This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
It's a quieter slate for Wednesday with just six games on tap, but it's headlined by key North Division matchups between the Canadiens and Jets (9 p.m. EDT) and the Oilers and Flames (10 p.m.).
The Flyers and Rangers (7:30 p.m.) will also rekindle their rivalry; all three matchups have been decided by just one goal this season.
GOALIES
Marc-Andre Fleury, VGK vs. SJ ($8,500): Fleury was less than six minutes away from shutting out the Sharks for the second time this season. Chandler Stephenson and Alex Pietrangelo did not play Monday and may not be available for this game, but Vegas (-250) is still heavily favored, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. Fleury has arguably been the best goalie in the league this season.
Carey Price, MON at WPG ($8,000): This matchup scares me a little but Price has been very good lately, allowing just one goal in four of his past six starts. After allowing five goals against the Jets on Feb. 25, Price has allowed just three goals in his two subsequent games against them. It should be a tight game because both teams are good, but Price has been outplaying Connor Hellebuyck and the Habs defense should be able withstand the loss of Ben Chiarot.
Jacob Markstrom, CGY vs. EDM ($7,600): The Flames are a different team under Darryl Sutter, and while it was difficult, they managed to limit the Oilers to just three goals on 31 shots last game. It was probably their best team performance against the Oilers this season, and being on home ice means Sutter will get a chance to dictate the matchups again with last change.
Thatcher Demko, VAN at OTT ($7,400): If Braden Holtby gets the start then maybe go with the Sens' starter, but in the meantime, Demko's been flat-out brilliant. He has a 2.71 GAA and .920 Sv% despite playing behind a porous defense, one that allowed 46 shots and needed Demko to bail them out to get the overtime win. It's unlikely the Canucks' defense will improve drastically over night, which means Demko will probably face another heavy workload against a team the Canucks are a perfect 3-0 against.
VALUE PLAYS
Tim Stutzle, OTT vs. VAN ($4,600): If Stutzle can continue his three-game point streak and gets lot of minutes – he played 19 last game – then this is a good value play against a team that keeps bleeding scoring chances. Stutzle has a ton of upside, but he's also getting lots of opportunities on the power play as well.
Colin Blackwell, NYR vs. PHI ($3,600): Blackwell played on the second line with Artemi Panarin with Pavel Buchnevich (COVID) sitting out, and he responded with his fifth goal of the season.
Nolan Patrick, PHI at NYR ($3,600): He ended up playing just 14 minutes but lined up with Claude Giroux on his wing, and also found himself on the top power-play unit. Patrick's career has been underwhelming so far, but he's still getting the opportunities.
Sammy Blais, STL at LA ($3,100): Blais doesn't get a ton of playing time but the puck's been bouncing his way lately with three points in four games. He played opposite Vladimir Tarasenko in his last game, though he doesn't play on the PP.
LINE STACKS
Canucks at Senators
J.T. Miller (C - $6,100), Brock Boeser (W - $7,200), Nils Hoglander (W - $3,600)
Miller put away the overtime winner and both Boeser and Hoglander continue to generate good scoring chances. Both Miller and Boeser play on a power play unit the Canucks lean on heavily; they've gotten all of the power play minutes over the past two games.
Flyers at Rangers
Sean Couturier (C - $7,600), Joel Farabee (W - $5,200), James van Riemsdyk (W - $6,100)
This line combined for four points last game and they've been one of the most consistent and best lines in the league. The Flyers have quite a bit of scoring depth when healthy, but this is the line they've leaned on the most, with Farabee playing PP1 and Couturier and JVR playing PP2.
Kings vs. Blues
Anze Kopitar (C - $7,600), Adrian Kempe (W - $5,900), Alex Iafallo (W - $4,800)
It's hard to say no to a line stack against the Blues, who have allowed 17 goals in their past four games, all of which have been losses. The Blues are just 2-3-1 against the Kings as they face each other for the final time this season.
DEFENSEMEN
Shea Theodore, VGK vs. SJ ($5,800): There's a shortage of elite options on defense tonight and Theodore will probably be a popular pick. He's on a four-game point streak, and even though the Sharks have done a good job of limiting their goals against lately, they've allowed 14 goals in four games against Vegas this season.
Ivan Provorov, PHI at NYR ($5,300): The Flyers and Rangers have averaged seven goals per game in their three meetings, so that bodes well for Provorov, who logs a ton of minutes. The one drawback is that the Rangers defense is pretty stout and they own a top-five PK, but will likely be without top defenseman Adam Fox (COVID).
Noah Hanifin, CGY vs. EDM ($3,800): It was interesting that Sutter used Hanifin on the power play, who finished second only to Mark Giordano in PP TOI among defensemen. Rasmus Andersson has been very quiet and skated just 19 minutes, and we already know the Flames really like Hanifin and Chris Tanev as their first pair. Hanifin's a potential value play if he continues to get looks on the power play, though Sutter remained non-committal about his role with the man advantage going forward.
