This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
There are only three games Wednesday, which has a significant impact on your lineup assembly. It is worth taking a quick peek at the three tilts to help preview the player pool.
Vancouver and Winnipeg enter with lengthy losing streaks. The Canucks have dropped three consecutive games while allowing 3.6 goals per game over their last five outings, and the Jets have lost six straight, averaging 4.8 goals over their last five.
While the Red Wings have struggled offensively with just 1.8 goals per game the last five games, the return of Pavel Datsyuk should help. It is a difficult draw Wednesday, though. Washington allows just 2.31 goals per game, which is also the lowest of any of the six teams in play.
Chicago looks to be curbing its slight slide (2-4-1) with consecutive wins, which also includes a home victory over the Oilers. However, the Blackhawks score an underwhelming 2.14 goals per game and are 2-5 away from the United Center. Still, Edmonton is 6-12, and Chicago is still receiving significant chalk.
GOALIE
Braden Holtby, WAS at DET ($36) - A three-game slate isn't the spot to go cute in goal. Holtby owns a .941 save percentage over his last four games with a 3-1 record, and he has allowed two goals or fewer in 10 of his last 11 outings. He is a top-tier talent who is backstopping a strong defensive team, and as mentioned, Detroit is struggling to generate offense.
Goalie to Avoid:
Ryan Miller, VAN at WPG ($32) - This is an atrocious spot for the Canucks. They are playing their seventh consecutive road game in 12 days at the MTS Centre on Wednesday, and the Jets are reeling along a six-game losing streak. Winnipeg is in must-win mode, and Vancouver has won just one of their last seven games. Plus, Miller has allowed at least three goals in each of his last five games.
CENTER
Nicklas Backstrom, WAS at DET ($21) - Projected to be reunited with long-time running mate Alex Ovechkin, Backstrom presents huge profit on his cap hit. While he has 12 points -- six goals -- through 13 games this season with five power-play points, Backstrom's fantasy stock receives a significant boost skating with Ovechkin in all situations, and all said, the pivot has 584 points through 590 games during his nine-year career. He is no slouch.
Center to Avoid:
Evgeny Kuznetsov, WAS at DET ($20) - Sure, you can squeeze Kuznetsov in as part of a Capitals stack, but at his cap hit, it is risky to spend up for the pivot now that he is separated from Alex Ovechkin. And don't forget, Kuznetsov has just one goal and four helpers over his last eight games with only 10 shots on net. His five-point showing is still buoying his year-long statistics.
WING
Marko Dano, CHI at EDM ($14) - Everything is in front of Dano, and in the daily racket, it is always better to be ahead of the production than chasing it. He is projected to skate with Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa, and Dano has an assist and four shots over his last two games. The offensive upside is there, too, as he finished last season with four goals, 10 assists, a plus-12 rating, eight penalty minutes and 37 shots on net over the final 15 games.
Andrew Ladd, WPG vs. VAN ($17) - The Winnipeg Captain has struggled to string together consistent offensive showing this season and has a minus-5 rating for the season. Call it a hunch, but expect him to have a solid showing at the MTS Centre on Wednesday to end Winnipeg's six-game losing streak. After all, his 8.3 shooting percentage is a career low.
Wing to avoid:
Taylor Hall, EDM vs. CHI ($31) - While the crushing cap hit is warranted given Hall's production, the daunting matchup isn't accounted for. Hall is a high-volume shooter, and he has scored 20 points -- eight goals -- through 18 games this season. However, the problem is he'll need to return a multi-point showing with a plus-rating to return value on his cap hit. It is a tall order with Jonathan Toews likely to match up opposite Hall all night.
DEFENSEMEN
Trevor Daley, CHI at EDM ($12) - At minimum price, Daley is a lineup lock. Yes, he has failed to return anything near the statistics he posted last season, but he is an elite skater and unlikely to return a minus-rating Wednesday. The savings opens up oodles of cap wiggle room and the ceiling is high.
Dustin Byfuglien, WPG vs. VAN ($22) - Use the savings you grabbed with Daley to spend up for Byfuglien. The Winnipeg rearguard averages 23:22 minutes per game with 64 shots through 19 games this season. His high shot volume paired with his significant role make Byfuglien one of the safest blue line options Wednesday.
