This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
It's a quiet three-game night in the NHL on Wednesday. The Bruins and Canucks are notable home-ice favorites, whereas Calgary is receiving chalk in Los Angeles. The Blackhawks are the only team playing their second game in consecutive nights. With those nuggets in mind, here's a number of targets and fades to consider when assembling your Yahoo lineups.
GOALIE
Jacob Markstrom, VAN vs. CHI ($36): The 30-year netminder is coming off a solid 36-save win on Monday to improve to a rock-solid 11-6-2 record, .923 save percentage and 2.57 GAA on home ice this season. Vancouver is also a sizeable favorite and enters with an active 15-6-1 record since mid-December. Markstrom is also reasonably priced, and the Blackhawks have lost four consecutive contests, including a road game in Edmonton on Tuesday.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Carey Price, MON at BOS ($36): With Boston sporting a 19-2-9 record on home ice, Price's contest-high salary seems steep. While there's no denying his top-tier current form (8-3 record, .947 save percentage and 1.71 GAA), Montreal is also without No. 1 defensemen Shea Weber ($19) for the foreseeable future, and the Bruins have scored 3.3 goals per hour on home ice this season.
CENTER
Sean Monahan, CGY at LA ($14): It's been a down year for Monahan. His 2.32 points per 60 minutes lag well behind his 3.05 mark over the previous two seasons. Additionally, Monahan has skated with Johnny Gaudreau ($22) and Elias Lindholm ($17) at even strength and on the power play the past two games -- both familiar linemates. Add Los Angeles' defensive shortcomings (3.18 goal against per game), which includes a 28th-ranked 74.8 penalty-kill percentage, and the matchup is also soft.
CENTER TO AVOID
Bo Horvat, VAN vs. CHI ($22): It's been 11 games since Horvat's last multi-point showing, and he's collected just tallies and three helpers during that stretch. He always lines up against the opposition's top offensive players and begins 44.3 percent of his five-on-five shifts in the defensive zone, so his even-strength role isn't particularly favorable for fantasy production and will probably make it difficult for him to reward on his high cap hit Wednesday.
WING
Johnny Gaudreau, CGY at LA ($22): A stack candidate with Sean Monahan ($14), Gaudreau has marked the scoresheet in five of his past seven outings for a goal and six assists. His 8.7 shooting percentage and 2.52 points per 60 minutes are still well behind his 12.7 and 3.43 marks, so positive regression is likely still ahead. As noted, the matchup should prove to be soft, too.
J.T. Miller, VAN vs. CHI ($22): The first-year Canuck has clicked with center Elias Pettersson ($28) for an impressive 5.17 goals per 60 minutes this season, and Miller is well on his way to a career-best showing with 22 goals, 34 assists and 18 power-play points through 57 games. The Blackhawks also allow the second most expected goal per hour in the league, and they're playing their second road game in consecutive nights.
WINGS TO AVOID
Brendan Gallagher, MON at BOS ($23): The veteran has been solid since returning from a head injury with four tallies, a helper and 23 shots through seven games. However, he lands in a daunting matchup Wednesday. Not only do the Bruins allow just 1.4 five-on-five goals per game on home ice, but Gallagher will likely line up opposite Patrice Bergeron ($32), David Pastrnak ($35) and Brad Marchand ($29) most of the night. Those three have driven possession with a 59.1 Corsi For Percentage and 61.1 goal share at five-on-five on home ice over the past three years.
Dominik Kubalik, CHI at VAN ($17): Even with just a single goal through his past six games, Kubalik's 17.6 shooting percentage is unsustainably high. He also lands in a tough matchup with Vancouver allowing just 1.78 five-on-five goals per game on home ice this season. Additionally, Kubalik's fantasy floor is low because of his role on the second power-play unit, and he's registered just 11 assists through 54 games.
DEFENSE
Torey Krug, BOS vs. MON ($20): The Boston power-play quarterback paces all regular NHL defensemen in points per 60 minutes (2.31) over the past three years, and he's recorded an impressive three goals, five assists, 22 shots and seven blocks through the past eight games. Montreal's 79.5 penalty-kill percentage is nothing to write home about, either.
Quinn Hughes, VAN vs. CHI ($17): Similarly, Hughes ranks seventh in points per 60 minutes (2.18) among regular defensemen this season, and he's also in elite current form with four tallies and eight helpers over the past 10 games. As noted, Chicago allows oodles of offensive chances to opponents and are in a vulnerable schedule spot.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Jeff Petry, MON at BOS ($18): While Shea Weber's ($19) injury has opened the door for Petry to receive more meaningful minutes, especially on the No. 1 power-play unit, he's an inconsistent scorer. He's missed the scoresheet in eight of his past 11 outings, and this is a tough matchup. Petry will likely also spend plenty of time matched against Boston's No. 1 line.
Connor Murphy, CHI at Van ($15): While Murphy is a high-floor target because of solid shot and block contributions, his upside is capped. He doesn't receive consistent power-play time and has recorded just five assists over the past 15 games. Considering there are more productive defenders with manageable salaries, it's hard to justify spending for Murphy.
