This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
It is a three-game night in the National Hockey League on Wednesday, and two of the three games are screaming mismatches.
The Detroit-Chicago bout is the marquee matchup of the night, while the Capitals and Ducks should handle the Maple Leafs and Canadiens, respectively.
Be wary of over-spending for any one skater Wednesday, and it is advised to stay clear of Toronto and Montreal. Unless, of course, you're going full-out contrarian.
GOALIE
Philipp Grubauer, WAS vs. TOR ($32) - The Maple Leafs have lost nine of their past 11 games, and Grubauer has a respectable .926 save percentage and 2.11 goals-against average for the season. Additionally, the Caps are 25-5-2 at home and allow just 2.22 goals per home game, while Toronto averages just 2.12 tallies per road contest. Don't be cute in net. There are plenty of other areas to differentiate your lineup if need be.
Player to avoid:
Mike Condon, MON at ANA ($35) - While Montreal could pull off the upset, and Anaheim is potentially ripe for a letdown showing, paying up a hefty price for the dream scenario is beyond risky. The Ducks have been a top-tier team since mid-December, and the Canadiens have been a basement dweller for the same length of time.
CENTER
Nicklas Backstrom, WAS at TOR ($21) - Look for Backstrom to extend his three-game point streak Wednesday. His cap hit is manageable, and Toronto is allowing 3.0 goals per game over its past five outings. Centering Alex Ovechkin in all situations doesn't hurt, either.
Player to avoid:
Ryan Getzlaf, ANA vs. MON ($34) - Unless you're willing to roll the dice with a slew of low-priced fliers (likely including Jonathan Bernier in net) it will be tough to fit Getzlaf under the salary cap. Yes, the 11-game point streak warrants the hefty salary, but it doesn't mean you have to put all your eggs in his basket.
WING
Corey Perry, ANA vs. MON ($26) - The Duck Pond has been kind to Perry all season, and he is up to 19 goals and 27 points through 32 home games this season, including his four-point showing Saturday. The salary is extremely reasonable and his early season struggles must still be weighing it down. Perry has 26 goals through his past 51 games, after all.
Teuvo Teravainen, CHI at DET ($13) - The Blackhawks beefed up their bottom-six flanks to help out Teravainen, and the pivot's cap hit has oodles of room for profit. He has a goal and three helpers through his past five outings with 12 shots on goal and an average of 16:25 minutes per night. Expect a low ownership percentage to accompany the savings, too.
Player to avoid:
Alex Ovechkin, WAS vs. TOR ($34) - There are no sure things in professional sports, but the Capitals are locked into the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, and having Ovechkin at 100 percent health entering the playoffs is top priority. He could easily return value Wednesday, but head coach Barry Trotz could also roll four lines consistently to grind out a low-scoring win. Plus, Ovechkin likely isn't going to win your daily contest on his own, and your supporting cast is going to be full of long shots.
DEFENSEMEN
Cam Fowler, ANA vs. MON ($17) - Through his past eight games, Fowler has eight helpers with five of the power play variety, a plus-5 rating and an average of 21:52 minutes of ice time, including 2:44 with the man advantage. He also covers the foundation statistics with 14 shots and nine blocked shots during the span. It is a solid floor to target on a lightly-scheduled night.
Matt Niskanen, WAS vs. TOR ($15) - With a power play goal and three shots on net Tuesday, Niskanen showed once again that he is capable of stepping up in John Carlson's absence. It is a cakewalk matchup Wednesday, and Niskanen is the new No. 1 defenseman for the best power play in the league, and arguably the team to beat in the NHL. He also presents excellent savings.
Player to avoid:
P.K. Subban, MON at ANA ($24) - This is solid value for Subban in the majority of matchups, but sinking over 10 percent of your budget into a defenseman facing Anaheim is a complete dice roll. Plus, Subban has just a single assist through his past four games and under 10.0 Yahoo fantasy points in each of the four outings.
