Yahoo DFS Hockey: Wednesday Picks

There are only two games Wednesday. That means everybody is picking from a very small player pool, especially when you consider that not everyone on each team is really a plausible option for your daily fantasy team. Your best bet may be to just find the team, or the line, you like best, and hope it turns out. Here are some players to target, and some to avoid, of the paltry number of NHLers taking the ice Wednesday.

GOALIE

Henrik Lundqvist, NYR vs. DET ($36): This is pretty simple – only four goalies are starting Wednesday. The Jets-Maple Leafs game seems likely to be a high-scoring affair, and is also hard to predict the winner. Henrik Lundqvist is the best goalie, playing for the best team Wednesday. There's no need to get cute.

GOALIE TO AVOID

Petr Mrazek, DET at NYR ($32): Mrazek is the other side of the Lundqvist selection. He's a high-variance goalie with the toughest matchup of the four netminders going Wednesday. On top of that, he's the second most expensive goalie. That is not a good combination.

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Tyler Bozak, TOR at WPG ($12): The Maple Leafs/Jets game feels like it could yield a lot of goals, so this is the contest to target. Bozak is the second-line center on Toronto's depth chart. He's playing more minutes than Nazem Kadri, and he's played more than 3:30 per game on the power play. For the meager sum of $12, he could be a steal on a day where under-the-radar selections are hard to come by.

CENTER TO AVOID

Dylan Larkin, DET at NYR ($19): Yes, this is basically just taking the highest-priced center not playing for Toronto or Winnipeg and suggesting you avoid him. However, there is more to it than that. In addition to cooling off down the stretch last season, Larkin only has one point, an assist, in three games this season. As the third most expensive center available Wednesday, Larkin just doesn't look like a savvy investment.

WING

Chris Kreider, NYR vs. DET ($24): Okay, so we're breaking from the Jets' clash with the Leafs, but it's only because Kreider is so hot to start the season. It's not just his six points in three games, but the 18 shots on goal and the increase in ice time so far. It's not like Kreider doesn't have a solid track record, either. If you want to fill your roster with something other than players on Canadian teams, consider Kreider.

Blake Wheeler, WPG vs. TOR ($30): You will not save money if you choose Wheeler. In fact, he's the most expensive winger available. However, there's a good chance you'll get your money's worth. If the Jets have a big game against the Leafs, it will probably go through Wheeler. This is a guy coming off his best season, and so far he has five points in three games. He's also played more than three minutes per game on the power play the last two seasons. A couple power plays could be all it takes for Wheeler to have a big game.

TWO WINGERS TO AVOID

Henrik Zetterberg, DET at NYR ($19): Zetterberg is a player who, unlike Jaromir Jagr, seems subservient to the ravages of time. Last year, he only managed 13 goals and 50 points. This year, he has zero goals, and only four shots, in three games. He's also playing less than 17 minutes a game so far, perhaps owing to the fact he's 35 now. Time makes fools of us all.

Rick Nash, NYR vs. DET ($19): Speaking of older players who are coming off disappointing seasons, here's Nash. He did light the lamp in New York's last game, but it's his only point so far. His power-play time is down quite a bit as well, and if that ends up being a trend, it would hinder Nash's value further. Also, he's not a Jet or Maple Leaf, so stick to exploiting the potential of that matchup instead of shelling out $19 for Nash.

DEFENSEMEN

Morgan Rielly, TOR at WPG ($17): Obviously, you want to have Dustin Byfuglien on your team. The thing is, he'll cost you a whopping $26. Rielly is the next most expensive defensemen, and he costs $9 less. Rielly is considered Toronto's most promising young rearguard, and the 22-year-old has improved with every season. If you don't have the money for Big Buff, Rielly is a fine consolation prize.

Jake Gardiner, TOR at WPG ($15): You could also go with Rielly's teammate instead. Like Rielly, Gardiner has two points so far, both assists. However, while Rielly hasn't seen much time with the extra man, Gardiner has averaged 3:49 per game of power-play time so far, which matters in daily fantasy. If you only want one Toronto blueliner on your team, Gardiner may be your best bet.

DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID

Adam Clendening, NYR vs. DET ($15): Clendening is on his fifth NHL team and still hasn't played enough combined in his travels to make up an entire NHL season. He has zero points so far this year and has just 11 total in his career. Clendening may be getting time on the power play, but $15 still feels like too much.

Mike Green, DET at NYR ($16): Green scored a hat trick in his last game, which is cool and exciting and all, but it probably boosted his cost a bit. However, that was against Andrew Hammond and the Ottawa Senators. Andrew Hammond is not Henrik Lundqvist, and Green is not the player he was when he scored 31 goals with the Capitals.