This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
Wednesday's NHL slate is a light one, with just three games on tap after 7:30 PM Eastern time. Below, you'll find an overview of the matchups and suggested options for crafting an effective lineup.
SLATE PREVIEW
The Bruins will be heavy home favorites against Montreal, while the Flames will be favored in Los Angeles. The Blackhawks-Canucks game is more of a toss-up, though it's worth noting that Chicago is the only team in this slate that also played Tuesday.
GOALIES
Tuukka Rask ($8,400) is in the midst of a sensational campaign for Boston, with a 20-5-6 record, 2.14 GAA and .929 save percentage. Expect more of the same from the standout goaltender against a Montreal team that leads the league in shots (34.4) but ranks in the middle of the pack in goals (3.02) per game.
David Rittich ($7,700) has held each of his last two opponents to two goals, stopping 59 of 63 shots for a .937 save percentage en route to consecutive wins. The Flames' netminder has a nice opportunity to stretch his winning streak to three games against a Kings team that sports the league's second-worst offense at 2.40 goals per game.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
J.T. Miller ($6,300) remains hot on Elias Pettersson's heels for team leads in both goals and points, as Miller's 22-34-56 line through 57 games has him one back in both categories, albeit in one more game played. Despite their near-even production, Miller remains $900 cheaper than his Canucks teammate, making him a nice value pick against the tired Blackhawks, who have lost four in a row and have just one win since Jan. 19.
This will be Ilya Kovalchuk's ($4,700) introduction to the Canadiens-Bruins rivalry. The 36-year-old winger has shown that he still has something left in the tank since joining Montreal, recording a 6-6-12 line and 44 shots in 16 games with the Canadiens. He's an intriguing against-the-grain option at just $4,700 in Boston.
Alex Iafallo ($4,500) has looked like a different player in his last 20 games, as things are finally starting to click for the 26-year-old New York native. He has a 10-6-16 line over that span, yet the Kings winger can still be had for only $4,500 here against Calgary.
If you're stacking Flames in Los Angeles, it's important to complement the bigger names with some budget options. Mikael Backlund ($3,800) fits that role perfectly, as he's skating on the second line and No. 2 power-play unit, plus he's hot right now with a 1-4-5 line over an active three-game point streak.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Bruins vs. Canadiens
Patrice Bergeron (C - $8,000), David Pastrnak (W - $8,500), Brad Marchand (W - $7,600)
Boston continues to rely on its top line for the vast majority of the team's offense. Pastrnak ranks third league-wide with 38 goals and is tied for third with 78 points in 57 games. Marchand has a 23-46-69 line in 57 games, while Bergeron's at 23-24-47 in 48 appearances. Despite better recent play from Carey Price in net, Montreal's still right around league average defensively with 3.02 goals allowed per game. This trio has by far the highest ceiling of any line in this small slate.
Flames at Kings
Sean Monahan (C - $5,400), Johnny Gaudreau (W - $6,800), Elias Lindholm (W - $5,600)
These are three of the four Flames — along with Matthew Tkachuk — who currently sit in the 40-45 point range while nobody else on the team has more than 28. Gaudreau is tied with Tkachuk for the team lead at 45 points, while Lindholm leads the Flames with 22 goals. Monahan's 40 points through 57 games are disappointing after he delivered 82 points in 78 appearances last season, but this could be a great buy-low opportunity just as Monahan's stringing together a point streak with a point in consecutive games. This top line is primed for success against a Kings team that's won only once in its last 11 games.
Blackhawks at Canucks
Kirby Dach (C - $3,100), Patrick Kane (W - $7,900), Brandon Saad (W - $4,400)
The Canucks have had a rough go of it defensively recently, allowing 19 goals in their last five games and winning only once in that stretch. This line is poised to add to Vancouver's recent struggles, as all three of its members have been rolling. Dach has six points in his last seven games, yet the rookie third overall pick can still be had for just $3,100. Kane has a 25-44-69 line in 56 games, including at least one point in 15 of the last 16 contests. With a goal and an assist Tuesday, Saad's up to nine goals in his last 12 appearances and two assists in the last four.
DEFENSEMEN
Quinn Hughes ($5,300) has an 8-36-44 line in 56 games, and the 20-year-old Canucks defenseman has kicked things into a higher gear with a 4-10-14 line in his last 13 contests.
With Mark Giordano sidelined by a hamstring injury, Noah Hanifin ($4,000) has taken on an increased offensive role for Calgary. He has three assists in his last two games — including one with the extra man — and is slated to skate on the Flames' top power-play unit against Los Angeles' bottom-five, 74.8 percent penalty kill.
Jeff Petry ($5,400) has 19 points in his last 23 games for Montreal and finds himself on the top power-play unit with Shea Weber (lower body) unavailable. It's hard to ignore his offensive upside on the blue line, and the Bruins have been much stingier against forwards than defensemen.
If you're strapped for cash, Boston's Brandon Carlo ($3,800) is a cheap source of adequate offense on the back end. He has three assists and 17 shots in his last seven games.
