This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
It's a quiet night around the NHL on Wednesday. There are only three games on the docket, so your options for your daily fantasy lineup will be slim. Here are some insights…
GOALIE
Curtis McElhinney, CAR at SAN ($7,700):John Gibson is the obvious choice, but he's also the expensive choice. That's totally fine, but if you want to save a couple bucks to spend elsewhere, there's McElhinney. He's off to an improbably good start to the season, as he has a 2.10 GAA and .930 save percentage. Even on the road, against a pretty solid offense that has averaged 3.04 goals per game, those numbers are undeniable.
CENTER
Ryan Getzlaf, ANA vs. CHI ($7,100): Getzlaf has picked up his pace recently, as he has 10 points in his last eight games. That gives him 22 points in 23 contests. As for the Blackhawks, they've been woeful defensively. They have a 3.68 GAA, second highest in the NHL.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, EDM at STL ($5,600): Let's double down on Ryans. Nugent-Hopkins is back playing center, and he's having a really good offensive season despite a 7.7 shooting percentage well below his career average. He's also played 3:31 per game on the power play, notching 10 points with the extra man in 27 games. The Blues have a good penalty kill, but they also have a 3.40 GAA and .892 save percentage, which makes it seem like that penalty kill is overproducing.
WING
Leon Draisaitl, EDM at STL ($6,800):Connor McDavid casts a long shadow, but Draisaitl has managed to step out of it. He has 30 points in 27 games, and he has a four-game point streak going. As was just mentioned, the Blues have a 3.40 GAA and .892 save percentage, both bottom 10 in the NHL.
Alex DeBrincat, CHI at ANA ($6,200): DeBrincat has put a recent dry spell behind him, as he has a point in five of his last six outings. He's also put 79 shots on net, which is notable given this matchup. The Ducks have allowed a whopping 35.7 shots on goal per contest, second most in the league. The small, shifty Blackhawks winger should be able to take advantage of that.
Justin Williams, CAR at SAN ($4,600): Williams has only four goals this season, but his 5.7 shooting percentage is bound to improve. Plus, he has 10 assists to go with those four goals. The 36-year-old is still getting plenty of ice time as well, especially on the power play (2:42 per game). Both of San Jose's goalies have struggled recently. Martin Jones has a 3.31 GAA and .887 save percentage in his last 10 games, while Aaron Dell has a 3.03 GAA and .895 save percentage in his last six outings.
DEFENSE
Dougie Hamilton, CAR at SAN ($5,400): Hamilton has been a prolific shot producer this season, as he's put a whopping 97 shots on goal through 26 games. He only has nine points, but he has at least 42 points in each of his last four campaigns. We know he can score. Of course, we also know that the Sharks have struggled in net recently, as noted above.
Hampus Lindholm, ANA vs. CHI ($4,600): Lindholm has played quite well since returning from injury, as he has three points in two games. That gives him 13 points in 23 contests. The 24-year-old has averaged a career-high 25:37 in ice time, and all that playing time could pay off in this matchup. As previously noted, the Blackhawks have a 3.68 GAA, and they also have the 29th-ranked penalty kill.
