This article is part of our FantasyDraft NHL series.
Because the NHL isn't in action Thanksgiving, Wednesday is incredibly busy. I'm talking a whopping 15 games on the docket. That's every team except one! Of course, that means you are spoiled for choice, but hopefully I can make your choices easier.
GOALIE
Nashville Predators vs. MON ($16,000): Montreal played in Dallas on Tuesday, which makes this a game on the second night of a back-to-back for the Canadiens. The Habs have really struggled to score, but Nashville also has a great chance of picking up a win. Charlie Lindgren played Tuesday, so Antti Niemi could be in net for this one. Plus, the Preds are 7-1-1 at home.
CENTER
Dylan Larkin, DET vs. EDM ($13,000): The Oilers are also on the road for the second night of a back-to-back, and both of their goalies had to play since Cam Talbot gave up two goals on three shots. Larkin has 11 points in his last 10 games, despite the fact he only has a 7.3 shooting percentage. He's also tallied four power-play points, and the Oilers have one of the worst penalty kills in the league.
Eric Staal, MIN at BUF ($12,300): Staal has averaged 15.05 fantasy points per game thanks in part to seven goals and 11 assists through 20 games. He's also tallied 59 shots on net. The Sabres have a team GAA of 3.48, which ranks in the bottom five in the NHL.
WING
Jonathan Huberdeau, FLA vs. TOR ($13,200): A healthy Huberdeau is a productive Huberdeau. Florida's top left wing has averaged 20:12 per game in ice time, and also 4:01 per contest with the extra man. Both of those are career highs, and Huberdeau has six power-play points through 20 tilts. Toronto has a 3.05 team GAA, and it has also allowed 33.4 shots on net per contest.
James Neal, VGK at ANA ($12,000): The Ducks have a team GAA of 2.75, but that's because of some stellar, probably unsustainable goaltending (.924 team save percentage). Anaheim has allowed 36.1 shots on net per game, most in the NHL. Neal has put at least 202 shots on goal in his last four seasons, and he has 50 so far this year. He should get a few pucks on the net against the Ducks, and one of those could end up adding to his goal total.
Gabriel Landeskog, COL vs. DAL ($11,500): The Stars have a tricky situation in goal thanks to the fact they played Tuesday. Ben Bishop got the start in that game, but right now Kari Lehtonen is out indefinitely for personal reasons. That means Bishop will have to start again, or journeyman Mike McKenna will get a start. Either way, it bodes well for Landeskog. The Swede is having a resurgent season offensively, as he has eight goals and seven assists through 19 games, and he also has averaged a career-high 4:12 per game on the power play.
DEFENSE
Zach Werenski, CLM vs. CGY ($10,900): Werenski has started 55.3 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, tops among Columbus' regular defensemen. He has 12 points on the year, including three on the power play, and just last season he notched 21 points with the extra man. The Flames have the worst penalty kill in the league, and Mike Smith still has a .922 save percentage which is likely to regress in short order.
Roman Josi, NAS vs. MON ($10,200): Josi has averaged 17.29 fantasy points per game, which is the most of any defenseman in action Tuesday (which is pretty much all of them). He's got a four-game point streak going on, and he's tallied 68 shots on net in 17 games. The Canadiens, as previously noted, are on the second night of a back-to-back, and Niemi (6.66 GAA, .820 save percentage) in net would have Josi salivating.
