This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
It is another four-game night Wednesday, and while rivalry night is often the subject of weak one-liners, there are three exciting bouts on tap.
The Islanders-Rangers and Lightning-Ducks tilts should boast playoff atmospheres, and the Toronto-Winnipeg game will have the northern audience intrigued.
Somewhat fittingly, the letdown of the night should unfold in Edmonton. The Oilers face the rolling and offensively potent Bruins, which doesn't project favorably for the home club.
GOALIE
Tuukka Rask, BOS at EDM ($35) - The Bruins have been road warriors this season with an 8-2 record, an average of 3.3 goals per game, and they're allowing just 2.4 tallies away from home. Boston has also rolled off five consecutive victories. Rask, after a horrid start to the season, has posted a .920 save percentage over his past 11 starts with a 7-4 record. Edmonton has won only two of their last nine games while averaging just 1.2 goals per outing over their past five. With just eight options in the goalie pool, there is no reason to over think it, especially with Boston rested having last played Friday.
Goalie to avoid:
Cam Talbot/Anders Nilsson, EDM vs. BOS ($26/$30) - After presenting the case for Rask, the confirmed starter for Edmonton checks out as an extremely risky play. Edmonton is allowing 3.08 goals per game for the season, and they're killing penalties at a confidence-shattering, 78.9-percent rate. The Boston power play paces the league at 32.4 percent, and the Bruins are averaging 3.27 goals per game.
CENTER
Ryan Kesler, ANA vs. TB ($19) - With exactly one point -- two goals and two helpers -- in each of his past four games, Kesler is playing his best hockey of the season. He avoids the opposition's top checkers and has been touching all of the peripheral statistics of late -- seven shots, and six blocked shots over during the four-game point streak. His cap hit is easy to accommodate, and the Lightning are a long way from home.
Goalie to Avoid:
Leon Draisaitl ($21) - With just a goal and 11 shots over his past five games, Draisaitl has hardly lived up to his cap hit of late, and things don't project favorably Wednesday. Boston has been eyeing their sixth straight win since Friday, after all. The Oilers are dealing with injuries, too, and their top-six group isn't difficult to keep in check, which is clear given their measly 1.2-goals-per-game average over their past five outings.
WING
Blake Wheeler, WPG vs. TOR ($24) - This is a pure value lean. Wheeler sits at a point per game for the season with nine goals and 16 helpers through 25 games, and he is rolling along a four-game point streak. The Maple Leafs aren't a doormat, but their lineup on paper doesn't check out against Winnipeg, and Wheeler's size-speed combo should present serious matchup problems. All said, Wheeler's consistency and current production isn't fully accounted for in his salary.
Chris Kreider, NYR at NYI ($14) - After calling out his own play, Kreider found the score sheet with a goal last time out, and he is far too talented to stay down for long. The linebacker on skates owns endless offensive upside, and he is receiving looks with the No. 2 power-play unit. Don't forget Kreider scored 21 goals last season, and his current 7.7 shooting percentage is well below his career mark of 11.4.
Wing to avoid:
Nikita Kucherov, TB at ANA ($22) - As the seventh most expensive winger in the play pool, Kucherov is an obvious fade Wednesday. He has gone without a point in six of his past seven games, and while the one outing went for a goal and two assists, he also has just 13 shots on goal during the drought. Further concerning, Kucherov sits at a 101.8 PDO, so while his personal shooting percentage is down (9.5 percent), the Lightning are playing low-event games, which never bodes well for fantasy purposes, especially with Anaheim aiming for the same style of game.
DEFENSEMEN
Dion Phaneuf, TOR at WPG ($17) - Phaneuf is playing exceptional hockey of late. His minutes are being held in check, and he has a three-game assist streak with four total. There is a potential plus/minus risk, but he sits at plus-4 for the season, and Phanuef has 27 Yahoo points over his past four showings due to his ability to touch all categories.
Kevin Bieksa, ANA vs. TB ($12) - The minimum-priced defenseman hasn't tipped the fantasy scales with his new team yet, but he has a big night against Vancouver Monday, and has upside as a cap-relief flier. Bieksa can be relied on for blocked shots, and he playing enough minutes to return value on his cap hit without finding the score sheet -- 22.18 per game this season.
