This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
It's a light schedule Wednesday in the NHL. That means you may avoid the "paralysis of choice" that comes from having a big player pool, but it also makes it harder to find good value. Here are some recommendations for the three-game slate…
GOALIE
Mike Smith, CGY at ANA ($7,400): Yes, Smith has had a bad season. There's no denying that. However, here's what I know. Five of the eight highest-scoring teams in the NHL are playing Wednesday…and also the Ducks. They rank 29th in scoring, and are on the second night of a back-to-back. Smith is so cheap, I feel like he's worth rolling the dice on given the circumstances.
CENTER
Nicklas Backstrom, WAS vs. PIT ($7,100): Backstrom is as steady as it gets. He has at least 70 points in each of his last five seasons, and he has 16 points through 13 games this year. The Swede also has at least 26 power-play points in all those campaigns, because playing with Alex Ovechkin and the man advantage tends to pay off. The Penguins have a 3.31 GAA and have allowed 34.1 shots on goal per game, and number-one goalie Matt Murray has been even worse (3.87 GAA).
Kyle Turris, NAS at COL ($5,300): The Predators make things easy for Turris, as he's started 70.5 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone. That's second highest on the team. He's also averaged 2:52 per game with the extra man. The Avalanche have a solid 2.79 GAA, but they've allowed 33.5 shots on goal per contest, which has put a lot of pressure on their goalies.
WING
Gabriel Landeskog, COL vs. NAS ($6,900): Yes, the Predators have the lowest GAA in the league. This isn't the greatest matchup on paper. However, I have a couple reasons for championing Landeskog anyway. For starters, he has 11 goals and seven assists. Secondly, the Swede has six power-play points, and has played 4:17 per game with the extra man. That's notable, because Nashville, for all its defensive prowess, is 20th on the penalty kill. With only six teams plays, and Landeskog's price a little down given the matchup, he still is worth a shot.
Jakob Silfverberg, ANA vs. CGY ($5,400): Just because I recommended Mike Smith as a goalie doesn't mean I believe he will have a shutout. Like I said, he's had a rough season, and the Flames have the 27th-ranked penalty kill. I don't believe in a lot of Anaheim's players, but I do believe in Silfverberg. He has nine points in 11 games, and he's averaged over 2:30 per game on the power play, which is a major uptick for him.
Dominik Simon, PIT at WAS ($4,400): Chalk this up to "This guy is playing on Sidney Crosby's wing." He was barely playing when the season began, but the Penguins must like something about him, and the faith has paid off. The 24-year-old had five points in his last six games, thanks large to Crosby. On top of that, the Caps are off to a slow start, as they have a 3.69 GAA.
DEFENSE
John Carlson, WAS vs. PIT ($6,100): Carlson was dominant last season, tallying 68 points (32 on the power play) and 237 shots. That's a hard act to follow, but he's trying his best for an encore. The 28-year-old has 16 points in 13 games, including nine on the power play. Now he gets a chance to face a Penguins team with a 3.31 GAA and has given up 34.1 shots on net per contest.
Jamie Oleksiak, PIT at WAS ($4,300):Justin Schultz is out, and Oleksiak seems like he has stepped into his role. Though he never broke through as a Star, he had 14 points in 47 games with the Penguins last season, and already has eight in 12 games this year. Maybe he can't keep that up, but a matchup with the Capitals and their 3.69 GAA bodes well for him.
