This article is part of our FantasyDraft NHL series.
There are three NHL games Wednesday, and while they are all interesting, what do they mean for your daily fantasy decisions? Well, I hope to help you figure that out with the players below, all of whom I would consider targeting.
GOALIE
Toronto Maple Leafs, TOR vs. MIN ($16,400): It's not a great day for goalie matchups. The one team in action who has excelled defensively, San Jose, is facing the league's best offense in Tampa Bay. Toronto hasn't been great defensively, and Frederik Andersen has a .895 save percentage. However, he's never had a save percentage lower than .914 over a full season. Minnesota, meanwhile, is banged up, and it has only averaged 29.1 shots on net per game, second fewest in the NHL. With the options available, the Leafs look relatively good.
CENTER
Patrice Bergeron, BOS at NYR ($14,400): Since returning from injury it has been business as usual for Bergeron. He's notched eight points (four on the power play) and a whopping 30 shots on goal through eight games. Bergeron has also been averaging career highs in ice time and power-play ice time. The Rangers, meanwhile have a team GAA of 3.38 and a team save percentage of .892.
Eric Staal, MIN at TOR ($10,800): Toronto may have been the choice for goaltender because Minnesota's overall offense has some questions, but that doesn't extend to every individual on the Wild. Staal has averaged 14.23 fantasy points per game thanks to five goals and four assists through 13 games. He doesn't have any power-play points yet but he had 16 last year so they may be coming. Staal has also started 56.5 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, the most of any Minnesota player who has played a full season so far.
WING
James van Riemsdyk, TOR vs. MIN ($11,600): Most of Toronto's best fantasy options are listed as centers, but you can always count on JVR on the wing. He's started 59.3 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, most of any Toronto wing, and he has 11 points (five on the power play). The Wild have a team GAA of 3.00 and they've allowed 32.3 shots on net per contest. Minnesota had a team GAA of 2.94 and a team save percentage of .900 after the All-Star break last year, so this may not just be about a slow start to the season.
Pavel Buchnevich, NYR vs. BOS ($9,600):Tuukka Rask has a 2.73 GAA and a .903 save percentage this season, and while he will likely improve you might be able to take advantage of his slow start here with somebody like Buchnevich. He's averaged 12.12 fantasy points per game, and to get a player who has averaged more you have to spend $11,600 (and that player is van Riemsdyk). In particular, the Rangers have boosted the second-year player's power-play time, and he's taken advantage by netting seven points with the man advantage in 16 games.
Jordan Szwarz, BOS at NYR ($7,200): It's hard to recommend anybody in the Tampa Bay-San Jose game, which limits the options, so perhaps consider rolling the dice on Szwarz. Due to injuries for the Bruins, he's played in Boston's last three games, and the team has really tried to help him out. He's started a staggering 85.7 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, and he did just pick up two assists in his last game. The Rangers have struggled defensively and in net, so you can consider opting for Szwarz knowing it will save you some cash you can spend elsewhere.
DEFENSE
Torey Krug, BOS at NYR ($9,600): Krug hasn't been putting shots on goal with his usual frequency, but he has eight points through 12 games, and six in his last four contests. He's managed at least 39 points every full season he's played, and he's also never had fewer than 14 power-play points. The 35-year-old Henrik Lundqvist has a 3.07 GAA and a .900 save percentage, and with Ondre Pavelec as his backup now the Rangers don't have anywhere else to turn.
Jared Spurgeon, MIN at TOR ($9,300): Spurgeon has averaged an impressive 24:56 per game in ice time, and he's tallied 10 points through 13 games. That has helped him averaged 13.07 fantasy points per game thus far. Toronto has allowed 32.4 shots on net per contest after allowing 32.6 last season, so there could be opportunity here for Spurgeon.
