This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
The NHL returns from its Christmas break with an 11-game slate Wednesday. With so many options to sift through, here are some ideas for where to find the best values.
Goalie
Semyon Varlamov, COL vs. ARI ($26)
Varlamov has allowed just two goals or fewer in each of his last four starts, coming away with wins in three of those contests on his way to a solid .944 save percentage and 1.75 GAA over that span. Wednesday's matchup, coming off a three-day break and at home against the worst scoring team in the league, should be easy value for the Russian goalie given his modest price tag.
Goalie to Avoid
Connor Hellebuyck, WPG vs. EDM ($33)
Hellebuyck has been markedly inconsistent in December -- the Michigan native has two shutouts and two outings of one goal allowed, but every other start he has made in the month has resulted in him giving up four goals or more each time. The Oilers' offense has picked it up after a rough start to the season, averaging 3.70 goals per game in December, so you can't really trust Hellebuyck's inconsistency to help you out here.
[Join the free NHL Yahoo Cup. $10K in total prizes with weekly winners]
Center
Ryan Getzlaf, ANH vs. VGK ($20)
Getzlaf's first action back from a 19-game injury absence was nothing to write home about, but since then the Ducks' captain has been on a tear, putting up a goal and eight assists in the last six games. Anaheim's offense had struggled mightily with Getzlaf sidelined, so the point to take away here is that most of the Ducks' scoring will run through the veteran pivot. Take advantage at this relatively low price.
Center to Avoid
Sidney Crosby, PIT vs. CLS ($34)
The struggle continues for Crosby, as the two-time MVP has recorded two points, 11 shots on goal, and a minus-4 rating over the last six games. The Penguins have struggled offensively as a whole recently and a visit from the outstanding Sergei Bobrovsky isn't likely to solve those woes. The Next One's Wednesday price makes him $3 more expensive than the next closest center, so don't blow your budget on something that's far from a sure thing.
Wing
Patrik Laine, WPG vs. EDM ($24)
Laine enters the Wednesday slate as the league leader in power-play goals, as he has netted 10 of his 18 scores this season with the man advantage. That should be music to prospective daily fantasy players' ears considering the visiting Oilers are currently the worst penalty-killing team in the league, finding success just 72.8 percent of the time. The odds of the second-year sensation finding twine Wednesday make him an excellent value.
Sebastian Aho, CAR vs. MON ($14)
For a more affordable option, we'll turn our attention to another sophomore who is integral to his team's power-play success. Aho is averaging 2:59 of ice time on the power-play and has accumulated six of his 25 points with the extra man at this point in the campaign. The Canadiens rank 28th in the NHL with a sordid 77.1 penalty-killing percentage this season, clearing the way for Aho to make some noise Wednesday.
[Join a Yahoo Daily Fantasy Hockey contest or league today]
Wings to Avoid
Filip Forsberg, NSH @ STL ($27)
Forsberg has been a force all season, but much more so on the road than at home -- the 23-year-old has recorded just 11 of his 33 points in away games despite playing one more game in other arenas. If you need another argument against deploying the young Swede on Wednesday, consider the fact that the St. Louis defense has been stout all year but especially so in December, allowing just 2.15 goals per game in the month.
T.J. Oshie, WSH @ NYR ($20)
Oshie's reliance on power-play production makes him an unenviable option Wednesday against a strong penalty-killing unit -- the 2005 first-round draft pick has posted a heaping 11 of his 24 points this season with the man advantage. Against a weak penalty-killing team, this would likely play to Oshie's benefit, but against the Rangers, who rank sixth in the league with an 83.2 penalty-killing percentage, it could make for tough sledding Wednesday.
Defense
Torey Krug, BOS vs. OTT ($19)
During the Bruins' recent resurgence, Krug has proven himself invaluable on both ends of the ice, recording six points and 23 shots on goal while maintaining a plus-2 rating in the last eight contests. The Michigan State alum is cemented as the first unit's power-play quarterback, which could pay great dividends against an Ottawa side that kills just 78.4 percent of its penalties and can't figure it out offensively either.
Matt Dumba, MIN vs. DAL ($17)
Before suffering a poor game against an electric Lightning team Saturday, Dumba put together a nice four-game point streak that saw him post three goals and two assists with 10 shots on goal to boot. The Saskatchewan native has enjoyed the ice in Minnesota this season, notching 11 of his 19 points there despite playing four fewer games than on the road, so he could make a return to the scoresheet against a mediocre Dallas defense.
Defensemen to Avoid
Kevin Shattenkirk, NYR vs. WAS ($20)
Shattenkirk has endured a brutal nine-game stretch that has seen him post two assists and a minus-6 rating, and he hasn't found twine since Nov. 6. The New York native's current slump all began the last time he faced the Capitals on Dec. 8 when he posted no points and a minus-3 rating, so don't count on things getting better, especially considering Washington is averaging 3.45 goals per game and 2.45 goals against in December.
Hampus Lindholm, ANH vs. VGK ($18)
Lindholm's level of production is nothing if not sporadic this season -- the Swedish defenseman has recorded points in just four of his last 15 games and shows only an even rating to go with the limited offensive production. The Golden Knights continue to be dangerous on offense and difficult to crack on defense, so Lindholm could very well only provide negative production for your daily squad Wednesday.
