren't, which is a point in Jarry's favor.
Ilya Samsonov, WAS vs. LOS ($7,900): Well, I'm not going to recommend the goalie from the team on the road for the second leg of a back-to-back. That's not to say Samsonov is entirely here by process of elimination. He does have a 2.64 GAA.
VALUE PLAYS
T.J. Oshie, WAS vs. LOS ($4,900): Since returning to action Oshie has four points in six games. He's also up on Washington's top line and top power-play unit now. Meanwhile, with Cal Petersen in COVID-19 protocol, the Kings will likely be rolling with a goalie recently recalled from AHL Ontario in Garret Sparks after Jonathan Quick played (and lost) Saturday.
LINE STACK TO CONSIDER
Penguins at Devils: Sidney Crosby (C - $8,500), Evan Rodrigues (W - $6,300), Kasperi Kapanen (W - $4,100)
Crosby is missing his usual wings in Jake Guentzel and Bryan Rust, but he's still Crosby. He lifts who is on his line, and right now that is Rodrigues and Kapanen, which boosts their fantasy value. The goaltending situation was dire enough in New Jersey that it traded for Jon Gillies, who was the fourth-string goalie for the Blues. He's now the Devils' backup netminder while Jonathan Bernier is out. And, of course, New Jersey is on the second night of a back-to-back.
Crosby has 18 points in 17 games, including 16 in his last 10. That's with an 8.3 shooting percentage that is bound to improve. Rodrigues has already set a career high in goals with 10, and he's only played in 28 games. He's also been shooting the puck a ton, with 42 shots on target in his last nine outings. Kapanen managed 30 points in 40 games with the Penguins last year, and this year he 16 points in 29 contests.
DEFENSE
Dmitry Orlov, WAS vs. LOS ($4,400): Orlov hasn't notched a point in a few games, but he has 14 points in 30 contests. For a secondary defenseman, that's not bad. There are only four teams in action Saturday night, so to save some salary the Russian defenseman is a nice option.
John Marino, PIT at NJD ($3,000): Marino has 12 points in 29 games, and he actually plays a smidge on the power play (1:20 per contest). Also, his 2.7 shooting percentage could see some regression. Clearly, the two teams to target Sunday are the Kings and Devils. I wish things were different, but this is the nature of the beast with the NHL, and sports in general, right now.
