This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
There are six games on the docket tonight, and the action skews toward the West Coast. Aside from a 7:00 p.m. ET start, every other game begins at 9 p.m. or later. Here are my recommendations for Wednesday.
SLATE PREVIEW
Tonight's a little rare because there are no teams playing in the second half of a back-to-back. However, Detroit and Pittsburgh are scheduled to play both Wednesday and Thursday, which might influence those squads' lineup decisions tonight.
GOALIES
Ilya Sorokin, NYI at SEA ($7,700): Sorokin has a 16-11-2 record, 2.49 GAA and .915 save percentage in 29 appearances in 2025-26. Seattle has lost four straight games and six of its past seven, so he'll be facing the Kraken at an opportune time.
Karel Vejmelka, UTA vs. PHI ($7,300): Vejmelka has won his past six appearances while stopping 143 of 153 shots (.935 save percentage). He's improved to 23-11-2 with a 2.55 GAA and a .900 save percentage in 37 outings in 2025-26. The Flyers are tied for 22nd in goals per game with 2.88.
VALUE PLAYS
Anthony Duclair, NYI at SEA ($4,700): Duclair had just four goals across his first 39 outings of 2025-26, but suddenly, finding the back of the net doesn't seem so difficult for him. The 30-year-old has managed seven goals in his past seven outings, including two markers with the man advantage. Obviously, that pace isn't sustainable, but it helps that he's averaged 15:57 of ice time over that seven-game stretch, up from 12:57 over his first 39 appearances.
Marco Kasper, DET at TOR ($3,800): If you're looking for a really cheap option, Kasper is worth taking a shot on. He has just four goals and nine points in 49 appearances this campaign, which puts him well below his pace of 19 goals and 37 points in 77 regular-season outings last season. However, the 21-year-old might be heating up after recording a goal and three points across his past two games.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Avalanche vs. Ducks
Nathan MacKinnon (C - $8,700), Martin Necas (W - $7,600), Artturi Lehkonen (W - $5,900)
MacKinnon has supplied three goals and 11 points across his past five appearances. That's impressive, but what's really amazing is it's not far from the norm for him. Through 47 outings in 2025-26, he's supplied 38 goals and 47 points.
Necas has been a great linemate for him, contributing 22 goals and 60 points in 47 outings this season. Lehkonen is solid as well with 16 goals and 36 points in 47 appearances, so the whole line is worth grabbing.
Maple Leafs vs. Red Wings
Auston Matthews (C - $7,800), Bobby McMann (W - $5,100), Max Domi (C - $4,900)
The Maple Leafs have turned their season around after a rough start, and Matthews has been one of the main reasons for that. He's collected 11 goals and 19 points across his past 12 appearances. By contrast, his linemates aren't hot, but they are affordable, which makes them a nice grab so long as they're sharing the ice with Matthews at even strength.
If Domi's designation as a center causes problems, you could consider swapping him for Matthew Knies (W - $5,800), who has 12 goals and 41 points in 46 appearances this season. Knies is projected to play alongside Matthews on the first power-play unit.
DEFENSEMEN
Cale Makar, COL vs. ANA ($7,300): Given his offensive capabilities, taking Makar is effectively plugging another forward into a defenseman slot. He has 14 goals and 54 points in 47 appearances in 2025-26. He leads all blueliners in points and is in a three-way tie for the lead in power-play points with 19.
Matthew Schaefer, NYI at SEA ($6,300): The rookie blueliner has collected two helpers in each of his past two games to elevate him to 34 points (13 goals) in 49 outings in 2025-26. He's also provided six goals and 13 power-play points this campaign.
