This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
There are just two games in the NHL on Wednesday, so it's a very limited player pool for daily contests. One approach is to stack both teams from the game you expect to yield the most goals, and another strategy is to target a number of secondary scorers and hope the stars have quiet nights. With that in mind, here are a number of players to consider across multiple prices ranges for your FanDuel lineups.
GOALIE
Andrei Vasilevskiy, TAM vs. CAR ($8,000): The Hurricanes enter with a 1-7-1 record and just 10 goals over their last nine contests. Meanwhile, the Lightning find Carolina on the second leg of back-to-back road games Wednesday, and Vasilevskiy is coming off an impressive 39-save win against Ottawa on Monday. This salary opens up spending room for skaters, and Tampa Bay is a significant favorite.
CENTER
Jonathan Toews, CHI vs. PIT ($7,500): With nine goals, 24 points and 45 shots through his past 14 games, Toews is scorching hot. He's also collected six power-play points during the span while skating with the No. 1 unit, and Chicago gets Pittsburgh on the wrong end of back-to-back road games. Marc-Andre Fleury will likely be starting for the Penguins, and he boasts a target-worthy .886 save percentage and 3.52 GAA over his past five starts.
Nick Bonino, PIT at CHI ($4,600): A modest-priced flier, Bonino is a potential stack option alongside projected linemate Phil Kessel. While the duo posted 4.3 goals per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 last season, they've struggled this year (1.82). With Chicago's questionable depth and the need to keep tabs on both Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, Bonino should see softer in-game matchups, which could help him hit the scoresheet.
WING
Nikita Kucherov, TAM vs. CAR ($7,700): After his natural hat trick against Ottawa on Monday, Kucherov is up to a third-ranked 3.34 points per 60 minutes among all skaters with at least 1,000 minutes this season. The Hurricanes are currently reeling and enter on the wrong end of back-to-back road games, too.
Phil Kessel, PIT at CHI ($7,200): With just a single assist through his past four games, there is a chance Kessel's recent form keeps his ownership in check. He's also been skating down the depth chart of late, so he might find softer 5-on-5 matchups. Still, he shouldn't be overlooked; after all, Kessel's 3.06 points per 60 minutes rank eighth in the league among all skaters with at least 1,000 minutes this season. His role with the No. 1 power-play unit is also a huge fantasy boon, especially with Chicago allowing the fourth-most goals per 60 minutes (8.72) while shorthanded.
Nick Schmaltz, CHI vs. PIT ($3,900): Clicking alongside Jonathan Toews, Schmaltz has found the scoresheet in seven of his past eight games for three goals and 10 points. The duo has also combined for an impressive 4.56 goals per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 this season. As noted, this also checks out as a tough schedule spot for the Penguins.
DEFENSE
Victor Hedman, TAM vs. CAR ($6,400): In the midst of a career year, Hedman's 2.17 pointss per 60 minutes rank second among all defensemen with at least 1,250 minutes this season. He's also notched three goals, nine points, 19 shots and 11 blocked shots while averaging 22:35 of ice time (2:00 with the man advantage) over his past six games, highlighting both Hedman's solid fantasy floor and his high ceiling.
Duncan Keith, CHI vs. PIT ($5,400): Among all defensemen with at least 1,500 minutes this season, Keith's 1.57 points per 60 minutes rank third in the league. He's slowed down of late with just two assists through his past six outings, but Keith picked up a helper his last time out and has racked up 14 shots and eight blocked shots during that span. He also logs all the top offensive minutes and faces the Penguins in a favorable spot, as noted.
