This article is part of our FantasyDraft NHL series.
Wednesday is something of a respite for the NHL as it heads toward the end of the regular season. There are only three games on the slate, making your daily fantasy options a little limited. With that in mind, here are some recommendations for your lineup.
GOALIE
Anaheim Ducks, ANA vs. MIN ($17,000): Though the Wild are heading toward the playoffs, they are only 17-19-2 on the road. Meanwhile, the Ducks are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games. Though John Gibson is banged up and may not be able to play, Ryan Miller has a 2.51 GAA and .925 save percentage, so he's more than up to the task if need be.
CENTER
Matt Duchene, OTT at BUF ($13,500): After notching three points in his last outing Duchene has 47 points in 65 games since being traded to the Senators. To look beyond one game, he has seven goals and seven assists in his last 12 contests, including four goals with the extra man. The Sabres have a 3.33 GAA, which is third highest in the NHL.
Ryan O'Reilly, BUF vs. OTT ($10,700) O'Reilly has averaged 13.15 fantasy points per game, fourth most among centers in action Wednesday. He also has six points and 20 shots on net in his last five contests. The Senators have a 3.46 GAA, second highest in the NHL, and their penalty kill is ranked 29th. O'Reilly, for his part, has 21 points with the extra man.
WING
Mike Hoffman, OTT at BUF ($12,500): An 8.7 shooting percentage hurt Hoffman's numbers this season, but he's still managed 22 goals thanks to the fact he's put 253 shots on net in 79 games. He hasn't slowed down, either, as he's notched 25 shots in his last six contests. As previously noted, the Sabres have a 3.33 GAA, and they also have a .898 save percentage.
Alexander Steen, STL vs. CHI ($11,400): Steen has notched six points in his last eight contests. Meanwhile, the Blackhawks have been struggling for quite some time. Since the All-Star break they have a 3.60 GAA. That's second highest in the NHL. They also have the 29th-ranked penalty kill in that time. Steen has averaged 2:58 per game with the extra man, so he could take advantage of that.
Ondrej Kase, ANA vs. MIN ($10,500): Kase has started 54.2 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, second highest on the Ducks. The 22-year-old has enjoyed a semi-breakout season, notching 19 goals and 18 assists in 63 games. Minnesota has been notably worse defensively on the road. The Wild have a 3.39 GAA away from home, fourth highest in the league.
DEFENSE
Colton Parayko, STL vs. CHI ($10,900): Parayko has put a lot of pucks on the net for a defenseman this year, tallying 205 shots in 79 games. He's also blocked 138 shots, so he's added fantasy value on that end as well. As previously noted, the Blackhawks have a woeful 3.60 GAA since the All-Star break, and that number actually rose to 4.06 in March.
Brandon Montour, ANA vs. MIN ($9,100): Montour has three points in his last four games, and seven in his last 10. He's also averaged 2:14 per game on the power play and notched 12 points with the extra man. The Wild, as previously noted, have a 3.39 GAA on the road. On top of that, their penalty kill ranks 25th in away games.
