This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
There is only one evening game in the NHL on Sunday. Given that, DraftKings' featured slate of games begins at 3 p.m. EDT. This provides you with four games worth of players to choose from, and it's not so early in the day that it'll be hard for folks on the West Coast to get a lineup in. Hawaiian DFS players out there, I wish you the best of luck on that front. Onto the recommendations!
SLATE PREVIEW
The Avalanche finally return to the ice Sunday, putting an end to a hiatus that began after their game on December 16. One team is on a back-to-back, and that's the Blackhawks, who are at home against being in Nashville on New Year's Day.
GOALIES
Jacob Markstrom, CGY at CHI ($7,900): I will recommend another goalie out of due diligence, but in truth the only goalie I want Sunday is Markstrom. His last start before the break wasn't great, and neither was his first after returning, but he still has a 2.03 GAA and 929 save percentage. Meanwhile, the Blackhawks rank 30th in goals per game, and they are the only team on a back-to-back to boot.
Anthony Stolarz, ANA at COL ($7,200): The only way I would consider anybody other than Markstrom is if the Ducks start Stolarz. You can save some salary and hope the Avalanche are rusty after two weeks off. Plus, Stolarz does have a 2.13 GAA and .932 save percentage.
VALUE PLAYS
Nicklas Backstrom, WAS vs. NJD ($5,500): The Capitals are really easing Backstrom back into the lineup. Through three games he's started 85.7 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone and has averaged 5:29 on the power play. The Swede has repaid them with three points. New Jersey has a 3.41 GAA, so Backstrom's return to the lineup should continue going smoothly.
Reilly Smith, VGK vs. WPG ($4,800): Both Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty are out, but that should open opportunity for other Golden Knights to stand up. Like Smith, for example. He has 26 points in 34 games, and he's now on the top power-play unit. That means added opportunity for a guy who is already second on the team in points. Not only will Smith get plenty of power-play time if it is available, the Jets have the 31st-ranked penalty kill.
LINE STACK TO CONSIDER
Flames at Blackhawks: Elias Lindholm (C - $6,000), Johnny Gaudreau (W - $6,600), Matthew Tkachuk (W - $6,300)
You don't save salary with the Flames' top line. You just rack up points. Like I said, the Blackhawks are the sole team on a back-to-back Sunday. If Marc-Andre Fleury can't return from COVID-19 protocols Sunday – and he couldn't Saturday – the Blackhawks may have to turn to fourth-string goalie Arvid Soderblom. Sure, they could go with Collin Delia, since he will be more well-rested. Of course, that's only because he got yanked Saturday after allowing three goals on seven shots.
Lindholm is a league-leading plus-23, and he's tallied 27 points in 29 games. He didn't get a point in Calgary's return to action, but he did put five shots on net. Oh, and he was plus-3. Meanwhile, Gaudreau had three points in his first game back, and he leads the Flames with 33 points. Tkachuk has put 96 shots on net, and he has 10 power-play points. That's encouraging, as the Blackhawks have a bottom-five penalty kill, and that's not even considering who might be in net.
DEFENSE
Shea Theodore, VGK vs. WPG ($5,600): Who is going to be manning the point for the Golden Knights against the Jets' 31st-ranked penalty kill? That would be Theodore. He's averaged 2:30 with the extra man, the most of any healthy Vegas player. In that time, he's racked up eight of his 23 points.
Rasmus Andersson, CGY at CHI ($4,900): Bad puck luck isn't keeping Andersson from helping out the Flames offensively. He doesn't have a goal even though he's put 47 shots on net, but he does have 15 assists. Maybe he gets his first goal Sunday against the Blackhawks. If Delia or Soderblom are in net I wouldn't be surprised.
