This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
If you are an East Coast, or even a Midwestern, hockey fan, Wednesday may not be for you. There is not a home team east of Minnesota in Wednesday's five games, and the only teams east of the Wild in action are the Senators and the Canadiens. However, the first game still starts at 7:00 p.m. ET, so you don't get any extra time to get your DFS lineup in. Here are my recommendations.
GOALIE
Philipp Grubauer, COL vs. ARI ($40): Grubauer has been consistent in Colorado, as he has a .917 save percentage after having a .916 percentage last year and a .917 percentage the year before that. Thanks to better defense, though, Grubauer only has a 2.11 GAA this season. The Avalanche have given us the fewest shots on goal per game in the NHL, while the Coyotes have put the fewest shots on net per contest. I don't imagine the German netminder being too busy.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Mike Smith, EDM vs. OTT ($34): Smith has taken over as the lead goalie for the Oilers thanks to posting a 2.30 GAA and .925 save percentage. That's not likely to be sustained, though. He's 38, he had a .902 save percentage last year, and he had an .898 save percentage the season before that. While the Senators have averaged 2.64 goals per contest, which isn't great, they've put 32.0 shots on net per game. They are better offensively than you might imagine.
CENTER
Nick Suzuki, MON at VAN ($17): Suzuki had an under-the-radar impressive rookie campaign last season, tallying 41 points in 71 games. This year he's got a much larger role, as he's now averaging 18:50 in ice time and playing first-line center. That's helped him tally 17 points in 24 contests. The Canucks have a 3.24 GAA, and they've also allowed 32.9 shots on goal per contest.
CENTER TO AVOID
William Karlsson, VGK at MIN ($21): Karlsson has six goals in 22 games thanks to a 15.8 shooting percentage that is his highest since he had a 23.4 shooting percentage in his breakout 43-goal campaign. However, the last couple seasons makes it seem unlikely he can keep this up, and the Wild have been tough on offenses so far. They have a 2.61 GAA, and they are also have a top-10 penalty kill.
WING
Alex Iafallo, LOS at ANA ($16): Iafallo is playing on the Kings' top line, and he's actually averaged a whopping 20:04 in ice time. He's also averaged 3:10 per game with the extra man, tallying five power-play points so far. John Gibson just picked up a win after losing eight in a row, but he still allowed five goals. In fact, Gibson has a 3.67 GAA and .869 save percentage over his last nine starts.
Jesse Puljujarvi, EDM vs. OTT ($16): The Oilers are always looking for secondary scoring, and there is some potential in Puljujarvi. The fourth-overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft is still only 22, and he has seven goals on 60 shots through 26 games. That level of activity could easily pay off against the Senators, whose 3.86 GAA is highest in the league.
WINGS TO AVOID
Kirill Kaprizov, MIN vs. VGK ($18): Kaprizov has been about what expected after his move to the NHL from the KHL, as he has 19 points in 22 games. On the other hand, he only has 47 shots on goal in 23 games, and he only has one power-play points despite plenty of opportunity. Kaprizov may end up a Calder finalist, but in this matchup against the Golden Knights he's facing a team with a sterling 2.09 GAA.
Phil Kessel, ARI at COL ($14): Conor Garland has enjoyed a breakout campaign for the Coyotes, but that has helped drop Kessel down to the third line for the team. He's still getting plenty of power-play time, but he's been held without a point with the extra man in 13 of his last 14 games. Kessel isn't likely to fix that Wednesday, as the Avalanche have a top-five penalty kill.
DEFENSE
Tyson Barrie, EDM vs. OTT ($21): Barrie is doing exactly what was expected of him upon moving to the Oilers. He's averaged 4:04 per game in power-play time and he's tallied nine power-play points in 27 games. The 29-year-old has also put 77 shots on net. As previously noted, the Senators have a 3.86 GAA, which is worst in the NHL.
Cam Fowler, ANA vs. LOS ($14): The Ducks have struggled offensively this year, but Fowler has picked it up recently. He has eight points in his last eight games, and his 13 points on the season are third on Anaheim. The Kings have been alternating starts for their goalies, which would mean Jonathan Quick and his .898 save percentage in net. However, even if Cal Petersen starts he has a 3.05 GAA and .901 save percentage in his last eight games.
DEFENSE TO AVOID
Shea Theodore, VGK at MIN (25): Theodore is still dishing out assists, but he's not scoring goals like the last couple of season. He has three goals this year, but none in his last 14 games. I don't know if he will break that drought here, given that the Wild have a 2.61 GAA and have only allowed 29.2 shots on net per game.
Nate Schmidt, VAN vs. MON ($15): Schmidt was brought in to try and provide some support to Quinn Hughes, but so far he has nine points in 29 games. He doesn't support Hughes on the power play, though, as Schmidt has zero points with the extra man. Jake Allen has been good all season for the Canadiens, but recent Carey Price has turned his play around as well. He's only allowed one goal in each of his last three games.
