This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
Wednesday's NHL slate begins at 7:00 p.m. EST and features five games. Below, you'll find suggested options for crafting an effective lineup.
SLATE PREVIEW
The Golden Knights are this slate's largest favorites at home against Arizona, but their game is tied for the lowest over/under at 5.5, so some of the best offensive options will likely be found elsewhere. The second-biggest favorite is St. Louis at home against the Sharks, while Oilers-Maple Leafs and Canadiens-Canucks have the largest lines at 6.5, and Wild-Ducks is projected to be more of a defensive battle after the two teams combined for only one goal Monday.
GOALIES
Robin Lehner, VGK vs. ARI ($8,500): The early returns have been good for Lehner, who's 2-0-0 with a 2.01 GAA and .926 save percentage. He should be worth paying up for as this slate's most expensive netminder, especially if you have some nice value options in mind elsewhere.
Carey Price, MTL at VAN ($8,000): Montreal greatly enhanced its depth this offseason, and that approach has paid off in the early going. The Canadiens sit at 2-0-1 and have held each of their last two opponents to one goal, though Price was only in net for one of those two defensive clampdowns. This strong start should continue against a Canucks team that's 1-3-0 and has only scored more than two goals once through four games.
John Gibson, ANH vs. MIN ($7,300): Gibson posted a 34-save shutout win over Minnesota on Monday, and while he's not getting much goal support, Gibson's a nice value play at just $7,300 as he looks to repeat that performance.
Cam Talbot, MIN at ANH ($7,800): On the other side of the Wild-Ducks game, whomever starts between Talbot and Kaapo Kahkonen ($7,600) should be a solid option against a Ducks team that has scored just four goals through three games. Talbot allowed just one goal Monday but was saddled with the tough-luck loss.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Max Pacioretty, VGK vs. ARI ($7,500): Pacioretty has opened the season on a three-game goal streak, adding 16 shots on goal over that span. He'll likely continue to put rubber on net in the second of four consecutive games against the Coyotes, and the veteran winger should be worth paying up for until he shows signs of cooling off.
Kevin Fiala, MIN at ANH ($6,400): Fiala is yet to score a point through three games, but it hasn't been for lack of opportunities, as the Wild winger has already put 18 pucks on net. He finished last season on a red-hot scoring streak and it seems like only a matter of time until Fiala fires up a new one, so buy low while you can.
Logan Couture, SJ at STL ($5,700): Couture dealt with ankle and head injuries last season, but he's healthy to start 2021 and has a 2-2-4 line through three games. That production includes two goals and an assist in Monday's loss to the Blues for San Jose's top-line center.
Dominik Kahun, EDM vs. TOR ($2,800): Kahun will be a solid value play as long as he's flanking 2019-20 scoring leader Leon Draisaitl on Edmonton's second line. He has just one point through four games with Edmonton, but Kahun has demonstrated offensive aptitude with 69 points through 142 career games, and this fast-paced matchup with Toronto presents a nice opportunity to put his skills on display.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Maple Leafs vs. Oilers
Auston Matthews (C - $8,400), Mitch Marner (W - $6,900), Joe Thornton (W - $4,000)
Toronto's top-line trio has shown instant chemistry. Matthews has a 1-3-4 line and 21 shots through four games, Marner sports a 3-3-6 line, and the affordable Thornton hasn't looked out of place alongside these two stars, with a goal and an assist. Their success should continue against an Oilers team that has been outscored 15-10 en route to a 1-3-0 start.
Canadiens at Canucks
Nick Suzuki (C - $5,400), Josh Anderson (W - $5,300), Jonathan Drouin (W - $4,600)
Montreal's second line has been a key factor in the team's early success, while the Canucks are still adjusting to life after Jacob Markstrom, having allowed 16 goals through four games and at least three in each. Suzuki was a popular breakout candidate heading into the year, and the second-year center is living up to the hype, as he has opened the season on a three-game point streak. Anderson scored twice in his Canadiens debut and has 13 shots through three games, while Drouin has chipped in a trio of helpers in the early going.
Blues vs. Sharks
Robert Thomas (C - $3,200), Mike Hoffman (W - $4,500), Tyler Bozak (W - $2,700)
You'll be hard-pressed to find a better third line across the entire NHL, and this trio offers strong value against a Sharks team that has allowed 13 goals through three games, including five in Monday's loss to the Blues. Thomas scored 42 points in 66 games last season, and the 2017 first-round pick has two helpers through three games. Hoffman potted his first goal with the Blues in his second game with the team Monday against the Sharks, and the sniper has averaged over 28 goals over the past six seasons. Bozak has matched Thomas' stat line with two helpers and has scored double-digit goals in every season except his rookie campaign in 2009-10.
DEFENSEMEN
Quinn Hughes, VAN vs. MON ($5,300): Hughes racked up an 8-45-53 line in 68 games as a rookie last year, and he has looked even more dangerous offensively in 2021, mustering three assists and 14 shots through four games. If Vancouver's able to get back in track in this one, expect Hughes to be a big part of the reason why.
Justin Faulk, STL vs. SJ ($3,500): Faulk was the best player on the ice when these two teams met Monday, scoring twice on eight shots in the 5-4 win. The three-time 15-goal scorer from the blue line will look for a repeat effort in this rematch with the defensively challenged Sharks.
Tyson Barrie, EDM at TOR ($4,000): Barrie will be extra motivated to perform against the Toronto team with which he struggled last season. Prior to last year's 39-point season over 70 games with the Maple Leafs, Barrie had reeled off back-to-back campaigns with at least 57 points in Colorado, and he's looking to rediscover that form in Edmonton. So far with the Oilers, Barrie has two assists through four games, one of which came in his role as the point man in the top power-play unit.
Jakob Chychrun, ARI at VGK ($5,600): Chychrun's an enticing against-the-grain play on the blue line in Vegas. His 1-3-4 line through three games includes a pair of points on the power play, where Chychrun will continue to work on the top unit while Oliver Ekman-Larsson (lower body) recovers. The 22-year-old has a booming slap shot that helped him score 12 goals last season, and Chychrun appears to have made strides as a playmaker.
