This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Wednesday's limited three-game slate still offers a multitude of great values across all the matchups. Here are some ideas are where you might find them.
Goalie
Petr Mrazek, DET vs. SJ ($28)
Mrazek still isn't the starter in Detroit but he's certainly doing his best impression recently -- the Czech goalie has posted a .965 save percentage in his last four appearances, which included two shutouts and a solid relief appearances against Chicago on Thursday. The Sharks come into Wednesday's game hot, but if there's any time to start a goalie against them, it's when they're on the second half of a road back-to-back.
Goalie to Avoid
Frederik Andersen, TOR vs. NYI ($29)
Andersen's play has not been stellar lately, as he's allowed two goals or more in each of his last seven starts en route to a .911 save percentage and just two wins over that span. The Leafs have not done a great job at providing the Danish keeper with goal support either, averaging just 2.27 goals per game in January. Things may not bode well for Andersen against an Islanders team that averages 3.38 goals per game.
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Center
Evgeny Kuznetsov, WAS vs. PHI ($22)
There are benefits to skating on a line with Alex Ovechkin and Kuznetsov knows them all too well at this point -- after a down season in 2016-17, the latter Russian is on pace to break the 70-point barrier once again this season after posting five assists in his last five contests. The 25-year-old has managed 35.6 percent of his points with the man advantage, a stat that will surely help him against Philadelphia's poor penalty kill.
Center to Avoid
Auston Matthews, TOR vs. NYI ($31)
It's always hard to pick against the phenomenal Matthews, but a deep dive into his stats reveals that he actually tends to struggle when his team plays in Toronto. While the second-year player is averaging over a point per game in away games, he has recorded just 13 points in 18 contests this season at Air Canada Centre. With Matthews taking the top billing for price Wednesday, you should look elsewhere to find a more affordable option.
Wings
Jordan Eberle, NYI @ TOR ($17)
After a relatively slow start to the season that saw him get acclimated to his new surroundings, Eberle has seriously picked up the pace in recent weeks, notching 10 points, 25 shots on goal, and a plus-5 rating over his last nine games. The veteran winger routinely runs on a line with phenomenal rookie Mathew Barzal and even sees time with the second power-play unit. At this price, he's a good bet against the mediocre Andersen.
Kevin Labanc, SJ @ DET ($15)
Labanc has seemingly enjoyed his expanded role with the offense, as the young winger has six points, 20 shots on goal, and a plus-1 rating in his last six games. His responsibilities include running with the Sharks' first power-play unit, a group that has already given him 11 of his 26 points on the campaign and could be of immense use against a Detroit penalty-killing unit that is successful just 79.5 percent of the time.
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Wings to Avoid
Anders Lee, NYI @ TOR ($26)
Lee's play of late has been troubling for a couple of reasons. Firstly, you never want to see that a player is only scoring goals without assists but that's exactly what we're seeing here -- the Minnesota native has three goals and no assists over his last 13 contests. Secondly, Lee is repeatedly getting burned on defense, as he shows a minus-7 rating over that same 13-game span. At this elevated Wednesday price, he's not worth the hit to your budget.
T.J. Oshie, WAS vs. PHI ($21)
Oshie's goal drought has now extended out to 13 games, over which time he has amassed just five assists to go with a minus-3 rating and 26 shots on goal. Despite garnering an assist the last time the Capitals played the Flyers, the Washington state native has posted just one double-digit fantasy point outing since Nov. 30, so he's not the kind of player you want to be betting on at this relatively high price point.
Defense
John Carlson, WAS vs. PHI ($24)
Carlson continues to be a fixture of the Washington power-play unit -- in the last 11 games, the veteran d-man has recorded six of his 11 points on an average of 4:43 of ice time with the man advantage while also taking a whopping 42 shots on goal in all situations. His consistent ability to contribute on the power play could be of immense benefit against a 28th-ranked Philadelphia penalty kill.
Jake Gardiner, TOR vs. NYI ($17)
With Morgan Rielly (arm) sidelined for the last four games, much of the offensive duties from the blueline have fallen onto the shoulders of Gardiner and the Minnesota native has not disappointed, putting together eight assists in the four games sans Rielly. Gardiner has also been reliable in the defensive end of late, as he shows a plus-2 rating to go with nine blocked shots over that same span. His Wednesday price won't break the bank either.
Defensemen to Avoid
Ivan Provorov, PHI @ WAS ($20)
Provorov's season has been marked by peaks and valleys, and he finds himself in one of the valleys right now, recording just two points and a minus-1 rating over the course of his last six contests. If the Russian blueliner's defense was more up to snuff, he might be a safe play, but the fact that he'll face a dangerous Washington offense, combined with his noted inconsistency, makes him a risky play Wednesday.
Ryan Pulock, NYI @ TOR ($18)
A five-point outing in Chicago on Jan. 20 probably boosted his stock significantly, but the fact remains that Pulock, even including that offensive outburst, has just 15 points through 37 games on the campaign. To make matters worse, Pulock's defensive contributions on the year amount to just 39 blocked shots and a minus-7 rating. His Wednesday pricing makes him the sixth most expensive option on the board, so don't waste your money here.
