The Global Series in Sweden begins today. Don't forget to set your lineups and check out the recommended players for Thursday's slate.
Note that the Global Series at Avicii Arena in Stockholm begins Thursday, and it’s an earlier than usual start at 2 p.m. ET for Red Wings at Senators.
Expected Starters
(ranked by matchup)
Casey DeSmith, VAN at CGY (23% rostered)
The Canucks are playing the second half of a back-to-back with travel, but this matchup still heavily tilts the Canucks’ way. DeSmith has been rock-solid as the backup with four wins in five starts, and only in one game – a 4-3 overtime loss to the Rangers – has his save percentage dipped below .917. The Flames are improved but they don’t have elite offensive weapons like the Canucks, who can bail out DeSmith with a win even if he’s not sharp.
Semyon Varlamov, NYI at SEA (40% rostered)
Varlamov is expected to start with Ilya Sorokin facing Vancouver the night before. He started off fantastic with two shutout wins in his first three games, but since then has allowed seven goals in two games with a .879 SP. This one’s a toss-up; the Kraken are not good at home (2-5-0) and neither team have much scoring punch. You’re hoping for a low-scoring affair with the winner determined by a coin flip.
James Reimer, DET at OTT (20% rostered)
The first games of the Global Series can be difficult to predict due to travel and fatigue, and generally speaking, the games aren’t usually low-scoring grinders. The 2022 Global Series had 25 goals over four games (6.25 per game) and the 2021 series had 20 goals over three games (6.67 per game). While I like Reimer in this matchup, considering the firepower on both sides, it’s more than likely Reimer allows at least a few goals but gets the win.
Petr Mrazek, CHI vs. TB (26% rostered)
The Lightning are reeling but it’s rare for them to lose games they should win. In fact, since their 2015 meeting in the Cup final, the Lightning have won all but four of their 23 matchups. As good as Mrazek has been this season, I would bet against the Lightning losing four straight, especially since Mrazek had already defeated the Lightning last Thursday, 5-3. This feels like a trap game for the Hawks, as strange as that may sound.
Mackenzie Blackwood, SJ vs. STL (11% rostered)
The Blues are on a roll so this start is inadvisable, as would be the case for most of the season for the Sharks. However, Blackwood’s continues to stop an impressive volume of shots, including five 40-plus save performances in 11 games this season. In leagues that count saves, Blackwood can be a valuable fantasy asset.
Forwards (Add/Hold)
Quinton Byfield, C/LW, LA vs. FLA (40% rostered)
If you need points, Byfield is him. Still not a lot of shot volume but his six-game assist streak now gives him 11 assists in 14 games this season. He’s scoring even when the Kings are stumbling, and the Panthers are winning despite allowing quite a few goals. According to MoneyPuck.com’s model, Byfield’s line ranks fourth in the league in expected goals.
Nick Schmaltz, C/RW, ARI at CLB (35% rostered)
Two-game cold spell? Yes. Will it last? No. Even if you’re not sold on Schmaltz, know that the Jackets allow the fifth-most shots per game (33.6), the sixth-most goals per game (3.56) and the ninth-worst save percentage at 5-on-5 (.901).
Dawson Mercer, C/RW, NJ at PIT (25% rostered)
Alright, it’s time to get back on the Mercer bandwagon. Skating top-line minutes with both Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier out of the lineup, Mercer has scored three goals in four games and his shooting volume has gone way up. After a slow start, Mercer’s back on track to build on last season’s 56-point season.
Forwards (Stream)
Lucas Raymond, LW/RW, DET at OTT (48% rostered)
In front of his native Sweden, maybe this gives Raymond a little extra juice to play well. His offense has been spotty but this is a good streaming opportunity because the Wings play back-to-back against two teams that are having trouble defending. With L1 and PP1 minutes, Raymond’s fantasy upside is enticing over the next two games.
Lawson Crouse, LW/RW, ARI at CLB (25% rostered)
Crouse is on a hot streak with six goals in seven games and offers up his usual diet of shots and blocked shots. He’s overcome a slow start and might be even worth holding in banger leagues.
Conor Garland, RW, VAN at CGY (9% rostered)
Andrei Kuzmenko took a puck to the face Wednesday night against the Isles and though there has been no updates as of this writing, his status is questionable at best. Garland skated 15:07 in his absence, the third-highest total of the season, and the most likely candidate to replace Kuzmenko on Elias Pettersson’s line. Though Garland managed just one shot, he had six attempts.
Mathieu Joseph, RW, OTT vs. DET (8% rostered)
Joseph’s worked his way onto the top six this season and offers broad multi-category coverage in points, shots and hits. He’s averaging close to a point per game on a line with Tim Stützle, the Sens’ best playmaker. In his past six games, Joseph has scored a goal and five assists.
Connor Zary, C, CGY vs. VAN (3% rostered)
A two-point game against the Habs puts Zary back in point-per-game status, and along with Nazem Kadri (worth adding and holding, by the way) they’ve been the Flames’ most reliable line on offense. The Canucks are coming off a late overtime win against the Isles the previous night and will be starting backup Casey DeSmith.
Philipp Kurashev, C, CHI vs. TB (2% rostered)
Kurashev is playing top-line minutes next to Connor Bedard again, and that’s really the only reason any Blackhawk has any fantasy value. In seven games since returning from an injury, Kurashev has scored two goals and six points, including three assists on goals scored by Bedard. The Lightning are a wounded animal and not a defensively stout team.
Defensemen (Add/Hold)
Zach Werenski, CLB vs. ARI (48% rostered)
Werenski does it all for the Jackets and he’s currently on a three-game assist streak. The biggest challenge facing Werenski in recent seasons is health; he’s missed just two games this season, and when he plays, he’s the Jackets’ first option in all situations. The Coyotes’ PK ranks 23rd in the league.
Torey Krug, STL at SJ (21% rostered)
Maybe he’s turning a corner. After going the first 10 games without a point, Krug has scored all six of his points in his past four games. It’s interesting that none of those points have come on the power play; Scott Perunovich has been the preferred option, and even though his play has improved, there’s a good chance Krug reclaims that spot if he continues to score points. This is a great matchup against the league’s worst team.
Defensemen (Stream)
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, FLA at LA (47% rostered)
Be sure to check on the status of Brandon Montour and Aaron Ekblad, whose returns are imminent and will push Ekman-Larsson off the power play. In the meantime, he is a really safe play as a streamer, having scored seven points in his past six games with 29 shots and 24 blocks on the season.
