This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
The Tampa Bay-Detroit tilt is the lone NHL matchup on Sunday and Yahoo has a single-game daily contest. Detroit upset the Lightning with a 1-0 shootout win Saturday and the Red Wings have actually topped Tampa Bay the past two times they've met. However, there's a significant disparity in talent and the Lightning remain significant favorites Sunday. It would be surprising if Detroit were able to top Tampa Bay for a third consecutive time.
Note the scoring is different in Sunday's contest, as the salary cap is down to $120 and you only select five players. Additionally, your superstar selection receives a point boost. There are also no position requirements. Here are a number of recommendations and fades.
All statistics from Natural Stat Trick and Hockey Reference.
Picks
Andrei Vasilevskiy, TB at DET ($42): The Vezina candidate offers contest-winning upside if selected in the superstar slot. Vasilevskiy boasts a high-end .929 save percentage and 2.10 GAA while the Red Wings have scored the fewest goals per game. The only knock is your cap space becomes tight if you load up the clear No. 1 option.
Brayden Point, TB at DET ($26): Tampa Bay's top center was the best player on the ice Saturday with seven shot attempts and five individual high-danger scoring chances. And while Point missed the scoresheet Saturday, he registered five tallies and six helpers through his previous seven contests.
Mikhail Sergachev, TB at DET ($15): It's been a bit of a cold stretch for Sergachev, as he's only found the scoresheet once through the past seven games. However, he does offer a respectable fantasy floor with 101 shots and 69 blocks while averaging a healthy 21:58 of ice time - including 1:56 with the man advantage. The 22-year-old Russian's salary is reasonable and he's also beginning 55.9 percent of his five-on-five shifts in the offensive zone.
Alex Barre-Boulet, TB at DET ($13): As long as Barre-Boulet is skating on the No. 1 line with Brayden Point ($26) and Ondrej Palat ($23), he's a solid target especially at this salary. Barre-Boulet has been quiet the past two with just a single shot, but he scored a goal in each of the previous two games while registering six shots.
Filip Zadina, DET vs. TB ($12): The 21-year-old winger attempted four shots and logged 20:43 of ice time - with 3:10 with the man advantage - against Tampa Bay on Saturday, so he's a low-salary option if you're looking for some exposure to the Red Wings. There's also positive regression ahead in the goals column, as Zadina has only scored once and sports a 3.3 shooting percentage through his past 16.
Joe Veleno, DET vs. TB ($10): It's been a bit of a slow offensive start to Veleno's professional career, but he was a high-end scorer in the QMJHL and racked up 104 points - including 42 goals - through only 59 games during his final season in 2018-19. The 2018 first-rounder is also receiving power-play looks, so he's an upside source of cap relief on a minimum salary.
Pans
Victor Hedman, TB at DET ($25): Without the requirement to select a defenseman, Hedman's value takes a hit. He's also cooled off considerably and missed the scoresheet in five of his past six games. While you can still ice a solid lineup with Hedman, a quick peek at his game log highlights says he hasn't been performing to his salary for a few weeks.
Jonathan Bernier, DET vs. TB ($24): Tampa Bay didn't have any luck Saturday, but the Lightning dominated possession with a 65.7 Corsi For percentage and generated 19 high-danger scoring chances, so loading up Bernier is risky. After all, the 32-year-old veteran enters with an .896 save percentage and 3.77 GAA with just a single win through his past six starts.
Jakub Vrana, DET vs. TB ($19): With six goals on only 20 shots since joining the Red Wings, there's definite statistical correction ahead of Vrana's 30.0 shooting percentage. He was also held to just three shot attempts in Saturday's matchup.
