It’s a five-game slate in the NHL on Wednesday with the marquee matchup between Edmonton and Toronto. The Golden Knights and Blues are the two largest favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook, whereas the Canucks and Ducks are both short home underdogs.
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Top Line Stacks
Blues vs. Sharks
Jaden Schwartz ($4,700) - Brayden Schenn ($4,100) - Jordan Kyrou ($2,800)
St. Louis’ new-look scoring line is priced to reward and impressed Monday against San Jose. The trio attempted 15 shots, generated four high-danger scoring chances and scored twice. The cap relief also allows you to spend up elsewhere throughout your lineup, and it should be a good matchup for Schenn, Schwartz and Kyrou. After posting the second lowest team save percentage (.895) last year, the Sharks own an .865 mark through three games to start this season.
Golden Knights vs. Coyotes
Max Pacioretty ($7,500) - Chandler Stephenson ($4,300) - Mark Stone ($6,700)
Dating back to last season, Stephenson, Pacioretty and Stone have clicked for 5.57 goals, 17.87 high-danger scoring chances per hour while dominating possession with a 62.3 Corsi For percentage at 5-on-5. The sample (258:34) is large enough to take note of, and especially since the trio has combined for five goals, six assists and 23 shots through three games to start the campaign.
Superstar to Build Around
Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Edmonton Oilers ($8,400) - The levee is going to break for Matthews soon. He’s sporting an unsustainably low 4.8 shooting percentage with just a single goal despite registering 40 shots attempts and nine high-danger scoring chances through the first four games of the season. Edmonton has allowed 15 goals through their three losses and owns an underwhelming 45.8 Corsi For percentage at 5-on-5 to start the campaign.
Value on Offense
Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers at Toronto Maple Leafs ($7,400) - Significantly cheaper than Connor McDavid ($8,500) and Matthews, Draisaitl presents value among the high-end scorers in the player pool. While the 25-year-old German has been held off the scoresheet in consecutive games, there’s no denying his offensive upside given his elite 1.61 goals and 3.73 points per 60 minutes over the previous two seasons.
J.T. Miller, Vancouver Canucks vs. Montreal Canadiens ($4,900) - The veteran winger collected an assist and logged 5:23 of power-play time during his return to action Monday. He’s locked into a go-to role and is coming off an impressive 27-goal, 72-point campaign. Even with Montreal being a potentially tough matchup, there’s no denying the value Miller’s decreased salary presents. Plus, the matchup might prove to be softer than expected with Montreal allowing a healthy 36 high-danger scoring chances through three games this year.
Tyler Toffoli, Montreal Canadiens at Vancouver Canucks ($3,900) - While the first-year Hab collected an assist last time out, Toffoli is still chasing his first goal of the campaign. He’s skating on the No. 1 power-play unit and has attempted 11 shots through three games, so statistical correction is ahead. Plus, Vancouver has lost three straight while being outscored 13-4, and the Canucks own an underwhelming .889 team save percentage for the year.
Stud Goalies
Frederik Andersen, Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Edmonton Oilers ($8,100) - Andersen turned in a tidy start Monday against Winnipeg saving 27 of 28 shots, and the Maple Leafs have been impressive the past two games with a 66.0 Corsi For percentage at 5-on-5. Andersen is definitely in play, as a result. However, it only takes a quick look at his game log during his five-year stretch as a Maple Leaf to highlight the risk accompanying him.
Cam Talbot, Minnesota Wild at Anaheim Ducks ($7,800) - Coming off his best start of the season, look for Talbot to turn in another strong showing against the Ducks. Anaheim has scored just four goals through three games, and the Wild have also surrendered only seven goals through three games, which follows them allowing the fewest high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 last year.
Value on Defense
Jared Spurgeon, Minnesota Wild at Anaheim Ducks ($4,500) - The veteran has topped 30 points in four straight seasons and is currently skating with the No. 1 power-play unit. Spurgeon also helps in the peripheral categories through his respectable shot volume and willingness to block shots. The Ducks have been stingy to start the year with just seven goals allowed through three games, but that could also mean Spurgeon isn’t as popular a target.
Kris Russell, Edmonton Oilers at Toronto Maple Leafs ($2,500) - Toronto has attempted the most shots in the league this season, and Russell has blocked triple-digit shots in each of the previous seven seasons. At the minimum salary, it’s simply a recipe for a decent fantasy floor. Additionally, while not projected to receive power-play time, Russell did log 2:58 with the man advantage during his season debut Monday.
Power-Play Defenseman
Jeff Petry, Montreal Canadiens at Vancouver Canucks, ($5,800) - Considering he’s currently Montreal’s leading scorer, Petry’s still a reasonable value. He moves the needle across all categories and has recently been promoted to the No. 1 power-play unit. As noted, the matchup isn’t daunting, and the 33-year-old defenseman should also mostly avoid Vancouver’s top offensive line at 5-on-5.
Torey Krug, St. Louis Blues vs. San Joe Sharks ($5,400) - The first-year Blue found the scoresheet Monday against the Sharks and continues to quarterback the No. 1 power-play unit. As noted, San Jose has struggled in goal to start the year, so the matchup should prove favorable. Plus, Krug’s 2.32 points per 60 minutes over the previous three seasons pace all regular defensemen.
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