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There are only two games in the NHL on Wednesday, and both are Original Six matchups. The Toronto Maple Leafs visit the Montreal Canadiens, and the New York Rangers host the Boston Bruins. The Toronto-Montreal bout has the higher over/under total on DraftKings Sportsbook with the Habs a small home favorite, whereas New York is a home underdog on DraftKings Sportsbook.
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Top Line Stacks
Bruins at Rangers
Brad Marchand ($7,400) - Patrice Bergeron ($7,900) - David Pastrnak ($8,500)
Boston’s No. 1 line posted an elite 5.83 goals and 15.1 high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes while posting a 57.9 Corsi For percentage at 5-on-5 over the previous three years, and they’ve been even better in 2021 with 9.25, 22.21 and 69.1 marks. Just noted, it’s not a slam-dunk matchup with the Rangers allowing just 2.6 goals and 10.03 high-danger scoring chances per hour while also owning a respectable 82.1 penalty-kill percentage this season.
Rangers vs. Bruins
Artemi Panarin ($5,800) - Ryan Strome ($3,400) - Kaapo Kakko ($2,500)
This line is affordable, and Panarin is an annual MVP candidate, so they warrant consideration. Panarin has found the scoresheet in eight of 11 games while racking up five multi-point showings. Strome has also been solid of late with four tallies and two helpers through the past seven games, and while Kakko has disappointed since being selected second overall last year, he’s still talented and carrying a minimum salary.
Canadiens vs. Maple Leafs
Jonathan Drouin ($3,800) - Nick Suzuki ($5,200) - Josh Anderson ($5,000)
The Maple Leafs have been responsible this season with just 1.77 goals against per 60 minutes and a seventh-ranked .943 team save percentage at 5-on-5. Still, Suzuki, Drouin and Anderson have been solid and combine for a manageable cap hit. The trio has recorded 4.73 goals and 12.6 high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes while driving possession with a 54.76 Corsi For percentage at five-on-five.
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Superstar to Build Around
Auston Matthews, TOR at MON ($8,300) - If there’s a standalone superstar to target, Matthews is a solid building block. After all, he’s scored 10 goals during his active eight-game scoring streak, and there’s no reason to expect him to slow down given his 85 shot attempts for the year. Plus, Matthews offers an extremely high fantasy floor with double-digit DraftKings points in 11 of 12 games this season.
Value on Offense
Zach Hyman, TOR at MON ($4,700) - Interestingly, no Maple Leaf has more high-danger scoring chances this season than Hyman, and he’s locked in atop the depth chart with Auston Matthews ($8,300) and Mitchell Marner ($7,000) at 5-on-5 and on the No. 1 power-play unit. The trio has also clicked for a high-end 5.34 goals per hour over the past three years.
Corey Perry, MON vs. TOR ($2,700) - Toronto hasn’t been strong while shorthanded this season with a 23rd-ranked 75.5 penalty-kill percentage, and Perry is expected to skate with Montreal’s No. 1 power-play unit. The veteran is more of a salary fit than building block, but he’s attempted 19 shots and has seven individual high-danger scoring chances through seven games, so there’s potential.
Stud Goalies
Tuukka Rask, BOS at NYR ($8,200) - The Rangers have attempted the 11th most shots per 60 minutes in the league, so Rask should see enough rubber Wednesday to pad his saves total. He’s won consecutive games and was particularly sharp last time out, stopping 23 of 24 shots in a 2-1 road win over Philadelphia. Rask’s .898 save percentage for the campaign is a slight concern, though.
Frederik Andersen, TOR at MON ($7,800) - Considering Andersen has stopped 58 of 60 shots through the past two games, this is a manageable salary. As noted, the Maple Leafs have played solid 5-on-5 defense this season, and Montreal has attempted the third most shots per 60 minutes in the league. There’s definite risk, though, too. Montreal has translated all those shot attempts into a league-high 3.95 goals per hour.
Value on Defense
Charlie McAvoy, BOS at NYR ($4,600) - The Bruins have shifted to a five-forward No. 1 power-play unit, so McAvoy might not be as popular as he should be. After all, McAvoy has found the scoresheet in seven straight games for 10 points, 12 shots and 12 blocks. Additionally, the Bruins will probably mix and match a little bit with the No. 1 power-play unit, and especially when in-game situations call for a more conservative look McAvoy could rejoin the top group.
Power-Play Defenseman
Morgan Rielly, TOR at MON ($5,200) - In the midst of an impressive stretch, Rielly presents a lot of value at this salary. He’s collected 10 points, five power-play assists, 11 shots and six blocks while logging 22:50 of ice time (3:20 with the man advantage) through the past seven games. As noted, it’s a potentially tough matchup, but that’s also built into the manageable cap hit.
Adam Fox, NYR vs. BOS ($5,000) - To start, it’s important to note that Fox’s is a bit of a high-risk, high-reward target. He’s collected a respectable seven points, 22 shots and 26 blocks through 11 games for the campaign, and is the quarterback of the No. 1 power-play unit. However, he’s piled up a lot of his numbers through a few games and has been held off the scoresheet entirely in four of his past six outings. Still, in a shallow defense pool, it’s important to keep upside in mind.
Set your DraftKings fantasy hockey lineups here: NHL $40K Twine [$10K to 1st]
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