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NHL Plays will highlight the best and the most underrated daily fantasy options among forwards, defensemen and goaltenders.
Please note, these players were chosen early in the day, so make sure to check NBCSports Edge’s player news for any lineup changes, injuries and potential changes in the crease for starting goaltenders.
Additionally, it is worth reminding everyone that FanDuel allows you to roster nine players (2C, 2W, 2D, 2UTIL, 1G) with a salary cap of $55,000, while DraftKings has a cap of $50,000 for nine players (2C, 3W, 2D, 1G, 1UTIL). Yahoo has a $200 cap for nine players (2C, 3W, 2D, 2G).
Don’t forget, for everything NHL, check out NBCSports Edge Player News, and follow @NBCSEdgeHK and @mfinewaxhockey on Twitter.
There are seven games in the NHL on Sunday. There is no Minnesota-Tampa Bay or New York Rangers-Buffalo games on Yahoo.
Forwards
Auston Matthews (Toronto), C - $9,500 (FanDuel), $9,000 (Draft Kings), $34 (Yahoo)
Matthews saw his five-game points streak come to an end on Saturday in a shutout loss to the Penguins but now he faces the COVID riddled Islanders who have six players in protocol. Matthews has seven goals and 15 points in 16 games and has been Toronto’s top offensive threat of late.
Alex Ovechkin (Washington), W - $9,100 (FanDuel), $9,300 (DraftKings), $34 (Yahoo)
Ovechkin had a two-goal performance on Saturday against the Sharks and enters Sunday’s tilt with 14 goals and 29 points in just 18 games as he is off to one of the best starts in his productive NHL career. He snapped a two-game pointless streak as he also chipped in with an assist. Ovechkin is third in NHL scoring behind only Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid and should close in some more on the duo as they are off Sunday.
Andrew Mangiapane (Calgary), W - $5,900 (FanDuel), $4,500 (DraftKings), $19 (Yahoo)
Mangiapane has had back-to-back two-goal games and has seven goals in his last seven contests. He is tied with Ovechkin with 14 goals in 18 games this season but has only two assists. Nevertheless, he has been the go-to scorer in Calgary this season and has given himself a chance to be named to the Canadian Olympic team with his outstanding play.
Bargain Bin: Brock Nelson (NY Islanders), C $5,600 (FanDuel), $5,800 (Draft Kings), $15 (Yahoo), Ryan Hartman (Minnesota), C $5,200 (FanDuel), $4,400 (DraftKings), $None (Yahoo), Kyle Palmieri (NY Islanders), W $4,000 (FanDuel) $4,100 (DraftKings), $12 (Yahoo), Jordan Eberle (Seattle), W $5,800 (FanDuel), $5,500 (Draft Kings), $17 (Yahoo)
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Defensemen:
Adam Fox (NY Rangers), $6,900 (FanDuel), $7,500 (DraftKings), None (Yahoo)
Last season’s Norris Trophy winner, Fox has not let up to start the 2021-22 season, as he has four goals and 16 points in 17 games. Fox has not had a point in his last two games but he is the offensive engine from the blueline that powers the Rangers power play.
Victor Hedman (Tampa Bay), $6,800 (FanDuel), $7,800 (DraftKings), $None (Yahoo)
Hedman has a four-game points streak on the line as the Lightning are home to the Wild on Sunday, scoring twice and adding four assists. Overall, the perennial Norris Trophy contender has three goals and 16 points in 16 games this season and should be among the leaders in points for a defenseman once the season ends.
Bargain Bin:
Matt Roy (Los Angeles), $3,500 (FanDuel), $4,400 (DraftKings), $14 (Yahoo), Shane Gostisbehere (Arizona), $5,000 (FanDuel), $4,700 (Draft Kings), $19 (Yahoo), Oliver Kylington (Calgary), $4,400 (FanDuel), $3,600 (Draft Kings), $17 (Yahoo)
Goaltenders:
Jonathan Quick (Los Angeles), $8,600 (FanDuel), $8,200 (Draft Kings), $33 (Yahoo)
Quick has had a tremendous comeback season for the Kings as he has retaken the number one job in the Los Angeles goal. Quick saw his four-game winning streak come to an end on Wednesday but he was strong in the loss to Washington, stopping 35-of-37 shots. Quick is only 4-4-1 but has outstanding peripherals as he has a 1.88 GAA and a .940 save percentage. The Kings are home to Arizona Sunday and it is a good spot to take Quick.
Other plays:
Igor Shesterkin (NY Rangers), $8,700 (FanDuel), $8,000 (DraftKings), $None (Yahoo)
