This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
It's a three-game night in the NHL, with the Ducks-Jackets, Senators-Sabres and Blackhawks-Blues matchups accounting for the entire player pool for Wednesday's FanDuel contests. Here are a handful of players to consider while assembling your lineups.
GOALIE
Robin Lehner, BUF vs. OTT ($8,300): Before allowing four goals to the Bruins on Monday, Lehner posted a tidy .953 save percentage and 1.41 GAA. Ottawa enters on the wrong end of back-to-back road games, and the Sens have been held to two or fewer goals in six straight games. Additionally, Buffalo is putting up the seventh-lowest scoring chances per 60 minutes in the league at five-on-five, and Lehner owns an impressive .925 save percentage as a Sabre.
CENTER
Artem Anisimov, CHI at STL ($5,800): In a small player pool, it's more practical to ride the hot hand, and Anisimov is markedly cheap given his offensive explosion to start the year. While there are amble signs of negative regression ahead (40.0 shooting percentage and 115.7 PDO), that doesn't mean Anisimov comes crashing down Wednesday. He's averaging 18:35 per night with 3:20 of power-play time, so the hefty role and 11-game point streak warrant attention.
Ryan O'Reilly, BUF vs. OTT ($5,700): Ottawa is allowing the third-most scoring chances per 60 minutes (24.18) this season, and the Senators have been a horrible road team dating back to last season (3.24 goals allowed). Additionally, this will be Ottawa's second road game in as many nights. O'Reilly should receive plenty of opportunities to return value -- and likely exceed it -- at this salary given his high-shot volume and significant role. He's averaging 3.33 shots per game with 22:17 of ice time, including 3:09 with the man advantage.
WING
Kyle Okposo, BUF vs. OTT ($6,000): Pairing Okposo with O'Reilly presents a nice value stack against the Senators. Okposo is receiving slightly fewer minutes than O'Reilly overall, but that's because the first-year Sabre doesn't kill penalties. At even strength and with the man advantage, the linemates have been stapled at the hip. They've also posted an 80.0 Goals For percentage and 53.9 Corsi For percentage at five-on-five thus far.
Jaden Schwartz, STL vs. CHI ($4,800): With a goal and three shots in his latest outing, look for the flood gates to open for Schwartz. He currently sports a 10.0 shooting percentage and 97.7 PDO, so given his impressive 1.99 points per 60 minutes at five-on-five dating back to the 2014-15 campaign, there is still plenty of positive regression ahead. Additionally, Schwartz presents cap relief and can help mitigate the hefty salary of Vladimir Tarasenko ($7,400) for those who care to stack the linemates.
Nick Ritchie, ANA at CLM ($3,100): Cheap and expected to return to a top-line gig alongside Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, Ritchie is in play against the Blue Jackets on Wednesday. He presents a decent fantasy floor because of his shot volume (2.27 per game) and offensive role. Ritchie is also projected to skate with the No. 2 power-play unit.
DEFENSE
Rasmus Ristolainen, BUF vs. OTT ($4,700): Continuing with the Buffalo stack, Ristolainen jumps out of the player pool at this price. He's a cross-category monster who logs huge minutes in all situations. Over the past two seasons, among defensemen with at least 2,000 minutes, his 1.25 points per 60 minutes rank 20th in the league, and he's also averaged 2.57 shots and 1.7 blocked shots per game.
David Savard, CLM vs. ANA ($3,700): Eyeing an elevated role with Seth Jones (foot) out, Savard makes for a speculative flier against Anaheim on Wednesday. The 26-year-old defenseman flashed significant multi-category upside during the 2014-15 campaign, but injuries held him back last year. Still, he's posted a respectable 1.07 points per 60 minutes dating back to the 2014-15 season, adding 1.55 shots and 1.48 blocked shots per game. That's a respectable floor at this salary.
