This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
There are four games in the NHL on Wednesday, so it's a shallow player pool. With that in mind, here are a number of recommendations across multiple price ranges to considering while assembling your FanDuel lineups.
GOALIE
Calvin Pickard, COL vs. DET ($7,600): With two goals or fewer allowed in seven of his past 10 starts, Pickard has been sneaky good of late. He's only collected three wins during that stretch, but his .927 save percentage and 2.43 GAA highlight marked improvement. The Red Wings are far from an admirable opponent, too. Since Christmas, Detroit owns the third-worst adjusted Corsi For percentage (47.02) in the league, after all. Still, Pickard is best viewed as a contrarian flier.
CENTER
Evgeni Malkin, PIT at PHI ($8,900): Rarely do NHLers warrant must-start consideration, but Malkin's turning in a dominant campaign. He's ripped off 11 goals, 18 points and 43 shots through his past 14 games and owns a league-high 3.8 points per 60 minutes among all skates with at least 500 minutes this season. The Flyers also sport the second-worst team save percentage (.897) and have allowed the seventh-most goals per game (2.94) in the league.
Matt Duchene, COL vs. DET ($4,500): Up to an 11-game pointless stretch, this is a buy-low spot for the struggling pivot. Duchene posted a 20th-ranked 2.6 points per 60 minutes among all skaters with at least 4,000 minutes over the previous three seasons, so his current 1.86 mark and scoreless skid have positive regression ahead. Additionally, at this salary, there is significantly less risk.
WING
Brad Marchand, BOS at CGY ($8,000): After a hat trick against Vancouver on Monday, Marchand is tied for the league lead in goals, continuing a season of elite production that's particularly ramped up over the last couple months. Over his past 28 games, Marchand has 25 goals, 42 points and 84 shots on net. While the Flames provide a tough matchup, it isn't out of the question to speculate that their 10-game winning streak gets snapped Wednesday.
Jaden Schwartz, STL at ANA ($5,700): Though Schwartz has produced solid offensive results of late with 11 points through his past 14 games, he's also scored just a single goal on 36 shots (2.8 shooting percentage) during that stretch. Skating with Vladimir Tarasenko is a huge fantasy boon, as the duo has an impressive 3.14 goals per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 over the past four years. With positive regression ahead in the goals column, Schwartz is worth a long look as a mid-priced winger.
Jordan Weal, PHI vs. PIT ($3,500): The Penguins are dealing with a number of injuries on the blue line and have allowed the fifth-most high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes (12.17) over the past 25 games. Weal's low salary, first-line gig and potentially soft matchup make him a viable low-priced flier. He's also notched a respectable three goals, four points and 17 shots through the past seven outings with his expanded offensive role (15:17 of ice time per game with 2:01 on the power play).
DEFENSE
Alex Pietrangelo, STL at ANA ($5,400): This salary doesn't match Pietrangelo's improved play with Kevin Shattenkirk no longer playing for St. Louis. The Blues' captain has six points, 13 shots and 13 blocked shots with an average of 27:21 of ice time (2:51 on the power play) through his past seven games. His cross-category profile also provides a high fantasy ceiling.
Shayne Gostisbehere, PHI vs. PIT ($4,800): As noted, this could prove to be a softer matchup than you'd think, and Gostisbehere continues to showcase huge offensive upside. He has two goals, eight points and 31 shots through his past 10 games, including two multi-point showings. The range of outcomes is wide, but the price is manageable, and Gostisbehere might also fly under the radar.
