Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire - Sunday, Nov. 12

(ranked by matchup)

Casey DeSmith, VAN at MTL (13% rostered)
Jake Allen, MTL vs. VAN (20% rostered)

Both the Canucks and Habs played last night in a loss to the Leafs and a win against Bruins, respectively, so this might be a slog. The Canucks didn’t look their best and maybe they come to earth a little, and it would be hard for the Habs to reach the same emotional high after Kaiden Guhle’s OT winner.

Both DeSmith and Allen have been very good so far this season, but DeSmith has the edge in stats and also with the stronger team. Allen was pulled in his previous start and his .910 SP is close to his career average (.909), so I think the hot stretch where he allowed six goals on 115 shots (.948 SP) is over.

Blackwood has been fantastic lately but let’s not forget the Ducks are the better team and won nine of their past 11 meetings. The victory against the Oilers remains fresh, but they got pumped by the Knights, 5-0, a reminder of what playing against a true elite team is really like.

Gibson has been really good lately, beating the Knights and allowing just one goal against the Pens. The Ducks have the edge in nearly every facet of the game – talent, depth, stats – and it’s likely a win. The fear is that this becomes a high-scoring game and both goalies’ save percentages suffer.

Evan Rodrigues, C/LW/RW, FLA vs. CHI (48% rostered)

Rodrigues runs hot and cold. After scoring two points against the Caps to end a five-game drought, Rodrigues now has three points in two games. For a player who likes to shoot a lot and a team so far reliant on his line with Sam Reinhart and Aleksander Barkov, it’s more than likely Rodrigues manages to at least score a point. The Hawks are allowing the second-most shots per game in the league.

Alexis Lafreniere, LW/RW, NYR vs. CLB (21% rostered)

Lafreniere’s shots are going in at a much higher rate, which means he might regress a little bit soon from his three-game hot streak. His 56-point pace is going to break his previous career high and it’s a nice two-day break for the Rangers compared to the second half of a back-to-back for the Jackets, who’ve also lost eight of their past nine and allowed 15 goals in their past three.

Kirill Marchenko, RW, CLB at NYR (6% rostered)

Marchenko’s on a five-game point streak and Igor Shesterkin’s status is questionable, meaning Jonathan Quick or Louis Domingue might get the start again. That certainly will make scoring much easier; Marchenko’s playing on L2 with Adam Fantilli and PP2 with Boone Jenner.

Philipp Kurashev, C, CHI at FLA (2% rostered)

Kurashev draws the lucky ticket playing next Connor Bedard. With two assists against the Lightning, it was Kurashev’s second multi-point game in three games and puts him at a point-per-game pace. Obviously, Kurashev’s fantasy value wholly depends on Bedard’s performance, but this is a good matchup. The Panthers’ ‘D’ is thin and their goaltending is occasionally suspect. They won’t shut out the Hawks, and odds are it’s Bedard’s line that does the scoring.

Pius Suter, C, VAN at MTL (1% rostered)

Suter’s hot run continues after he scored his fourth goal in five games against the Leafs. We’re taking advantage of Suter’s hot hand on a dangerous offensive team. His offensive outburst has been unusual, but the odds are the Canucks will score more than the two goals they scored against the Leafs. Suter plays on PP2 for added bonus and the Habs PK ranks just 22nd in the league.

Jared Spurgeon, MIN vs. DAL (21% rostered)

The difference between the Spurgeon who scores 50 points and the one who scores 30 is power play. Spurgeon isn’t the most offensively gifted, but given the opportunity he can capitalize. Last season, Calen Addison and John Klingberg handled most of the power play duties, but neither are with the team any longer; those minutes are now being taken by Spurgeon and Jonas Brodin, but Spurgeon’s the one skating with Kirill Kaprizov. The Stars are playing the second game of a back-to-back after Saturday’s matinee against the Jets. Even if Spurgeon doesn’t score the points, he’s great for blocked shots.

Erik Gustafsson, NYR vs. CLB (28% rostered)

Gustafsson extends his points streak to three games and he’s going to have a ton of fantasy value while Adam Fox is on LTIR. Fox has to sit out until Nov. 27 against the Sabres (10 games or 24 days since being placed on LTIR on Nov. 3), which gives Gustafsson plenty of time to rack up points.

Calen Addison, SJ at ANA (5% rostered)

He’s finally getting playing time! That’s all you’re caring about if you roster or stream Addison, because you’re getting more of what he brings to the table. It’s both good (high power-play points potential) and bad (low plus-minus), but finding reliable PP QB’s can be very difficult. Addison’s getting that chance in San Jose and there’s little competition to knock him off that spot.