This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
Wednesday's NHL slate features four games after 7:00 p.m. EST. Below, you'll find a breakdown of the action and suggested options for crafting an effective lineup.
SLATE PREVIEW
There are no overwhelming favorites Wednesday, but you'll still find plenty of sources of value despite the modest selection. The night's headliner is a matchup between an Avalanche team that won the Presidents' Trophy for the most regular season points last season and a Rangers team that's on pace to win it this year, leading the league in points percentage. Colorado's favored on the road in part because the Rangers are finishing up a back-to-back set without star netminder Igor Shesterkin (lower body). The Flyers and Canucks both changed coaches recently, but each team remains an underdog in New Jersey and versus Boston, respectively. A West Coast battle between the surging Stars and the Golden Knights rounds out the action. Flyers-Devils and Avalanche-Rangers both have an over/under of 6.0 goals, while the other two games come in at 5.5.
GOALIES
Jeremy Swayman, BOS at VAN ($8,200): Whether it's Swayman or Linus Ullmark, Boston's goalie of choice will be a strong play against a Canucks team that's been the most fantasy-friendly in the league to opposing goalies. Vancouver's struggling offense is potting just 2.42 goals per game, but beware Bruce Boudreau, as the Canucks delivered a 4-0 win for their new bench boss in his debut Monday, so perhaps the tide is turning in Vancouver.
Thatcher Demko, VAN vs. BOS ($7,200): If you're a Boudreau believer, then Demko's a steal at just $7,200. His shutout of the Kings on Monday was an extension of Demko's strong recent play, as he's allowed just seven goals in his last four starts, winning three. If you can shut down Boston's top line, you'll likely shut down the Bruins, and Boston averages the 12th-fewest goals (2.86) on the second-most shots (36.7).
Braden Holtby, DAL at VGK ($7,600): Dallas has won seven in a row, and Holtby's on a personal three-game winning streak during which he has stopped 82 of 86 shots for a 1.33 GAA and .953 save percentage. Given the Stars' defensive identity, Holtby's a bargain at just $7,600. The same goes for Jake Oettinger ($7,400) — who's 5-0-0 with a 1.41 GAA and .951 save percentage — if the youngster gets the nod instead for this front end of a back-to-back.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Nazem Kadri, COL at NYR ($6,900): Kadri looked no worse for the wear after missing a game due to injury, scoring a goal in his return. That performance gave him a 10-21-31 line in 21 games overall, and he's been held off the scoresheet only once in his last 15 appearances. Whether the Rangers go with Alexandar Georgiev (3.36 GAA, .882 save percentage) for the second time in as many nights or tab Adam Huska for his NHL debut, Colorado's league-best offense will have a favorable matchup against an underwhelming netminder.
Claude Giroux, PHI at NJ ($4,500): Giroux has been largely immune to Philadelphia's team-wide offensive struggles. His two-goal game Monday raised his season line to 9-12-21 in 23 games, putting Giroux seven points clear of the nearest teammate. Despite that success, he can be had for an affordable $4,500 against a Devils team that's allowing 3.26 goals per game.
Ryan Strome, NYR vs. COL ($4,600): Strome flies under the radar, but he's an integral part of the Rangers' success while centering Artemi Panarin at even strength and on the top power-play unit. His 5-13-18 line in 20 games includes a 4-10-14 line in the last 12 — a stretch in which Strome has been held without a point only once.
Brock Boeser, VAN vs. BOS ($3,500): New coach Bruce Boudreau has been deemed the Boeser whisperer after Boeser broke out with a goal and an assist in Boudreau's first game behind the bench. Between Boudreau, Boeser and the Bruins, Double-Bs will be running wild in Vancouver. At just $3,500, Boeser's a low-risk, high-reward play considering he's a 24-year-old winger with a pair of seasons over 25 goals and 55 points under his belt.
Joe Pavelski, DAL at VGK ($5,000): Pavelski had a four-game multi-point streak snapped in his last game, but he still has a 3-6-9 line over the past five. The most affordable member of the Stars' top line has aged gracefully as one of the league's best puck deflectors in front, and Pavelski should keep rolling in Vegas.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Avalanche at Rangers
Nathan MacKinnon (C - $9,000), Mikko Rantanen (W - $8,600), Gabriel Landeskog (W - $6,800)
Committing to this entire top line will be pricey, but choosing one or two guys is a sensible option against a tired Rangers team that's shorthanded in net. MacKinnon has been limited to 12 games but has 17 points. Rantanen has a 10-11-21 line in 19 games, while Landeskog is this line's best value with a 9-16-25 output in 20 appearances. The surging Avalanche offense has potted 31 goals in the last five games, with this top line leading the way.
Bruins at Canucks
Patrice Bergeron (C - $7,400), David Pastrnak (W - $8,200), Brad Marchand (W - $7,100)
In addition to skating together on the top line, these guys also share the ice on the top power-play unit, which is significant considering Vancouver's 65.5 percent penalty kill is the worst in the league. Marchand has served his three-game suspension for a slew foot on Vancouver's Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and as luck would have it, his return coincides with a rematch with the Canucks. When he's not playing dirty, Marchand's an effective scorer, with a 9-15-24 line through 18 games. Bergeron has chipped in an 8-10-18 line in 21 contests, while Pastrnak's at 8-11-19.
Devils vs. Flyers
Nico Hischier (C - $5,200), Pavel Zacha (W - $4,300), Jesper Bratt (W - $4,800)
Philadelphia's overhaul behind the bench didn't do much to address the team's recent deficiencies, as the Flyers surrendered seven goals Monday to drop the first game after coach Alain Vigneault was relieved of his duties. New Jersey's top line should add to the recent struggles of a Philadelphia team that's winless in its last nine games and 0-5-0 while being outscored 29-12 over the past five. Bratt quietly leads the team in points with a 6-14-20 line through 23 games despite opening the season on a five-game point drought. Zacha led the team in scoring last season and has an 8-5-13 line, trailing Andreas Johnsson by one goal for the team lead. Hischier is shooting just 6.8 percent en route to a 3-11-14 line, but the 2017 first-overall pick has never finished below 10.6 percent, so he's due for an uptick at some point, and facing the reeling Flyers presents as good an opportunity as any for some positive regression.
DEFENSEMEN
Dougie Hamilton, NJ vs. PHI ($7,700): Hamilton should capitalize on Philadelphia's recent struggles. He's the cream of the crop when it comes to putting shots on net from the blue line, as Hamilton's 78 shots lead all Devils and rank fourth among defensemen league-wide, but his total comes from just 20 appearances while all three blueliners ahead of him have played 25 games. All that rubber on the cage has translated to a 6-9-15 line, and Hamilton should be worth his hefty valuation against a Flyers team that's allowing 3.35 goals per game.
Adam Fox, NYR vs. COL ($6,700): Fox can't match Hamilton's shot volume, but he's the far superior playmaker. His 5-22-27 line has Fox tied with Victor Hedman for the points lead among blueliners, and that production includes 11 points during an active seven-game point streak. With both teams expected to find success offensively, Fox figures to deliver another productive performance.
Nicolas Hague, VGK vs. DAL ($3,500): Hague's having a quietly strong season for the Golden Knights, with a 3-7-10 line and consistent secondary contributions. He has 20 shots and 12 blocks over the past six games while holding down a top-four role on the Vegas blue line.
Brandon Carlo, BOS at VAN ($2,900): If you believe in riding the hot hand, Carlo's a sensible pick here. He has 12 shots in his last four games, as well as a goal and an assist in the last two. At his sub-$3,000 valuation, Carlo's a low-risk, high-reward pick.
