This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
While the NHL season is heading toward its exciting conclusion, Wednesday is a quieter night with just three games on the slate, so you'll be choosing your DraftKings lineup from a limited selection of players. It'll be tough to differentiate our selections from the rest of the pool, but here are some of the players who stick out as values.
GOALIE
Cam Talbot, EDM at ANA ($7,400): Talbot is having a fine season for the Oilers, posting a 2.32 GAA and .922 save percentage on the season. Anaheim, meanwhile, has only averaged 2.54 goals per game, which ranks in the bottom 10 in the NHL, and the Ducks have also only averaged 29.6 shots on net per contest. The Oilers have won four in a row, but Talbot is still on the cheaper end. It'd be nice if Edmonton was at home, but this price -- in tandem with Talbot's success this season -- makes him a worthwhile choice nevertheless.
CENTER
Mika Zibanejad, NYR vs. NYI ($5,300): The Rangers are the one team in action both Tuesday and Wednesday, but this is still a matchup you'll want to capitalize on. The Islanders have allowed 3.01 goals and 32.1 shots on net per game; since the All-Star break, they've been even worse defensively, allowing 3.43 goals per contest. Zibanejad has started 33.9 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, fifth among Rangers forwards, and he's averaging 2:29 per game on the power play.
Brandon Dubinsky, CLM vs. TOR ($5,000): Alexander Wennberg is day-to-day, so you may not want to risk him in this matchup, but there's no need to worry about Dubinsky. The veteran has really picked up his play since the beginning of February; in his last 22 games, he's tallied 18 points. Toronto has allowed 2.85 goals and 32.8 shots on net per contest. That latter number is the third-highest in the league, which could mean plenty of opportunities for Dubinsky to put the puck on the net.
WING
Chris Kreider, NYR vs. NYI ($5,600): It's already been established how poor the Islanders have been defensively, especially in the second half. That bodes well for Kreider, who has notched 26 goals in 66 games. On top of that, he's started 34.9 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, tops among Rangers forwards, and he's averaged 2:40 per game with the extra man. Kreider has tallied 13 power-play points as well, and the Islanders' 16th-ranked penalty kill shouldn't concern him too much.
Josh Bailey, NYI at NYR ($5,200): On the other side of this matchup, it makes sense to take advantage of what may be a tired Rangers defense. Additionally, with Henrik Lundqvist still out, either Antti Raanta will need to start back-to-back games or the Rangers will give Magnus Hellberg a start. That's another encouraging point for Bailey, who has started 41.0 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone. Bailey plays alongside John Tavares on the Islanders' top line, and he's managed to tally 49 points despite a career-low 7.6 shooting percentage. He's also averaged 2:48 per game with the extra man, notching 10 points in those situations.
Boone Jenner, CLM vs. TOR ($4,900): Jenner has tallied 185 shots on goal in 71 games, including 63 in his last 19 games. He's tallied seven goals in that span, but that's still good for only an 8.6 shooting percentage. Toronto has allowed 32.8 shots on net per game, so Jenner should be able to keep up his prolific shooting. If a little more puck luck starts going his way, Jenner could be a tremendous fantasy value.
DEFENSEMEN
David Savard, CLM vs. TOR ($4,200): Both Zach Werenski and Seth Jones are on the pricier side of things, but there's value to be had in Savard. The Maple Leafs' propensity to allow shots has already been well-established. However, they also attempt a lot of shots. Toronto has averaged 60.6 shots attempts per 60 minutes, third in the NHL. Savard has blocked 110 shots in 63 games, so he could add some fantasy value that way.
Brady Skjei, NYR vs. NYI ($4,000): Skjei has started 37.0 percent of his shifts of the offensive zone, second on the Rangers (behind only Adam Clendening, who's been an occasional lineup presence as an offensively oriented blueliner). He's notched 34 points in 72 games and tallied 21 shots on goal over the past eight. As mentioned previously, the Islanders have allowed 3.01 goals per game; their goalies also have a collective .906 save percentage on the season. At this price, Skjei has quite a bit of upside in this favorable matchup.
