This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
The NHL is back in action, though it isn't smooth sailing. For example, take a look at Wednesday. There was supposed to be 11 games taking place. Instead, we're getting six. Hey, that's something at least. Let's get to my recommendations.
SLATE OVERVIEW
There were only three NHL games Tuesday, and none of those teams are in action Wednesday. That means we have no teams on the second leg of a back-to-back. Also, it means all of these teams have been out of action for at least a week. Will there have to be any rust knocked off? That's something you can't really parse with numbers. So let's get to what we can.
GOALIES
John Gibson, ANA vs. VAN ($7,000): The Canucks have averaged 33.3 shots on net per contest, but have only scored 2.52 goals per game. This speaks to some bad luck, but it could also speak to poor finishing on opportunities. Gibson has a .913 save percentage, but a .919 save percentage at home.
Martin Jones, PHI at SEA ($7,900): Honestly, I had a hard time finding a second goalie I really liked for Wednesday. You could go with Jones, who will be starting with Carter Hart out due to COVID-19 protocols. A big problem for the Flyers is the fact they've allowed 34.6 shots on net per contest. However, the Kraken have averaged a mere 27.9 shots on goal per game. Maybe Jones will be a bit less busy, and that could bode well for him.
VALUE PLAYS
Troy Terry, ANA vs. VAN ($6,300): Terry has back-to-back games with power-play points, giving him nine points with the extra man this season. Don't be surprised if he gets to double-digit power-play points for the first time in his career come Wednesday. The Canucks have the league's worst penalty kill.
Jaden Schwartz, SEA vs. PHI ($4,900): As a team, the Kraken don't put many pucks on net. Schwartz is not part of the problem. He's tallied 69 shots on goal in 28 games. The Flyers do allow 34.6 shots on net per game, and Jones does have a .907 save percentage.
LINE STACKS TO CONSIDER
Flyers at Kraken: Claude Giroux (C - $5,800), Cam Atkinson (W - $6,200), Oskar Lindblom (W - $4,100)
The Kraken do not play games rich in incident. They are in the bottom three in shots on goal per game, but in the top three in shots on goal allowed per game. And yet, Seattle has a 3.57 GAA. That's some bad goaltending. With Sean Couturier out, Giroux has moved to center of Philly's top line, giving us this trio.
Giroux has been hot, as he has four points in his last five outings. Overall he has 25 points in 29 contests. Atkinson isn't setting up many goals, but he has potted 12 goals of his own, and he once scored 41 goals in a season. Lindblom got off to a slow start, but he has two two-point games in his last three outings.
Sabres vs. Devils: Arttu Ruotsalainen (C - $3,100), Victor Olofsson (W - $5,200), Rasmus Asplund (W - $4,000)
Due to injuries and COVID-19 issues, the Sabres have some weird lineups going on. Their first line is currently a banged-up Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch returning from a season-long injury, and rookie John-Jason Peterka primed for his NHL debut. As such, I'm going with Buffalo's second line. They will be playing a team backstopped by Mackenzie Blackwood, who has a 3.14 GAA and .902 save percentage.
Ruotsalainen was playing well before dipping back down to the AHL. He had three points in six games and averaged 1:58 per game with the extra man. Olofsson has 17 points in 22 contests and has played 2:40 per contest on the power play. Asplund has 15 points in 30 games and has put 55 shots on net.
DEFENSE
Rasmus Dahlin, BUF vs. NJD ($5,600): Hey, at least Dahlin is around for the Sabres. He's tallied three goals in his last three games and has totaled 18 points and 69 shots on net in 30 contests. Like I just said, Blackwood has a 3.14 GAA and .902 save percentage.
Colton Parayko, STL vs. EDM ($5,000): Parayko doesn't play on the power play, but he doesn't really need to. He still has 15 points and 60 shots on goal in 31 games. The 28-year-old also has 67 blocked shots. Edmonton has a 3.10 GAA and has given up 32.9 shots on net per contest. The Oilers' goaltending has slipped recently too. Stuart Skinner has an .895 save percentage over his last five games, while Mikko Koskinen has an .888 save percentage over his last nine.
