This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
The Oilers at Canadiens game has been postponed due to COVID, so that leaves a five-game slate for Wednesday, including two other North Division matchups with big implications in the playoff race.
The Flames can move into fifth place as they visit the Senators (5 p.m. EDT), and there's some bad blood brewing with Rasmus Andersson refusing to give up the game puck after Sens starter Filip Gustavsson won his first NHL game. Having both Tkachuk brothers helps, too. The Jets will look to take two more points from the Canucks (10:30 p.m.), and a win would put them in a three-way tie for first place.
Note because of the two games starting at 5 p.m., only the all day slate will feature all five games.
GOALIES
Kaapo Kahkonen, MIN vs. ANH ($8,300): Kahkonen is coming off a 6-0 defeat to the Avalanche, though he did manage to make 36 saves. Both him and Cam Talbot, who also bounced back from a defeat to the Avs against with a win against the Ducks, should be good choices. The Ducks offense is non-existent most nights.
Tristan Jarry, PIT vs. BUF ($8,200): Jarry's overtime loss to the Devils on Sunday was his second straight loss but the fifth straight game he's posted a save percentage above .910. He's been playing very well despite his early-season struggles and the Sabres' woes continue with no real end in sight.
Connor Hellebuyck, WPG at VAN ($7,900): Laurent Brossoit may draw the start but either goalie should be a good option against the Canucks, who are without all four of their opening-night centers. The Canucks couldn't generate much offense in their matchup Monday and it'll be likely the same again if they don't have any centers to go up against Mark Scheifele and Pierre-Luc Dubois.
Jacob Markstrom, CGY at OTT ($7,700): Markstrom took the L on Monday but the Flames couldn't generate any goal support against a rookie goalie. His career numbers against the Sens aren't very good and the all-time series has been surprisingly close in recent years, so there's definitely some upset potential, but note the Flames have lost three straight games just twice this season while the Sens have won consecutive games just twice this season as well.
VALUE PLAYS
J.T. Miller, VAN vs. WPG ($5,900): If Bo Horvat is not available, look for Miller to play a ton of minutes. He's one of the few high-end scorers the Canucks have on the roster, and he's averaging well over 20 minutes per game over the past six games. Usually, Miller's not a value play, but he will be if his usage increases.
Jared McCann, PIT vs. BUF ($3,800): Maybe he just needed a game to get his legs back, but McCann was far more effective as the second-line center in the second game against the Devils, finishing with five shots in 15 minutes.
Troy Terry, ANH at MIN ($3,300): His four-game point streak is worthy of the scary Terry moniker, given his scoring talent when he's on his game. The Wild do a good job defensively so goals will be hard to come by, but Terry's minutes have creeped up and he played a season-high 19 minutes on Monday after getting moved up to Ryan Getzlaf's line.
Adam Gaudette, VAN vs. WPG ($3,200): Like Miller, Gaudette's minutes may increase given the Canucks' injuries down the middle. Drafted as a center but never really excelling in that position, Gaudette has a decent shot and has registered eight of them in his past four games despite limited ice time, though that could increase.
LINE STACKS
Jets at Canucks
Mark Scheifele (C - $7,000), Blake Wheeler (W - $5,800), Paul Stastny (W - $5,300)
The Jets' veteran top line smashed the Canucks on Monday with a 63.16 5v5 CF%, according to Natural Stat Trick. They created 12 shots, and probably would've had more opportunities had the game been closer. Horvat won 64 percent of his faceoffs on Monday, including 3 of 4 against Scheifele; if he's out, that will be a boon for both Scheifele and Stastny, who went 1-for-5 against Horvat.
Penguins vs. Sabres
Sidney Crosby (C - $8,100), Jake Guentzel (W - $7,500), Bryan Rust (W - $5,800)
Both wingers are on three-game point streaks and Crosby had three points and seven shots against the Devils. They've combined for five points in two previous games against the Sabres.
DEFENSEMEN
Kris Letang, PIT vs. BUF ($5,900): There should be plenty of chances for the Pens to generate offense, and among defensemen with salaries $5,000 and above, Letang has the best matchup. He was held without a point against an offensively-challenged team in the Devils, but did manage to get seven shots on net during the two-game series.
Josh Morrissey, WPG at VAN ($4,600): The Jets' workhorse has six helpers in six games and will have a much easier time defending and generating offense if the Canucks' top centers aren't available. It's a good matchup for the Jets, who are 4-2-0 against the Canucks this season.
Jamie Drysdale, ANH at MIN ($3,600): There aren't a lot of attractive options on defense, so why not take another stab at Drysdale? He played just 15 minutes last game, but it was also his first road game and nevertheless still finished with three shots. He'll continue to play sheltered minutes, but his consistency in generating shots is a very positive sign.
