This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
The Maple Leafs and the Oilers kick off Wednesday's slate at 7 p.m. EDT, but two of the world's best players -- Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews -- are both in COVID-19 protocol. Both centers will have a chance to clear the protocol for Wednesday's game, so it's worth keeping an eye on their respective statuses. Of course, the entire daily fantasy landscape changes if one or both players sit out, so take the following recommendations with a grain of salt.
The Blues travel to Pittsburgh for the 7:30 p.m. EDT game, the second of two games on the Wednesday docket. The Penguins (-138) are slim home favorites in a game with an O/U of 6.0, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
GOALIES
Tristan Jarry, PIT vs. STL ($8,300): It wouldn't be totally surprising if Casey DeSmith got the starting nod because Jarry just spent a week in the league's COVID-19 protocol. If Jarry gets the nod, however, we should feel comfortable firing him up in DFS. The Penguins' defense has allowed a league-low 1.90 xGA/60 at even strength since the start of December. Jarry has been outstanding this year, too, posting a .932 save percentage and a 15-5-4 record.
Mike Smith, EDM at TOR ($7,400): If McDavid and Matthews suit up for this game, it likely will have a 6.5 O/U, and neither goaltending option will be ideal in that scenario. Jack Campbell is the better real-life goaltender by far, but I like taking the contrarian play in a small slate like we have tonight. Smith has battled injuries for much of this season, but he posted a .923 save percentage and a 21-6-2 record last season. He's certainly capable of stealing one Wednesday.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Evan Rodrigues, PIT vs. STL (C - $6,400): Rodrigues has been lights out lately, scoring five goals – three with the man advantage – and five assists over the last seven games while firing 24 shots on net. Now, Evgeni Malkin (ankle) could be back in the lineup, making the Penguins' second line even more dangerous against the visiting Blues.
Robert Thomas, STL at PIT (C - $5,300): Jordan Kyrou is (rightfully) getting a ton of love as one of the league's rising stars, but Thomas is blossoming before our eyes, too. The 22-year-old has recorded three goals and 22 assists through 26 games, centering a line with Kyrou and Vladimir Tarasenko.
Michael Bunting, TOR vs. EDM (W - $4,900): It was obviously a fluke when Bunting scored on 26.3 percent of his shots last season, but he has proven to be a productive player this year with 19 points through 31 games. He's expected to skate in the top six and PP1 in Wednesday's game. That should provide a solid chance to connect against Edmonton's 15th-ranked PK (81.2 percent).
Alex Kerfoot, TOR vs. EDM ($4,600): Kerfoot will center the second line if Matthews can't go, meaning he'll likely handle a healthy increase from his typical 15:17 of ice time. The 27-year-old has been solid this year regardless, registering four goals and 15 assists through 31 games. He's probably a solid stack with Ilya Mikheyev ($4,500) if you're shying away from Bunting in this slate.
LINE STACKS
Sidney Crosby (C - $8,200), Jake Guentzel (W - $8,900), Bryan Rust (W - $6,900)
All three skaters on Pittsburgh's top line have battled injuries this season, but each player is averaging more than a point per game, combining for 25 goals and 38 assists thus far. Evgeni Malkin (ankle) could be back tonight, and that would provide two rock-solid lines for the Penguins. Crosby's line certainly has the highest ceiling of the bunch, though, and Jordan Binnington's 2.89 road GAA isn't a major threat.
Leon Draisaitl (C - $10,300), Warren Foegele ($3,800), Kailer Yamamoto ($3,300)
This line certainly isn't set in stone, as it will likely be broken up if McDavid is ruled out due to COVID-19 protocol. However, I'm following Draisaitl regardless of McDavid's status. This line is an extremely affordable way to get a Draisaitl stack into your lineup. Draisaitl has scored 25 goals and added 27 helpers through 33 games, and it wouldn't be surprising to watch him full take over the game if McDavid sits.
DEFENSE
Morgan Rielly, TOR vs. EDM ($7,000): Edmonton's PK has been quite leaky over the last month, allowing 9.37 xG/60 – the fourth-highest rate in the league. Rielly doesn't need the power play to make a living – only 10 of his 27 points have been with the man advantage this year – but it certainly boosts his ceiling against the Oilers.
Evan Bouchard, EDM at TOR ($6,000): Bouchard has scored on six of his 77 shots (7.8 percent) through 33 games. That rate is excellent and not at all unsustainable. The 22-year-old shoots a ton and still hops in front of shots, so he'll have a solid floor even if he doesn't stack up points. This could be a high-scoring contest if McDavid plays, though, and Bouchard will be an excellent stack if he does.
Colton Parayko, STL at PIT ($5,000): The Penguins' PK (91.0 percent) is the best in the league, but Parayko doesn't rely much on the power play for fantasy production. Just one of his 15 points through 33 games have been with the man advantage, and he has generated a solid floor on a nightly basis with 60 total shots on net and 75 blocked shots. With 24:09 of ice time per game as well, he'll have plenty of opportunities to live up to his valuation tonight.
John Marino, PIT vs. STL ($3,900): Marino is averaging nearly 22 minutes of ice time, and he has already matched last year's point total (13) despite playing 21 fewer games (31). He doesn't shoot much or block many shots, so he's a low-floor fantasy option. However, he's consistently utilized with the man advantage, making him a low-cost option with plenty of upside, especially if Malkin is back to skate on PP2.
