Counterattack: Plekanec, Scrivens to Cause an Avalanche in Colorado

Here are the top against-the-grain selections for Wednesday's three-game slate.

C Tomas Plekanec, Canadiens (at Avalanche)

While Plekanec has a very solid eight points in his last 10 games, seven of those points were accumulated in two games, making the veteran a boom-or-bust option. That streakiness, combined with Montreal's extended stretch of poor play, likely won't make the Czech native a popular DFS selection, despite a small slate.

Plekanec is centering the second line with Brendan Gallagher and Alex Galchenyuk, both of whom have been getting on the score sheet with regularity. The Avalanche allow the third-most shots and the eighth-most goals per game, and are regarded as a poor puck possession team, which should allow the Canadiens and Plekanec to dictate play, even on the road.

G Ben Scrivens, Canadiens (at Avalanche)

Scrivens had won three straight starts, allowing just four total goals, before giving up three goals on eight shots Friday against Buffalo and being pulled. After Mike Condon failed to distinguish himself in starting the next game, Scrivens will get another shot Wednesday in Colorado.

The Avalanche have been better on the road than at home this season, and have scored just seven total goals in their last four games in Colorado, all losses. Scrivens is one of the cheapest options at the position on a small slate, and will look to bounce back to the form he showed on his brief three-game win streak, in which he stopped 94 of 98 shots.

D Matt Dumba, Wild (at Flames)

Dumba's only third among Wild defensemen in scoring, but six of his 17 points on the season have come in the last seven games. Five of those points came on the power play, and given Calgary's league-worst 73.4 penalty kill percentage, Dumba could well get on the score sheet again Wednesday.

The Wild snapped an eight-game losing streak Monday in Vancouver, and a "new coach bounce" under the recently-appointed John Torchetti could spark another inspired performance as the team's western Canada road trip continues.

W Jiri Hudler, Flames (vs. Wild)

With 32 points in 48 games, Hudler's well under last season's nearly point-per-game pace, but he's been a strong performer of late, with points in seven of his last 10 contests.

Offense generally hasn't been a problem for the Flames - the team has scored four-plus goals in five of the last seven games. Before a 5-2 win over Vancouver, the Wild had allowed at least four goals in six straight games, making offensive fireworks a distinct possibility Wednesday.

If that's the case, Hudler should play a big part, given that he's paired with Calgary's two leading scorers, Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan, both at even-strength and on the power play.