This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
There are eight games in the NHL on Sunday, and the Hurricanes and Avalanche are the largest favorites. Arizona, Colorado, Vegas and Anaheim are also all playing the second leg of a back-to-back set. Here are picks and pans at each position for Saturday's contests.
All statistics from Natural Stat Trick and Hockey Reference.
GOALIE
Connor Hellebuyck, WPG at OTT ($35): Currently in Vezina form with a 7-1-1 stretch, .950 save percentage and 1.44 GAA, Hellebuyck and the Jets are positioned for another strong showing. Ottawa plays competitive hockey, but he's already won four of five starts against the Senators with .931 and 2.00 ratios, and the Jets are notable favorites Monday.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Cal Petersen, LA vs. VGK ($29): The 26-year-old netminder has lost three straight games and allowed four in each of his past two starts. Petersen still boasts a rock-solid .921 save percentage and 2.63 GAA for the campaign, but this is a daunting matchup with Vegas scoring a healthy 3.2 goals per game. It's a deep enough goalie pool to look elsewhere.
CENTER
Vincent Trocheck, CAR vs. DET ($25): A Tier 2 option from Monday's center pool, Trocheck has found the scoresheet in all seven games since returning from an upper-body injury for three goals and seven assists. He skates with the No. 1 power-play unit, and the Red Wings have allowed a healthy 3.21 goals per game and sport the fifth worst penalty-kill percentage in the league.
CENTER TO AVOID
Nazem Kadri, COL vs. ARI ($23): This is a bit of a puzzling salary, as Kadri has recorded just four points through his past four games. He's also only averaging 15:38 of ice time per contest, and is no longer skating with the No. 1 power-play unit. Additionally, while there's positive regression ahead of his 2.2 shooting percentage during the noted 14-game stretch, he'd be a better DFS target if his salary reflected his current form.
WING
Kyle Connor, WPG at OTT ($24): Look for a bounce-back showing from Connor after he missed the scoresheet last time out. He's recorded a high-end 3.08 points per 60 minutes this season and found the scoresheet in six of his past eight games for two goals and seven assists. This is a cuchy matchup, too. Ottawa has surrendered the most goals per game in the league and sports a 25th-ranked 76.2 penalty-kill percentage.
Alex Galchenyuk, TOR at MON ($15): Obviously, Galchenyuk's single goal and five helpers through 11 games with the Maple Leafs don't jump off the page, but he's paced the club in expected goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five during the stretch and climbed to the top line beside Auston Matthews ($35) and Mitch Marner ($34). It is a potentially tough matchup against the Canadiens with Montreal surrendering the third fewest goals per 60 at five-on-five, the salary is right. Plus, Galchenyuk could have a little added motivation after playing the first six years of his career with the Canadiens.
WINGS TO AVOID
Patrick Kane, CHI at CLS ($34): While you're always fading Kane at your own risk, he's cooled off considerably with two tallies and eight helpers through the past 12 games. Kane missed the scoresheet entirely in five of those outings, too. It's a deep winger pool, and there are some serious mismatches to target.
Tyler Toffoli, MON vs. TOR ($24): With just a single goal and two helpers through five games since returning from a lower-body injury, Toffoli's current form doesn't inspire a lot of confidence from his salary range. Toronto has also allowed the seventh fewest five-on-five goals per 60 minutes in the league and won six consecutive games.
DEFENSE
Josh Morrissey, WPG at OTT ($17): As noted, this is a favorable matchup for Morrissey and the Jets, and the power-play quarterback has begun to contribute more offensively with nine points -- two goals -- through the past 15 games. He also helps in the secondary categories with 33 shots, 18 blocks and a plus-4 rating during the noted 15-game stretch.
Adam Boqvist, CHI at CLS ($10): After recording 13 points through the first 18 games of the season, Boqvist has collected just two assists over his latest 13 outings. He continues to quarterback the No. 1 power-play unit and has started 62.3 percent of his five-on-five shifts in the offensive zone, so he's positioned for a breakout showing.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Jakob Chychrun, ARI at COL ($20): Colorado has the best Corsi For percentage in the league, allowed the third fewest goals per game and boasts the fifth best penalty-kill percentage, so targeting Chychrun from this price range is risky. He's bookended a recent stretch of three consecutive multi-point games with six outings of missing the scoresheet entirely, so inconsistency is part in parcel, too.
Jeff Petry, MON vs. TOR ($19): As noted, the Maple Leafs are a tough matchup, and Petry has cooled off of late. He's been skating with the second power-play unit and has collected just four assists with a minus-5 rating through the past 11 games.
