This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
Wednesday's modest three-game NHL slate has a late start time of 9:00 p.m. EST. Below, you'll find a breakdown of the action and suggested options for crafting an effective lineup.
SLATE PREVIEW
All three games are expected to be reasonably competitive, but most lineups will likely build around the Avalanche, who are set to start up the night's action in Vancouver. After that, the Blackhawks and Kraken will face off in a battle of opponents near the bottom of the standings, and the Capitals will finish off a back-to-back set in Los Angeles. The Kraken and Capitals are modest favorites in their respective matchups, while Colorado's game has the highest over/under, at 6.0 goals.
GOALIES
Darcy Kuemper, COL at VAN ($8,100): Kuemper has found his groove after a rocky start to his tenure in the Rockies, as he's gone 5-2-0 in his last seven starts while allowing 15 goals in that stretch and no more than three in any individual game. Another strong outing should be forthcoming against a scuffling Canucks team that's been outscored 22-8 during its four-game losing streak, which included a 7-1 shellacking in Colorado.
Marc-Andre Fleury, CHI at SEA ($7,500): Chicago's been better of late following an abhorrent start, having won each of its last three games while allowing just four total goals in that stretch. Fleury was in net for two of those wins, stopping a combined 64 of 67 shots. He offers excellent upside at $7,500 against a Kraken team that's been outscored 55-42 en route to a 4-10-1 start.
Jonathan Quick, LA vs. WAS ($7,600): We'll see if it lasts, but at least so far, Quick has turned back the clock with a fabulous 1.98 GAA and .935 save percentage through his first eight starts. His record is a pedestrian 4-3-1 due to limited goal support, but Quick's in outstanding form. If he gets the starting nod in the Kings' net, Quick will be catching the Capitals at the right time, as Washington's playing its second west coast road game in as many nights. Given the context, he makes for an enticing against-the-grain play.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Nazem Kadri, COL at VAN ($5,100): Kadri's a key component of the highly skilled Avalanche top power-play unit. He has a team-high 14 points in 12 games and is tied for the team lead with three power-play points. Colorado has underachieved on the man advantage, but this matchup with Vancouver's league-worst, 62.3 percent penalty kill offers a nice opportunity to get back on track.
Alex DeBrincat, CHI at SEA ($6,700): Chicago relies on three players for the vast majority of its offense, and DeBrincat costs a bit less than Patrick Kane ($7,800) and Seth Jones ($6,900). The diminutive winger leads the team with eight goals through 15 games, and he's put together a 4-1-5 line in the past five games while adding an eight-shot performance during that stretch. DeBrincat should keep rolling against a Kraken team that's let in 20 goals during its current four-game losing streak.
Nils Hoglander, VAN vs. COL ($3,500): The red-hot Hoglander's a terrific bargain at $3,500. He has a 4-1-5 line and 12 shots during an active three-game goal streak, which began against the Avalanche. Given his top-six role, there's a lot to like about the 20-year-old winger at the moment, so his valuation will likely climb before long.
Andreas Athanasiou, LA vs. WAS ($4,100): Athanasiou's season got off to a late start, but the speedster has hit the ground running with a 2-3-5 line through five games. As a former 30-goal scorer, Athanasiou offers solid offensive upside relative to his valuation, and his quickness could trouble a veteran Capitals team that will have some tired legs after losing in overtime Tuesday in Anaheim.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Avalanche at Canucks
Mikko Rantanen (C - $8,300), Gabriel Landeskog (W - $7,500), Logan O'Connor (W - $3,900)
With both Nathan MacKinnon (lower body) and J.T. Compher (upper body) out of the lineup for a while, Rantanen's sliding to center, while O'Connor's getting a golden opportunity to showcase his skills in a top-line role. Rantanen (5-3-8 in nine games) and Landeskog (5-7-12 in 10 games) have been their usual productive selves when in the lineup. O'Connor has supplied a 3-3-6 line in 12 games while working in a bottom-six role, but his production should pick up given his new top-line assignment. A Canucks team that's allowing 3.38 goals per game — sixth-most league-wide — is unlikely to slow down Colorado's newly formed top line.
Kraken vs. Blackhawks
Alexander Wennberg (C - $3,400), Jordan Eberle (W - $5,200), Jaden Schwartz (W - $4,200)
These may not be typical top-line names, but Seattle's top forward trio has been producing like a bona fide first line of late. Schwartz has a 3-7-10 line in his last nine games, and Wennberg has added seven points during his active five-game point streak. Eberle also has a five-game point streak working, and six of his eight points in that stretch have been goals. While the visiting Blackhawks have been better of late, they're still surrendering 3.40 goals per game overall.
Capitals at Kings
Evgeny Kuznetsov (C - $7,400), Alex Ovechkin (W - $9,100), Tom Wilson (W - $5,300)
The Capitals haven't gotten much secondary scoring, yet they have just two regulation losses through 16 games thanks to the dominance of their top line. Ovechkin's showing no signs of decline at age 36, with a 12-14-26 line through 16 games, which has him ranked third in points and tied for second in goals league-wide. In a small slate like this, he's capable of carrying your lineup on his own. Kuznetsov is just two spots lower in the league points race, with a 6-14-20 line, while Wilson's 5-9-14 line includes four goals and six points in his last six games.
DEFENSEMEN
Cale Makar, COL at VAN ($6,600): Makar's tied with Kadri and the injured Compher for the team lead with three power-play points, and he has a 2-6-8 line in 10 games overall. He's among the most offensively gifted blueliners in the league, and Makar's capable of picking up the slack while Colorado battles injuries, especially against the struggling Canucks. If you can't afford Makar or want to stack Avalanche defensemen, Samuel Girard ($3,800) -- who has seven points in his last three games -- is an excellent alternative/complement.
Quinn Hughes, VAN vs. COL ($5,400): The Avalanche are actually the only team that has kept Hughes off the scoresheet in the last five games, as the puck-moving blueliner has dished seven helpers over that span. Perhaps home-ice advantage in the rematch will help Hughes find more success against a Colorado club that's allowing the second-most fantasy points to opposing defensemen, behind Hughes' own Canucks.
Connor Murphy, CHI at SEA ($3,900): If you're more concerned with a high floor than a high ceiling, Murphy's a solid choice thanks to his shot-blocking prowess. He has blocked three-plus shots in six of the past seven games, dropping below 6.9 fantasy points only once in that stretch. Given Seattle's recent struggles with keeping the puck out of its net, Murphy could be due to add some offense as well. He has only one goal without an assist this season but had 34 points in 108 appearances over the previous two campaigns, which is a 26-point full season pace.
Alexander Edler, LA vs. WAS ($3,600): Edler has taken on a larger role on the Kings' blue line recently, averaging over 20 minutes of ice time in the past three games after skating less than 17 minutes in each of the five before that. He has demonstrated a willingness to put his body on the line with 12 blocks over the past three contests, and the veteran Swede will likely have plenty of opportunities to get in front of blasts from Ovechkin and Co. in this one.
