This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
A slim four-game slate Wednesday dictates that you find the best values in the limited number of matchups. Here are some suggestions on where to find them.
Goalie
Anton Forsberg, CHI @ WAS ($26)
Forsberg has looked really solid while filling in for Corey Crawford (undisclosed), saving 54 of a possible 57 shots over two games, though he was unable to come away with the win in either contest. Washington's vaunted offense has actually looked mostly tame this season, so if the potent Blackhawks offense is able to break through with a win, Forsberg could be in for a nice game.
Goalie to Avoid
Frederik Andersen, TOR vs. CGY ($34)
Most of the success that Andersen has enjoyed this year has come when the Maple Leafs play on the road, and, contrarily, he has tended to struggle on home ice, as the Danish goalie sports a .904 save percentage and 3.15 GAA when the Leafs play in Toronto this season. On the flip side, the Flames are averaging a decent 2.75 goals per game in away games and they could make life hard for Andersen on Wednesday.
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Center
William Nylander, TOR vs. CGY ($17)
Nylander has proven to be quite the utility player this season, as he generally plays on the wing, but has filled in at center while Tyler Bozak (illness) has been sidelined. What's most important is that Nylander is an essential piece of the Toronto power play, averaging 2:12 of ice time and finding the scoresheet six times there. Calgary enters Wednesday's game as the 29th-ranked penalty killing unit, opening a potential feast for Nylander.
Center to Avoid
Leon Draisaitl, EDM vs. PHI ($21)
While his offensive production has certainly been nothing to write home about, what has really been killing Draisaitl lately is his defensive metrics -- the German pivot has just two points and a minus-2 rating in his last five contests, which has led to his posting three negative fantasy point outings over that stretch. A visit from the decently offensive Flyers with the mediocre Laurent Brossoit in net for Edmonton probably won't help that.
Wing
Wayne Simmonds, PHI @ EDM ($20)
Simmonds was instrumental in helping the Flyers break their 10-game losing streak Monday when he scored a power-play goal en route to a 5-2 victory over the Flames. Calgary's penalty killing unit is bad, but Edmonton's is the worst in the league by a decent margin, killing off penalties at a very poor 72.2 percent rate. Turning to Simmonds, the team leader in power-play goals, may prove a savvy move in this juicy matchup.
Brandon Saad, CHI @ WAS ($16)
Saad's price has been up, down, and everywhere in between since his red-hot start of the season, but the figure it sits at Wednesday presents some excellent value. The 25-year-old has managed four points over the last six contests and remains an integral piece of the team's power-play unit where he plays alongside the likes of Patrick Kane. Feel free to roll him out against a more porous than expected Washington squad.
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Wings to Avoid
James van Riemsdyk, TOR vs. CGY ($21)
Van Riemsdyk's lack of involvement in the offense recently has been extremely evident in his lack of ice time and unwillingness to fire the puck on net -- the New Jersey native shows one point, a minus-2 rating, and just seven shots on goal in 14:43 of average ice time, including 1:19 on the power play, over the last four contests. JVR's minus-7 rating at home this season does not inspire confidence either.
Corey Perry, ANH vs. OTT ($18)
Because Perry has scored goals in two consecutive games, it's easy to forget just how poorly he was playing just previously -- in six games prior, the veteran winger managed just one assist and a hideous minus-9 rating. Considering the Ducks will be returning to Anaheim for the second half of their back-to-back after completing a grueling six-game road trip, the deck is stacked for Perry's home minus-6 rating to potentially sink even lower.
Defense
Kris Russell, EDM vs. PHI ($17)
Russell's tremendous versatility is what makes him a valuable asset Tuesday. Over the last seven games, the 30-year-old has contributed six points and a plus-3 rating, but what really pushes his value further is the fact that he has blocked at least two shots in each game for a total of 24 over that stretch. If Russell continues to play well for his team that has won three of its last five, then the fantasy stats should follow.
Morgan Rielly, TOR vs. CGY ($17)
Once again, targeting Calgary's poor penalty killing could be a key to success Wednesday and focusing in on Rielly is one such tactic for doing so. The young blueliner continues to quarterback the first power-play unit where he has posted seven of his 18 points this season, five of which have come on home ice. Rielly is consistently shooting the puck and getting involved offensively, so he's a good bet Wednesday.
Defensemen to Avoid
Erik Karlsson, OTT @ ANH ($32)
It's really unfortunate to include Karlsson in this section of the article, but until the perennially stupendous defenseman can break out of his current slump, there is no way you should consider paying his sky-high Wednesday asking price. The Swede has not found the scoresheet in nine consecutive games now and has posted a horrific minus-11 rating over that span. Karlsson is better than this, but you shouldn't blow your budget risking to find out.
Mark Giordano, CGY @ TOR ($19)
Giordano has not fared well on either end of the ice recently, as he shows just one assist and a minus-4 rating in his last seven games. The Toronto native's penchant for getting burned by capable offenses leads to poor fantasy results, and this was especially true when he managed no points and a minus-3 rating against the Maple Leafs on Nov. 28. Don't count on him having a better game this time around.
