This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
Wednesday's NHL slate is a small one, with just two games on the schedule after 7:30 p.m. EST. Below, you'll find suggested options for crafting an effective lineup.
SLATE PREVIEW
It's advisable to focus on offense here, as three of the league's worst defensive teams are in action. The Senators, who are allowing a league-high 4.50 goals per game, will visit a Canucks team that's allowing the second-most goals per game (4.25). Meanwhile, the Predators will look to beat the Blackhawks for the second night in a row after Tuesday's 3-2 overtime triumph.
GOALIES
Juuse Saros, NSH vs. CHI ($8,100): Saros should get the second leg of his team's back-to-back against the Blackhawks after Pekka Rinne presided over Tuesday's 3-2 overtime win. The younger Finn was roughed up for eight goals in his last two games by the Stars, but he stopped 71 of 74 Columbus shots in his previous two outings and will look to rediscover that form against a Chicago team that will be without one if its top forwards in Alex DeBrincat, who is in the COVID-19 protocol.
Braden Holtby, VAN vs. OTT ($8,300): Both Holtby and Thatcher Demko ($8,300) have sub-.900 save percentages, but Demko had 35 saves in Monday's 7-1 win over Ottawa. Whether Demko's called upon again or Holtby gets a chance to match him, Vancouver's goalie will be poised to pick up the win for the favored Canucks.
Kevin Lankinen, CHI at NSH ($7,300): Whichever goalie Chicago picks from its trio in net could turn into a nice bargain against a Nashville team that has just 15 goals through six games, including three against Malcolm Subban on Tuesday. Lankinen has been more productive than Subban or Collin Delia in the early going, with a 2-0-1 record, 2.63 GAA and .909 save percentage.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Mikael Granlund, NSH vs. CHI ($3,400): Granlund's coming off a down year but looks to be bouncing back after having the start of his season delayed due to COVID-19 protocols. The affordable second-liner has a 2-1-3 line and 10 shots through three games since joining the lineup, including a goal and an assist Tuesday against Chicago.
Brandon Sutter, VAN vs. OTT ($3,100): Sutter recorded a hat trick when these teams met Monday. The veteran center doesn't come to mind when you think of Vancouver's top offensive players, but Sutter has crossed the 20-goal threshold twice in his career and scored four times on nine shots in his last three games. Ride him while he's hot.
Drake Batherson, OTT at VAN ($4,800): Batherson's off to a quietly strong start, though he hasn't been fully rewarded for his efforts. The 22-year-old winger's still searching for his first goal of the season despite ranking second on the team to Brady Tkachuk (24) with 18 shots, but Batherson has maintained some value with three helpers, including two on the power play. He has 22 points in 49 NHL games split over parts of three seasons, but Batherson is poised to establish himself as a consistent top-six contributor for the Senators in 2021. Batherson's a bargain given his utilization on the top line and No. 1 power-play unit.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Canucks vs. Senators
Elias Pettersson (C - $6,200), J.T. Miller (W - $5,900), Brock Boeser (W - $5,800)
Vancouver's top line hasn't quite gotten rolling yet, but this matchup with the Senators offers an ideal opportunity for this group to build up some momentum. Miller and Pettersson tied for the team lead with 27 goals apiece last season, but they have combined for only one goal in five and eight games, respectively, this season. Pettersson's due for a breakout performance considering the career 17.3 percent shooter is currently converting on just 5.6 percent of shots, while Miller has kept his value up by contributing five helpers in as many games thus far. Boeser has actually been this line's most productive player in the early going, with a 4-2-6 line through eight games.
Predators vs. Blackhawks
Ryan Johansen, (C - $4,600), Filip Forsberg (W - $6,400), Viktor Arvidsson (W - $6,100)
Nashville's top line failed to get on the scoresheet Tuesday but should find more success in the rematch. Arvidsson leads the Predators with five points through six games and had five shots Tuesday, while Forsberg has a team-high four goals. Johansen centers the top line and top power-play unit, so he's a nice value considering his prominent role.
Blackhawks at Predators
Pius Suter (C - $5,100), Patrick Kane (W - $8,000), Mattias Janmark (W - $3,100)
Nashville has been by far the stingiest of the four teams in action Wednesday, but Chicago's top line has some against-the-grain appeal here. Kane is still one of the best players in the world, and he has the ability to elevate his linemates. The star winger has finished with a point per game or better nine times in his illustrious career, and he's on pace to do so again with a 3-4-7 line through seven games. Suter's just seven games into his NHL career but already has a hat trick to his name, while Janmark comes into this game riding a three-game goal streak.
DEFENSEMEN
Roman Josi, NSH vs. CHI ($6,500): Josi is a fixture among the league's scoring leaders from the blue line, and potting Tuesday's overtime winner should get him going after a slow start to the season. That goal came on his 26th shot of the season and should open up the floodgates for Josi, who notched at least 49 points in each of the previous six seasons and ranked second in both goals (16) and points (65) among blueliners last season.
Quinn Hughes, VAN vs. OTT ($6,300): Hughes' goal in Monday's win over Ottawa was his seventh point through eight games, as the seventh overall pick in the 2018 draft is on pace to take a slight step forward after notching 53 points in 68 games last season. He should continue to chip in offensively in this favorable matchup.
Nikita Zaitsev, OTT at VAN ($4,900): It almost certainly won't last, but Zaitsev leads the Senators in scoring with five points through six games. Ride Zaitsev while he's hot against a Canucks team that has struggled to keep the puck out of its net, and he should at least provide a solid floor with his shot-blocking ability (eight in the last four games).
