Yahoo Daily Fantasy Hockey: Wednesday Picks

By Chris Morgan

The NBA season has begun. The World Series is here. However, Wednesday still brings four games of NHL action for your enjoyment, and for your daily fantasy desires. Here are some players to target, and some to avoid.

GOALIE TO AVOID

Pekka Rinne, NAS at ANA ($37): Rinne has been impressive early this year as he looks to put the .908 save percentage he had last season behind him. He also seems to be over the bout of food poisoning that caused him to miss Nashville’s last game. However, at $37, Rinne is tied for the most expensive goalie available Wednesday with Braden Holtby. At that price, Holtby is a better bet, and there are also cheaper options that seem just as good as Rinne.

CENTER

Ryan Johansen, NAS at ANA ($19): Johansen doesn’t have a goal yet but does have four assists, and they’ve all come on the power play. The Ducks will be on the second night of a back-to-back, and because of that, Jonathan Bernier is expected to be in net. Bernier has been a below-average goalie the last two seasons, which is a good thing for Johansen and Nashville’s top-ranked power play.

CENTER TO AVOID

Leon Draisaitl, EDM vs WAS ($20): You can’t suggest people not select Connor McDavid ($33), because some talents are too singular to ever get too down on. However, the Capitals have been one of the league’s best teams at goal prevention. It’s going to be tough for Draisaitl and his compatriots to get much done against Washington. Draisaitl is good, but unlike McDavid he’s not matchup proof. It’s better to steer clear here.

WING

Alexander Radulov, MON at NYI ($18): Picking players for Wednesday is a bit difficult since none of these matchups are particularly good, even Nashville’s against Anaheim. The Islanders haven’t been bad at goal prevention, especially on the penalty kill. Radulov has been playing well with five points including two on the power play, and he’s pretty reasonably priced with a decent matchup. That’s about the best you can do today.

Viktor Arvidsson, NAS at ANA ($16): While a lot of Predators forwards have underachieved so far, Arvidsson has been perhaps better than expected at this point. He has three goals in five games, and more importantly, he’s taken 17 shots on goal. His power-play time has been sparse, but he already has two points with the extra man, so maybe that will improve. If he can keep this up – and he’s young enough that this could be natural progression – he could be a nice value at $16.

TWO WINGERS TO AVOID

Jordan Eberle, EDM vs. WAS ($24): Like Draisaitl, Eberle has six points this season. He has to face the same Capitals team that is allowing 1.8 goals per game so far. On top of that, he’ll cost you $24. If Draisaitl was a no-go at $20, obviously that holds true for Eberle as well.

DEFENSEMEN

Shea Weber, MON at NYI ($21): While many scoffed at the Canadiens for trading P.K. Subban for Weber, the Habs aren’t getting buyer’s remorse just yet. Weber, who is playing more than 26 minutes per game (and more than four minutes on the power play) has seven points in six games. He’s taken 14 shots on goal while blocking 11. In short, he’s been great, making him well worth this price.

Ryan McDonagh, NYR vs. BOS ($19): McDonagh hasn’t lit the lamp yet, but he has five assists, which is more than sufficient for a defenseman through six games. He has 11 shots on goal and 12 blocked shots, so he’s contributing on both ends of the ice per usual. The Bruins are on the second game of a back-to-back, and if Tuukka Rask isn’t fit to stand between the pipes, which is possible, then McDonagh’s potential value gets even higher.

DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID

John Carlson, WAS at EDM ($27): Carlson is the most expensive defenseman available Wednesday. He has exactly one point – an assist – in five games. Sure, he’s playing a ton of minutes, and has taken 17 shots on goal, but the production is not on par with the price. Additionally, while the Oilers have struggled at goal prevention in recent years, they’ve only let in 16 goals in six games so far. That’s not great, but it’s not bad either.

Andrej Sekera, EDM vs. WAS ($16): The Oilers have three defensemen (Sekera, Oscar Klefbom, and Kris Russell) all valued at $16. In this matchup, none are a good selection, but Sekera is probably the least enthusing of the bunch. He only has two points, and five shots on goal this season.