This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Wednesday's NHL slate begins at 7:00 PM Eastern time and consists of four games. Read on to see which players are primed to provide the best value in this small slate and which ones should be avoided.
GOALIE
Marc-Andre Fleury, VGK vs. VAN ($33): Fleury got off to a slow start, but he's turned things around in a big way with 69 saves on 71 shots over his past three starts. He should keep the good times rolling against a Canucks club that will likely still be operating without rookie phenom Elias Pettersson (concussion).
GOALIE TO AVOID
Semyon Varlamov, COL vs. TB ($33): Varlamov is off to a tremendous start, but the Russian netminder could be facing his toughest test of the season here. Tampa Bay's scoring 3.86 goals per game after averaging a league-best 3.54 last season, so there's no shortage of risk here.
CENTER
Bryan Little, WPG vs. TOR ($15): Little's in a fantasy-friendly situation as the cheapest member of Winnipeg's top-six group up front. He's capitalized on that role with three goals on 15 shots over the past five games, building momentum ahead of a matchup with a Toronto team that's giving up 3.33 goals per game.
CENTER TO AVOID
Nazem Kadri, TOR at WPG ($15): Toronto has plenty of players off to strong starts, but Kadri isn't one of them. He's still looking for his first goal after nine games and has a minus-7 rating. Turning things around will be difficult against a Jets team that's 5-0-1 at home after posting a 32-7-2 home record last season.
WINGS
Gabriel Landeskog, COL vs. TB ($21): Landeskog remains the cheapest member of Colorado's tremendous top line at $21 despite getting off to an incredible start with eight goals, four assists and a plus-12 rating through nine games. He's been even better in the past four contests with seven goals, two assists and a plus-7 rating. Even in this difficult matchup, it's worth looking Landeskog's way given his recent level.
Jordan Eberle, NYI vs. FLA ($14): Despite recently being moved back to the same line as young stud Mathew Barzal, Eberle remains priced below or the same as seven other Islanders forwards. Eberle's affordability creates a nice buy-low opportunity on the three-time 60-point scorer against a Panthers team that's playing its second game in as many nights and is allowing 4.0 goals per contest.
WINGS TO AVOID
Brock Boeser, VAN at VGK ($22): Not only is Boeser averaging just 5.2 fantasy points while every other winger priced at $22 or more is averaging over 7.0, but he'll have to contend with the red-hot Fleury. If that's not enough reason to leave Boeser out of the lineup, he's also in danger of sitting this one out considering he missed practice Tuesday after getting hit by a shot Monday.
Max Pacioretty, VGK vs. VAN ($20): Pacioretty still has just one point and a minus-4 rating in eight games, yet his price isn't coming down from $20. Until he turns things around or his price drops, Pacioretty shouldn't be anywhere near your lineup.
DEFENSEMEN
Josh Morrissey, WPG vs. TOR ($19): Morrissey has been one of this season's early breakout stars, racking up seven points in nine games while rounding out his line with 14 shots and 19 blocks. Given Winnipeg's aforementioned dominance at home and Toronto's aforementioned struggles with keeping the puck out of its net, Morrissey's set up for further success here.
Scott Mayfield, NYI vs. FLA ($13): Mayfield has easily been the Islanders' most productive defenseman, averaging 7.9 fantasy points while none of his teammates on the blue line sit above 4.1. At just $13, it's worth picking Mayfield in hopes that his early success continues in this favorable matchup. Plus, his affordability saves up more money to be spent on forwards with the highest scoring upside.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Victor Hedman, TB at COL ($24): Hedman's off to a slow start, averaging fewer fantasy points (6.6) than fellow Lightning blueliners Ryan McDonagh and Mikhail Sergachev, who are both averaging 6.9 fantasy points while costing at least $6 less than Hedman. Throw in Varlamov's hot start in net for Colorado, and it's best to look elsewhere when considering options in this price range.
Aaron Ekblad, FLA at NYI ($16): Ekblad finally recorded his first point of the season in Tuesday's loss to the Rangers, but he's still averaging just 3.3 fantasy points per game this season. We all know he's capable of much more, but until Ekblad starts showing more signs of living up to his potential, he's best left out of fantasy lineups.
