This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
There are five games in the NHL on Wednesday. It's a surprisingly deep player pool with plenty of avenues to take to differentiate your selections for tournaments. Here are a handful of players across multiple price ranges to consider while assembling your FanDuel lineups.
GOALIE
Ondrej Pavelec, WPG vs. ARI ($7,600): This is a purely a matchup play based on an affordable salary. Pavelec has posted a mediocre .917 save percentage in the AHL this season and will be making his season debut at the highest level. The 29-year-old goalie has 354 NHL starts on his resume and plenty of incentive to try taking the Winnipeg crease back over. Arizona has the fewest goals (1.97) and fourth-fewest scoring chances (24.84) per 60 minutes in the league, too.
CENTER
Mark Scheifele, WPG vs. ARI ($7,600): Sticking with the Jets, Scheifele has continued to be a high-end offensive contributor and reliable fantasy asset. He's notched six goals and 14 points while averaging 19:13 of ice time (2:45 with the man advantage) through his past 14 games, and this is a soft matchup. Not only are the Coyotes struggling to generate offense, they also allow the most high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes (13.24) in the league.
Vincent Trocheck, FLA at EDM ($6,600): While there are plenty of positives in Edmonton this season, the Oilers are still a porous defensive club – they've allowed the fourth-most high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes (11.72). Trocheck has caught fire as the No. 1 center for Florida with eight goals, 15 points and 34 shots through his past 11 outings, including six multi-point showings and three in a row. He's really clicking in his expanded role.
WING
Leon Draisaitl, EDM vs. FLA ($6,800): While his 26th-ranked 2.52 points per 60 minutes among all skaters with at least 2,000 minutes over the past two seasons are impressive, Draisaitl has upped his production to a 2.76 mark this year. He's also combined with linemate Connor McDavid for an incredible 3.57 points per 60 minutes, and Draisaitl has been a power-play machine, netting 15 points with the man advantage.
Anthony Mantha, DET vs. BOS ($5,800): This is a cushy salary for an emerging scorer. Mantha has a solid 1.33 goals per 60 minutes this season, and he's been especially strong of late with seven goals, 15 points and 33 shots while averaging 18:00 of ice time (2:33 on the power play) over his past 13 games. He's also posted a high-end 3.79 goals per 60 minutes alongside Henrik Zetterberg -- his most frequent linemate -- at five-on-five this season.
Jake Guentzel, PIT at MON ($3,400): The 22-year-old rookie has found the scoresheet in four of six games this season for three goals and five points. Guentzel has an AHL-leading 21 goals in the minors this season, and he's now flanking Evgeni Malkin at even strength with the Penguins. The freshman is likely to be a chalky target Wednesday, but at his salary, he provides both upside and cap relief.
DEFENSE
Torey Krug, BOS at DET ($6,500): Among all defenders with at least 1,000 minutes this season, Krug's 1.64 points per 60 minutes rank fourth, and he has turned up the offensive production of late with three goals, 14 points and 26 shots while averaging 21:34 of ice time (3:04 with the man advantage) over his past 13 games. The Red Wings are a middle-of-the-road matchup, so there are no hesitations on that front.
Dustin Byfuglien, WPG vs. ARI ($6,400): As noted, this is a great matchup for Winnipeg, and the Jets are looking to snap a four-game losing skid. Byfuglien hasn't been overly productive offensively of late, totaling just two goals through his past seven games, but the foundation is there for a breakout game. During the aforementioned stretch, he's averaged 26:41 of ice time with 2:28 on the power play and registered 26 shots on net. Hope his lack of recent success drives down his ownership for what sets up as a slump-busting showing.
