This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Sunday's NHL slate contains only five games, but it stretches through the whole day with the Flyers and Capitals kicking things off at 12:30 PM Eastern time and the Rangers-Kings capping the action with a 10:30 PM start. Read on to see which players to target in this slate and which to avoid.
GOALIE
Braden Holtby, WAS vs. PHI ($27): Holtby's dropped consecutive starts but don't let that stop you from capitalizing on a terrific bargain by grabbing him at $27. The talented netminder's on pace for a fourth consecutive 40-win season and has a serviceable 2.70 GAA and .916 save percentage. Nabbing another victory shouldn't be difficult at home against a middling Philadelphia club that's playing the second leg of a back-to-back.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Ondrej Pavelec, NYR at LA ($36): Even against a Kings team that's lost six in a row, Pavelec makes little sense to use at $36. His average of 9.4 fantasy points per game is nothing to write home about, and Pavelec's unlikely to get much support against the league's best defensive team considering New York's only scored more than two goals in three of its last 12 games.
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CENTER
Ryan Getzlaf, ANH vs. SJ ($21): Getzlaf has been tremendous after missing some time early in the season due to injury, racking up 26 points and a plus-9 rating in 23 games. Only four of those points have come on the power play, so Getzlaf is unlikely to be bothered by San Jose's third-ranked penalty kill. He should have an edge in other situations, however, with the Sharks playing the second leg of a back-to-back here.
CENTER TO AVOID
Jordan Staal, CAR vs. VGK ($17): Staal's 28 points rank a mere fourth on the Hurricanes, yet only one Carolina skater is priced above him. His rating is down to even after a trio of minus-2 finishes and two more minus-1 results over the past eight games, and that mark is in serious danger of continuing to drop against a dangerous Vegas squad that ranks third with 3.33 goals per game.
WINGS
Tom Wilson, WAS vs. PHI ($12): Capitals coach Barry Trotz has decided to shake up his stagnant top six, and the new alignment will have Wilson skating on the top line alongside Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov. Even the least-skilled forwards would be primed for success in such a situation, and the 2012 first rounder actually possesses a fair bit of offensive talent to go with his physical style. Wilson's already on pace for a career-best 36 points and represents a strong value play given his combination of opportunity and skill against a Flyers team playing its second game in as many days.
Blake Wheeler, WPG vs. VAN ($29): Wheeler won't come cheap but this is the ideal time to pay up for him. The talented forward has been incredible at home, producing nine goals and 32 points in just 20 games. Wheeler's amazing form should continue against a Canucks team that allows 3.20 goals per game -- fifth-most in the league.
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WINGS TO AVOID
Joe Pavelski, SJ at ANH ($23): In 23 road games, Pavelski has just three goals, nine assists and a minus-11 rating. He continues to be outclassed by equally priced teammate Logan Couture, but neither makes much sense to use against a Ducks team that's allowing the sixth-fewest goals per game (2.64).
Tyler Toffoli, LA vs. NYR ($20): Toffoli hasn't done much to help his slumping team recently, finishing with fewer than 4.0 fantasy points in 10 of his last 15 games. It's tough to trust him at this price regardless of opponent right now.
DEFENSEMEN
Tyler Myers, WPG vs. VAN ($17): Myers has been awesome on the power play and in his own end, as he's scored 14 of his 23 points with the extra man while still maintaining a plus-9 rating. The hulking blueliner is well positioned for success in this matchup, as Vancouver's penalty kill is fifth-worst at 77.1 percent and the Canucks have been outscored 3.20 to 2.64 in the average game. Of the team's four defensemen priced at $16 or more, Myers offers the best value.
Jake Muzzin, LA vs. NYR ($17): Muzzin comes in with assists in four consecutive games, so he's been immune to the recent struggles around him. For the season, the two-way blueliner leads all sub-$20 players at his position with an average of 7.1 fantasy points per game, and Muzzin should continue his strong play against a Rangers club playing the second leg of a back-to-back.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Justin Faulk, CAR vs. VGK ($15): Like Staal, Faulk's more likely to hurt you than help you in this difficult matchup. The offensively-inclined blueliner has only produced four goals and 12 assists in 46 games, and his usual defensive shortcomings have led to a minus-12 rating that could easily drop further here.
Brent Burns, SJ at ANH ($32): Burns is having a subpar even-strength campaign for a player in his price range, as he sports a minus-17 rating and has scored 16 of his 35 points on the power play. In addition to their overall defensive proficiency, the Ducks have been effective killing penalties, with an eighth-ranked, 83.2 percent penalty kill. There are better times to pay up for Burns.
