This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
Wednesday's NHL slate is a modest one, with four games on the docket after 7:00 PM Eastern time. Below, you'll find an overview of the matchups and suggested options for crafting an effective lineup.
SLATE PREVIEW
This slate offers two amazing stacking opportunities, as the Avalanche will be visiting a Maple Leafs team that's starting its leaky backup goalie while the Capitals should also produce on the road in Los Angeles. Edmonton's stars are a threat to steal the show at home against Ottawa, and there's also value to be found in the Blues-Penguins game.
GOALIES
Ilya Samsonov ($8,000) should start the second half of Washington's back-to-back after Braden Holtby presided over Tuesday's 5-2 win in San Jose. The young backup has been outstanding when called upon with a 6-2-1 record, 2.58 GAA and .914 save percentage, and he's unlikely to slow down against a Kings team that's scoring just 2.57 goals per game.
Jordan Binnington ($7,600) can be had for cheaper than usual in Pittsburgh. While the matchup is far from easy, locking Binnington in could still pay off given his outstanding 13-4-4 record, 2.26 GAA and .926 save percentage as a sophomore after an even better rookie campaign.
Mikko Koskinen ($8,300) has been confirmed as Edmonton's starter, and the most expensive goaltender in this slate could well live up to his lofty valuation against a bottom-five Ottawa attack.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Jaden Schwartz ($5,000) has a goal and an assist in each of his past two games — including a 5-2 Nov. 30 win over the Penguins — bringing his season line to 8-14-22 in 29 games. The oft-injured winger is flourishing now that he's healthy, and Schwartz should continue his hot streak against a Pittsburgh team that's likely to start the struggling Matt Murray in net. Murray has surrendered 18 goals over his past four starts, winning none.
John Tavares ($6,000) has four goals, two assists and 15 shots in his past four games. With the star center heating up, he might not be this cheap for long, making him a decent option despite a less than ideal matchup against Colorado.
Nicklas Backstrom ($5,000) got in a full practice Monday, and while he ultimately didn't dress Tuesday, it's possible he's ready to return for the Capitals here. The center's $5,000 price is likely to climb quickly once he shows himself to be healthy, so lock him in if he plays.
Leon Draisaitl ($7,600) will apparently be separated from Connor McDavid and instead center the second line in this one. The two will remain together on the power play, keeping both players' floors high, but Draisaitl makes for an interesting solo play here on the chance the league's second-leading scorer is able to carry his own line better than the man ahead of him can, at least for one night.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Avalanche at Maple Leafs
Nathan MacKinnon (C - $8,600), Mikko Rantanen (W - $7,400), Joonas Donskoi (W - $5,500)
You'll be hard-pressed to find a worse goaltender in the NHL than Michael Hutchinson, who has appeared in seven games this season and gone 0-5-1 with a 4.55 GAA and .876 save percentage. Toronto's much-maligned backup will start the second leg of his team's back-to-back set, which is great news for Colorado's high-powered top line. MacKinnon is on the short list of candidates for best player in the NHL, with 42 points in 26 games, including seven points in the last two. Rantanen didn't miss a beat after an extended injury layoff, scoring four points in his return Saturday to give him 16 points in 10 games this season. Donskoi's enjoying a career season on MacKinnon's wing, with an 11-11-22 line through 26 contests.
Capitals at Kings
Evgeny Kuznetsov (C - $6,700), Alex Ovechkin (W - $8,400), Tom Wilson (W - $5,100)
Even with Washington finishing up a back-to-back set, this is a lopsided matchup considering the Kings have been outscored 93-72 through 28 games. The Capitals' top players should be worth paying up for against this inferior opposition. Ovechkin has 20 goals on a league-high 140 shots and leads Capitals forwards with 31 points in 29 games. Kuznetsov's hot on his heels with 28 points despite missing three games, while Wilson's 10-9-19 line has him on pace for a 28-goal, 54-point season.
Oilers vs. Senators
Connor McDavid (C - $8,200), James Neal (W - $4,400), Josh Archibald (W - $2,800)
While members of the Avalanche and Capitals will permeate most lineups, you can't write off McDavid, Neal and whomever joins them on this line, especially against a below-average Senators team that's finishing up a road back-to-back. McDavid leads the league with 51 points in 29 games, one ahead of Draisaitl. While McDavid (19) and Draisaitl (18) are Edmonton's top two goal scorers, Neal isn't too far behind with 14. Whether Archibald continues filling in or Zack Kassian ($4,300) returns from his back injury, whomever fills the other wing spot on the top line is always a threat to produce simply thanks to sharing the ice with arguably the world's best player.
DEFENSEMEN
John Carlson ($7,000) continues to easily lead all defensemen in scoring with 40 points in 29 games after Tuesday's three-point night in San Jose. You'll get your money's worth most nights if you pay up for him, especially against subpar opponents like the Kings.
Avalanche rookie Cale Makar ($6,300) is one of three defensemen in the league playing at a point-per-game pace or better along with Carlson and Carolina's Dougie Hamilton. Makar should keep rolling against Hutchinson and the Maple Leafs.
If you're looking for a cheap blue-line filler, Pittsburgh's John Marino ($3,100) should be more than serviceable. He's stepped up for the injury-riddled Penguins, delivering two goals and eight assists in his past 13 games.
With 18 points, Oscar Klefbom ($5,700) trails Kassian by just one for third on the Oilers. The productive blueliner has a nice opportunity to add to his point total against a Senators team that's dropped five straight in regulation.
