Buyer's guide for Yahoo Daily Fantasy Hockey on Sunday

By Sasha Yodashkin
RotoWire Hockey Writer

There are only four NHL games Sunday, but they span the whole day, as start times vary from 1 p.m. Eastern all the way to 10 p.m. The division-leading Kings and Canadiens figure to provide the bulk of many lineups, but there are plenty of other intriguing choices despite the dearth of teams in action. Maximizing bang for the buck is always the key to compiling a winning lineup, and that concept rings true regardless of the number of players from which to choose.

GOALIE

Jacob Markstrom, VAN vs. NJD ($25) - Markstrom makes for an appealing option against New Jersey in his second start of the season due to his low price. The Devils have scored just three goals while dropping both of their last two games, and Markstrom should contain them if he plays anywhere near the level he displayed in a 42-save victory against the Blue Jackets on Nov. 10. Using the former top prospect in your lineup would open myriad possibilities, as he actually costs less than a lot of skaters.

Goalie to Avoid:

Jaroslav Halak, NYI at MON ($36) - Halak makes for a risky option, considering he was pulled after surrendering three goals on 11 shots in Friday's loss to this same Montreal team. The chance of a repeat performance on the road is too great to invest maximum money on Halak.

CENTER

Brock Nelson, NYI at MON ($20) - Nelson has been on fire his last five games, recording five goals and three assists while playing on New York's top line. Facing the Canadiens at the Bell Centre is never fun, but Nelson in his current form is well worth a $20 investment despite the less-than-ideal matchup. Nobody has been able to slow the Nelson-Tavares-Okposo line lately, which makes its least expensive member a terrific bargain.

Center to Avoid:

Frans Nielsen, NYI at MON ($24) - Nielsen's recent bump in production has raised his price all the way to $24, which is way too expensive for a second-line center who's playing just 16:47 per game. On the road against one of the league's best teams is the icing on the cake.

WING

Kyle Okposo, NYI at MON ($21) - Sticking with the Islanders theme, Okposo is also a sensible option. Until someone demonstrates the ability to contain New York's top line, you should continue to utilize its members. While playing John Tavares requires a massive $30 investment, his linemates have offered similar production lately at much more reasonable prices. Okposo has a four-game point streak going and will have plenty of opportunities to contribute significantly if he continues to see more than 20 minutes per game.

Brandon Saad, CBJ vs. SJS ($21) - Saad has recorded at least one point in four of the last five games, coinciding with the Blue Jackets' four wins over that span. His four goals in that period lead the Jackets, and Columbus' recent resurgence means the team's first-line right winger should be a plus/minus asset, or at the very least not much of a liability. The Sharks have played well recently, but they're bound to be tired playing a back-to-back to finish off a six-game road trip; look for the former Blackhawk to use his fresh legs to his advantage.

Wings to Avoid:

Mike Cammalleri, NJD at VAN ($24) - Cammalleri is minus-4 in his last two games, and he has topped 6.0 fantasy points in just one of his last five appearances. The likelihood of Cammalleri living up to his valuation in this one isn't high.

Tanner Pearson, LAK at CAR ($17) - Tanner isn't the best person to use in your fantasy lineup due to his lack of consistent playing time. Pearson is only on the ice for 14:57 per game, plus he has topped 5.0 fantasy points only once in his last five road games.

DEFENSEMEN

Alec Martinez, LAK at CAR ($17) - Martinez leads all Kings defensemen in plus/minus at plus-5, and he will have an excellent chance to build on that rating against a Hurricanes team that has dropped five consecutive. He has posted at least 8.0 fantasy points in four of the last five games, so Martinez has been outperforming his value for a while. Don't be surprised to see him keep the good times rolling in Carolina.

Tom Gilbert, MON vs. NYI ($12) - Gilbert put up 9.0 fantasy points in Friday's victory over the Islanders, and the chance of a repeat at home makes him a solid play at the minimum price. The third-pairing defenseman should mostly avoid facing New York's red-hot top line, so he is also a good bet to build up his already robust plus-9 rating.

Defensemen to Avoid:

Justin Faulk, CAR vs. LAK ($19) - Faulk is an abominable minus-8 over Carolina's last five games, and should be avoided until winds of change sweep across the Hurricanes roster. His offensive ability fails to make up for the massive plus/minus downside Faulk carries in this matchup.

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