This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Wednesday's NHL slate features just four games beginning at 7:00 PM Eastern time. Despite the limited selection, there's still plenty of value to be found if you know where to look. Read on to see which players to target and which ones to avoid.
GOALIE
Thomas Greiss, NYI at ANH ($28): Greiss has one excellent performance (one goal allowed on 46 shots) and one subpar one (four goals on 23 shots) under his belt this season, but he's more likely to replicate the former result rather than the latter against a low-scoring Ducks team. Despite its hot start record-wise, Anaheim's scoring only 2.67 goals per game. At just $28, Greiss offers solid value as a No. 2 netminder.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Jake Allen, STL at MON ($32): Allen has a favorable matchup here, but he just hasn't been good enough to earn owners' trust in the early going. He's allowed 17 goals through four starts en route to a 4.13 GAA and .878 save percentage. Until Allen rounds into form, he's best left on the bench regardless of opponent.
CENTER
Sean Monahan, CGY vs. BOS ($20): Monahan will be a risky proposition in the rating category here, but those willing to take that chance could be handsomely rewarded. Despite playing four of his first five games on the road, Calgary's first-line center has accrued six points (four goals). Having turned 24 years of age just a few days ago, Monahan's production should continue to exceed that expected of a $20 player, as he's likely to top last year's career-best output of 64 points if healthy.
CENTER TO AVOID
David Krejci, BOS at CGY ($16): Krejci's racked up four assists through five games, but his first goal is unlikely to come for a while given his play thus far. Boston's second-line center has put just three pucks on net while failing to block a shot, and it's tough to consistently buoy one's fantasy results on passing ability alone.
WINGS
Chandler Stephenson, WAS vs. NYR ($10): Stephenson was moved up to the top line with Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov before Saturday's game against Toronto, and the move paid immediate dividends as Stephenson scored a goal in that one. He's a no-brainer at the minimum price as long as he continues to skate alongside two of the league's premier forwards, and facing a Rangers team that's playing its second game in as many nights only further enhances Stephenson's value.
Vladimir Tarasenko, STL at MON ($28): Tarasenko's two goals and two assists through five games are nothing to scoff at, but the talented Russian's actually been quite unlucky not to score much more. With a whopping 30 shots on net already, the career 13 percent shooter should already have four goals with average luck. Tarasenko's positive regression could well begin against the defensively challenged Canadiens, and his high shot totals provide an excellent baseline should he have trouble finding the back of the net again.
WINGS TO AVOID
Rickard Rakell, ANH at NYI ($24): Rakell's been held scoreless in each of the past five games since registering three points on Opening Night. You'd like to see more consistent production out of a $24 player.
Jesper Fast, NYR at WAS ($15): There's almost no reason to pick Fast over fellow Rangers wingers Mats Zuccarello or Chris Kreider, both of whom are more accomplished scorers who also cost $15. The 26-year-old Fast put up a career-best 33 points in 71 games last season, while Kreider finished with 37 in just 58 appearances and Zuccarello mustered 53 points. They're all priced identically, but Fast is easily the least talented offensive player of the group.
DEFENSEMEN
John Carlson, WAS vs. NYR ($26): After leading all defensemen in points last season, Carlson's putting on a strong early bid to repeat that feat with two goals and four assists through five games. He's in excellent position to add to those totals here, so don't be afraid to pay up for Carlson. With starting netminder Henrik Lundqvist having edged the Avalanche in a shootout Tuesday, the Rangers are likely to turn to backup Alexander Georgiev, who surrendered seven goals in his lone appearance this season.
Matt Grzelcyk, BOS at CGY ($11): As long as Torey Krug (ankle) remains sidelined and Grzelcyk can be had for a low price, owners should consider plugging the affordable blueliner in every time out. Grzelcyk is skating on Boston's top power-play unit while logging just short of 20 minutes per night overall, and he's averaging over 10 fantasy points in the past two games. Keep going back to this well until it shows signs of drying up.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Alex Pietrangelo, STL at MON ($25): Like his teammate Allen in net, Pietrangelo will likely get going eventually. Until then, he belongs nowhere near DFS lineups at his current price. Through five games, Pietrangelo has a total of just 3.1 fantasy points.
Nick Leddy, NYI at ANH ($18): If you're going to spend $18 on an Islanders defenseman, it should be Ryan Pulock and not Leddy. Pulock has a booming shot from the point and has averaged 5.8 fantasy points per game on the young season, while Leddy's most distinguishing feature is probably last year's league-worst minus-42 rating and he's averaging a mere 1.6 fantasy points per contest.
