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Yahoo Daily Fantasy Hockey: Sunday picks

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 12: Daniel Sedin #22 of the Vancouver Canucks celebrates after scoring a goal against the Philadelphia Flyers during the first period at Wells Fargo Center on January 12, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – JANUARY 12: Daniel Sedin #22 of the Vancouver Canucks celebrates after scoring a goal against the Philadelphia Flyers during the first period at Wells Fargo Center on January 12, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

By Sasha Yodashkin

Sunday’s NHL slate is a modest one, with just six teams scheduled to take the ice. There are few obvious sources of production, with just two of the league’s top 14 offenses in action, but there’s still value to be found if you know where to look.

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GOALIE

Cory Schneider, NJ at VAN ($26): Schneider makes for a strong play against his former team, given his combination of affordability and current form. While the veteran slumped to finish 2016, he has gotten off to a fine start in 2017 with just 10 goals allowed in six appearances and four performances with a save percentage of .953 or better. Vancouver’s offense ranks 24th with 2.41 goals per contest, so another excellent outing for Schneider should be expected.

Goalie to Avoid

Corey Crawford, CHI vs. MIN ($30): Crawford was pulled after allowing five goals Friday in Washington, and things don’t get any easier with the fourth-ranked Wild offense in town. He has allowed at least three goals in six of his past nine games and exactly two in the other three appearances, so nothing about Crawford’s recent results suggests he’ll see any improvement here.

CENTER

Ryan Getzlaf, ANH vs. STL ($18): Getzlaf’s strong recent play and prominent offensive role make him a can’t-miss value at just $18 against a Blues team that has been burned for 3.02 goals per game. The veteran takes a three-game point streak into the weekend, and will be given every opportunity to extend it given that he ranks seventh among NHL centers with 20:27 of ice time per game. As a result, Getzlaf’s combination of safety and upside is unmatched in this price range.

Center to Avoid

Adam Henrique, NJ at VAN ($18): Henrique has failed to live up to his salary all season, as his 5.0 fantasy points per game are tied for the lowest output of any center priced at $16 or higher. He has finished with even fewer points than that seven times in his last nine games, and will have a hard time reversing that trend here considering Canucks goaltender Ryan Miller has held opponents to two or fewer goals in six of his past seven starts.

WING

Andrew Cogliano, ANH vs. STL ($16): It’s hard to imagine a better scenario in which to use Cogliano. Scuffling Blues goaltender Jake Allen has been pulled in consecutive starts due to poor play, making him a prime target to build a stack against. Meanwhile, the speedy forward offers excellent bang for the buck given his top-six role on a highly skilled offense and recent momentum. Cogliano has two points and 13 shots in his past two games heading into the weekend, and staying hot shouldn’t be an issue against the league’s fourth-worst defense.

Daniel Sedin, VAN vs. NJ ($13): Scoring against Schneider won’t be easy, but $13 for Sedin is too good a value to pass up. The bona fide star ranks third on his team in both goals and points, and will be brimming with confidence after finally breaking an 11-game goal drought in his last appearance. He won’t be available for just $1 above the minimum much longer, so take advantage of this opportunity while you still can.

Wings to Avoid

Jaden Schwartz, STL at ANH ($19): It’s not hard to see why Schwartz was demoted to the third line when looking at his past eight games. He has managed just two assists in that span while totalling 8.0 fantasy points. Schwartz’s minus-4 rating over that sample is a big reason for his lack of fantasy success, and that aspect of his game is unlikely to improve against a favored Ducks team.

Vladimir Tarasenko, STL at ANH ($31): Tarasenko has been awfully quiet over the last two games, totalling minus-6.0 fantasy points while being held without a shot on goal. It’s unusual to see a player of his caliber struggle so badly, suggesting all may not be right with the talented Russian. Wait until Tarasenko’s back to his old self before paying top dollar for him, especially since the red-hot Ducks won’t make life easy for the Blues.

DEFENSE

Jared Spurgeon, MIN at CHI ($19): Spurgeon has been the epitome of consistency over the past nine games, reaching double-digit fantasy points seven times in that span. He’s able to generate value in a variety of ways, consistently contributing offensively while also racking up blocks and posting a plus-23 rating that ranks third in the NHL on the season. A lack of power-play production from the second unit is the only cap on his fantasy ceiling, but he could even contribute on that front Sunday against Chicago’s 28th-ranked penalty kill.

Damon Severson, NJ at VAN ($12): Severson offers much more upside than your run-of-the-mill minimum-price defenseman. He has already racked up three goals and 17 assists, with nine of those points coming on the power play. Vancouver’s 22nd-ranked penalty kill is vulnerable, and Severson’s terrible rating isn’t as much of a weakness as long as Schneider covers up for any defensive lapses with excellent play in net. He’s perfect for owners looking to maximize upside while distinguishing themselves from the crowd.

Defensemen to Avoid

Brent Seabrook, CHI vs. MIN ($18): Seabrook hasn’t reached double-digit fantasy points in 18 games, and has averaged just 2.9 fantasy points per contest in that span. That stretch of mediocrity is unlikely to come to a close against a Wild team that has outscored opponents by 1.13 goals per game this season.

Steve Santini, NJ at VAN ($17): Santini is going to have trouble continuing to live up to his $17 salary considering he has averaged just 15:12 of ice time per game. Wait for the rookie’s price to drop and better reflect his usage before putting him in your lineup.

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