This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
Sunday we find out who makes the Super Bowl. We also find out if you are going to grab some DFS hockey success. First, though, you have to set your lineups. There are four games taking place Sunday night starting at 7 p.m. EST or later. Here are some recommendations to make this a super Sunday…
SLATE PREVIEW
Two teams are on the second leg of a back-to-back. One is the Canadiens, who have the highest team GAA in the NHL. That's a matchup worth targeting. Also, Buffalo is on the road for the second half of a back-to-back, as well. They have so many goaltending issues right now that this might be an even better matchup than Montreal.
GOALIES
Darcy Kuemper, COL vs. BUF ($8,300): Since the start of the new year, Kuemper has a 2.37 GAA and .923 save percentage. He's also 7-0-1 in that time. The Sabres got to face the Coyotes on Friday, but this is a tougher matchup for this mediocre offense. Buffalo is in the bottom 10 in both goals and shots on net per game.
Cam Talbot, MIN at NYI ($8,000): In two games since returning to action, Talbot has a 1.80 GAA and .929 save percentage. He was playing poorly before that, but the fact he then missed six games speaks to the fact he may not have been in good health due to his lower-body injury. Talbot is facing the Islanders, who are 30th in goals per game and have only managed 28.6 shots on net per contest.
VALUE PLAYS
Patrice Bergeron, BOS at DAL ($7,700): Even though his puck luck has yielded a 7.8 shooting percentage, Bergeron has 33 points in 40 games. That includes 10 points in his last 14 contests. Bergeron is also shooting a ton, as he's tallied 153 shots on net this year. Dallas has a bottom-10 penalty kill, and the longtime Bruins center has 15 points with the extra man.
Tyler Toffoli, MON vs. CLM ($5,000): Since returning to action, Toffoli has sx points in six games, including four with the extra man. Even though the Canadiens are on the second leg of a back-to-back, this is a great matchup. Columbus has a 3.59 GAA and has allowed a league-high 35.3 shots on net per contest.
LINE STACKS TO CONSIDER
Avalanche vs. Sabres: Nazem Kadri (C -$7,500), Andre Burakovsky (W - $4,400), Alex Newhook (W - $3,100)
The Sabres are in the bottom five in GAA and shots on net per contest, and they are on the second night of a back-to-back as well. Also, they have six goalies in different degrees of ill health. No goaltending situation has even been more dire in the NHL. Colorado has one of the top lines in the NHL — though Nathan MacKinnon is currently banged up — but its second line is also quite impressive.
After all, Kadri has been the best player for the Avalanche this year. He has three points in each of his last two games, giving him 58 in 39 outings. Kadri also has a power-play point in each of his last three games. Burakovsky's shooting percentage has regressed to the mean, but that hasn't stopped him from notching 13 points in his last 14 contests, including back-to-back games with an assist. Newhook is a new addition to this line, and that should benefit him. He already has 10 goals in 33 games, including one in his last contest.
Blue Jackets at Canadiens: Boone Jenner (C - $6,400), Patrik Laine (W - $5,300), Gustav Nyquist (W - $2,800)
The Canadiens aren't just last in team GAA. They are also in the bottom five in shots on net per contest and penalty-kill percentage. Montreal is also down its top two goalies, and Samuel Montembeault started Saturday. Cayden Primeau will likely be in net, and he has a 4.60 GAA and .879 save percentage. The Blue Jackets' first line is in for a treat.
Jenner has been on a strong run, with six goals and four assists in his last nine games. He's also put 32 shots on net in those contests. Since returning from injury Laine has seven points in 13 outings. Also, the Finn's 10.9 shooting percentage is a career low, so he might get a little luckier as the season goes on. Nyquist is on the flip side of things, as his 24.4 shooting percentage is likely not sustainable.
DEFENSE
Zach Werenski, CLM at MON ($7,000): Werenski had three assists in his last outing, which was a nice boost after a bit of a slow stretch. That being said, he has 25 points in 39 games. Also, he's put 119 shots on net, and his 5.0 shooting percentage is a career low. Primeau has an .879 save percentage. More shots than usual get past him.
Samuel Girard, COL vs. BUF ($4,000): Cale Makar is great. So is Devon Toews. Don't overlook Girard, though. He has 25 points in 40 games. That includes six in his last seven, and three of those have come with the extra man. In the best of circumstances the Sabres have struggled defensively and in goal. Sunday they are on a back-to-back with several goalies unavailable. These are not the best of circumstances.
