This article is part of our FantasyDraft NHL series.
It's hump day, and what better way to get over the hump than with some daily fantasy hockey glory? There are five games Wednesday, and here are some players to target for your lineups.
GOALIE
Los Angeles Kings, LOS vs. CGY ($16,600): Despite Jonathan Quick being injured for most of last season, the Kings only allowed 2.43 goals per game on average. That's because they gave up a league-low 25.9 shots on net per contest on average. Now Quick is healthy, and he has a .983 save percentage through two games. No disrespect to Calgary, but it's easy to like the Kings at home in this one.
CENTER
David Krejci, BOS at COL ($13,200): Last season the Avalanche had the league's worst goals against average as a team (3.37). Colorado has been better this year, but they've allowed an average of 35.7 shots on net per contest. Krejci doesn't have a goal yet this season, but he has three assists, and he's averaged 3:35 minutes per game on the power play.
Mitch Marner, TOR vs. NJD ($12,500): As a rookie, Marner managed an impressive 61 points in 77 games, including a whopping 21 points with the extra man. He also started 55.9 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone. The Devils ranked 23rd in penalty-kill percentage last season, which bodes well for Marner and his power-play prowess. The opportunity has certainly been there, as Marner has averaged 3:30 per game on the power play so far.
WING
T.J. Oshie, WAS vs. PIT ($13,200): The Penguins have had defensive issues so far this season. The defending champs have allowed 15 goals in three games, and they weren't exactly sound defensively last year. Pittsburgh was third in the league in shots allowed per game (32.6). After scoring 33 goals in 68 games last season, Oshie already has three goals (and an assist) through three games.
Jakob Silfverberg, ANA vs. NYI ($12,100): Silfverberg played a career-high 19:20 per tilt last season, and put 227 shots on goal in all that time on the ice. The Islanders, meanwhile, gave up 2.90 goals per game on average on 31.9 shots on net per contest. Both ranked in the bottom eight of the NHL. Silfverberg doesn't have a goal yet this year, but he does have 10 shots on goal through three games, and it appears he might be getting some real power-play time this season.
Ondrej Kase, ANA vs. NYI ($8,800): Last season, Kase started 57.9 of his shifts in the offensive zone, which was the most of every Ducks player who played in more than 27 games. The 21-year-old didn't do a ton with it, but he still has potential. Case (Kase?) in point, he has a goal, and assist, and six shots on net through three games this year. This is a favorable matchup, and at this price he could be worth a shot.
DEFENSE
Charlie McAvoy, BOS at COL ($9,000): The 19-year-old blueliner has averaged 12.00 fantasy points per game thus far in his rookie season. He's played 20:44 on average per contest, so clearly the Bruins are willing to trust him. That trust should bode well against the Avalanche, who as previously noted allowed the most goals per game last season. In fact, their 3.37 goals allowed per game was significantly more than the second worst team (Dallas with 3.17). Colorado has only allowed six goals through three games this season, but that's because their goalies have an unsustainable .944 save percentage.
Nikita Zaitsev, TOR vs. NJD ($8,700): Zaitsev is off to a dynamite start to the season with four points in three games. That's despite the fact he's gotten no power-play time thus far. Last year, he had 12 points with the extra man, so he has power-play potential. The Devils averaged 2.94 goals allowed per tilt last year, which Zaitsev and Toronto's potent offense can take advantage of.
