Sandwiched between a 10-game slate Tuesday and a busy 15-game night Thursday, Wednesday is light on action. There are three games on the docket tonight with a 7 p.m. start (the Islanders hosting the Rangers) and a pair of games at 7:30 p.m. (Philadelphia at Columbus; Colorado at Ottawa).
SLATE PREVIEW
There aren't any games tonight with heavy favorites on FanDuel's moneyline, but Colorado (minus-152) is seen as having a clear edge against Ottawa (plus-126), while Columbus (minus-134) and the Islanders (minus-126) are modest favorites against the visiting Flyers (plus-112) and Rangers (plus-105). While Colorado has dominated this season (35-6-9), even on the road (15-4-5), the Avalanche are going through a bit of a mediocre patch with a 4-4-2 record across their past 10 games, so they're less of a safe pick than normal.
GOALIES
Mackenzie Blackwood, COL at OTT ($8,100): While this isn't an ideal time to take Blackwood, with just six goaltending options tonight, there are no ideal choices available. Blackwood allowed 11 goals on 47 shots (.766 save percentage) across his outings Jan. 16 and Friday, but he bounced back by stopping 32 of 33 shots en route to a 4-1 win over Toronto on Saturday. He's 14-3-1 with a 2.41 GAA and a .911 save percentage in 18 appearances in 2025-26.
David Rittich, NYI vs. NYR ($7,700): Again, compromises need to be made when the slate is limited. This is less about betting on Rittich, who has an 11-7-3 record, 2.57 GAA and .902 save percentage in 21 outings, and more about betting against the Rangers, who have been in freefall with a 3-9-2 record over their past 14 games. The Rangers haven't managed to find the back of the net against the Islanders so far this season, dropping two games while being outscored 7-0.
VALUE PLAYS
Mason Marchment, CLM vs. PHI ($5,300): Marchment is coming off an amazing game in which he scored a hat trick and added an assist against Tampa Bay on Saturday. He'll look to build off that strong showing. The 30-year-old has 12 goals and 24 points in 38 appearances between Seattle and Columbus in 2025-26.
Anthony Duclair, NYI vs. NYR (4,700): Duclair has eight goals and 12 points over his past 10 appearances, including three goals and five points across his past four outings. His recent run has bolstered what has been otherwise a forgettable campaign for him – he has 12 goals and 25 points in 49 appearances this season.
FORWARD LINE STACK
Avalanche at Senators
Nathan MacKinnon (C - $8,400), Martin Necas (W - $7,300), Victor Olofsson (W - $4,700)
Colorado might be going through a somewhat rough patch, but those struggles haven't extended to the top line. MacKinnon has been his normal self with three goals and 14 points over his past eight games. He's up to 38 goals and 88 points in 50 appearances this season. Necas hasn't been doing as well, but his two goals and seven points over his past six outings is still a great output, and it brings him up to 22 goals and 62 points in 50 appearances in 2025-26.
You could consider skipping Olofsson, but he's affordable and playing with fantastic linemates, so the 30-year-old isn't a bad grab tonight. He has two goals and three points over his last four appearances, giving him 10 goals and 24 points in 50 outings on the season.
DEFENSEMEN
Zach Werenski, CLM vs. PHI ($7,700): Werenski has been dominant this campaign with 19 goals and 55 points in 47 outings. He's showing no signs of slowing either, after supplying five goals and 15 points over his last 12 appearances.
Denton Mateychuk, CLM vs. PHI ($4,800): Mateychuk hasn't played since Jan. 11 due to an upper-body injury, but he's set to return Wednesday. The 21-year-old has been pretty solid offensively this campaign with eight goals and 21 points in 44 outings. The Flyers have allowed 4.67 goals per game across their past nine outings, so he's in a good position to have a productive return.
