It's a big 14-game slate before Thanksgiving.
With a league-wide break on Tuesday, all teams should be well-rested in a busy 14-game slate. The only four teams who won’t be participating? Three of the teams returning from the Global Series in Sweden – Wild, Senators, Leafs – and the Kings.
Expected Starters
(ranked by matchup)
Charlie Lindgren, WSH vs. BUF (28% rostered)
If Lindgren doesn’t get this game, then he’ll start Friday against the Oilers. This is the better matchup, however, with the Sabres struggling and without top center Tage Thompson. The Sabres rank 25th in goals per game and while the Caps rank even lower at 31st, the two teams are trending in opposite directions.
Petr Mrazek, CHI at CLB (31% rostered)
Mrazek is confirmed to start and this should be a good matchup for the Hawks. The Jackets are the worst team in the league right now, ranked 32nd in the latest The Hockey News power rankings, and rank 27th in the league in goals per game.
Mackenzie Blackwood, SJ at SEA (10% rostered)
Blackwood at least gave the Sharks a chance with a strong performance in a loss against the Canucks. He’ll likely start this game and then split with Kaapo Kahkonen in their back-to-back at home following Thanksgiving. Blackwood’s been very good this season despite his pedestrian .900 SP; the Kraken’s offense isn’t particularly threatening, and I like Blackwood in this matchup for his ability to rack up the saves and a chance to pull off the win.
Samuel Montembeault, MTL at ANA (11% rostered)
With Jake Allen facing 44 shots and allowing five goals last game, it’s likely Montembeault’s turn to start. The Ducks were a sneaky-good opponent earlier in the season but not so much anymore with a three-game losing streak. This still a tough matchup for the Habs, however, with only two wins in regulation and mired in their own four-game losing streak. With the Ducks at home and John Gibson playing well, the Habs will be the deserved underdogs in this matchup.
Alex Lyon, DET vs. NJ (2% rostered)
Lyon impressed in his season debut in Sweden and the Red Wings will go back to him. Imagine if Ville Husso didn’t stay in Detroit for the birth of his child? Lyon may still be warming seats in the press box. As good as Lyon was against the Leafs, this is a terrifying matchup with Jack Hughes back in the lineup for the Devils. With so many games, Lyon would be a bottom-of-the-barrel pick.
Forwards (Add/Hold)
Lucas Raymond, LW/RW, DET vs. NJ (48% rostered)
Raymond has a chance to make it four straight games with a goal and in the Wings’ latest lineup shuffle remained on Dylan Larkin’s wing. Instead, Alex DeBrincat was the player moved to the second line with Joe Veleno joining Larkin and Raymond. This puts Raymond in a position to be the main triggerman, and that should bode well against a team that has trouble defending.
Wyatt Johnston, C, DAL vs. VEG (38% rostered)
This is a tough matchup for Johnston and the Stars, but what makes Johnston an interesting option is having Jason Robertson on his line. The Stars split up their top line and now Robertson, a bona fide goal scorer off to a slow start, and Johnston have a chance to elevate each other’s play.
Forwards (Stream)
Tomas Hertl, C, SJ at SEA (34% rostered)
I like the matchup because the Kraken goaltending is a mess and Hertl’s been producing lately, scoring three points in four games. It’s tough to rely on the Sharks offense, but if anybody’s getting the most minutes and the best offensive-zone deployments, it’s definitely Hertl.
Nick Schmaltz, C/RW, ARI vs. STL (32% rostered)
Schmaltz has gone quiet with only one assist in five games, but linemate Clayton Keller has historically ripped his hometown team to shreds. Schmaltz should be a beneficiary with a point or two, and he’s added faceoff wins to his repertoire with Barrett Hayton injured.
Lawson Crouse, LW/RW, ARI vs. STL (29% rostered)
If you need goals, shots and hits for your banger league, Crouse remains an excellent option. He had a slow start but has now scored four goals in his past six games.
Adam Fantilli, C, CLB vs. CHI (26% rostered)
It’s a showdown between Fantilli and Connor Bedard. This matchup is good because as awful as the Jackets offense has been, it’s unlikely they’ll get shut out. Fantilli’s line with Dmitri Voronkov and Kirill Marchenko has been one of their most reliable ones, and with four goals on 54 shots, Fantilli’s due.
JJ Peterka, RW, BUF at WSH (20% rostered)
Peterka’s coming off a two-assist effort and he will be looking to extend his points streak to four games. He’s established really great chemistry with Casey Mittelstadt, and with Dylan Cozens struggling, the Sabres’ top line has yet to really get going. The Caps have been great defensively thanks to their goaltending, and that’s the big drawback to this matchup.
Dylan Strome, C, WSH at BUF (19% rostered)
Connor McMichael, C, WSH vs. BUF (1% rostered)
Evgeny Kuznetsov’s status is questionable due to illness, so look for McMichael to fill his spot as the No. 2 center. A talented offensive player, McMichael has scored four points in his past five games and the Sabres have been having trouble keeping pucks out of their net all season. That also leaves Strome as Alex Ovechkin’s center once again, and there’s always some value there.
Noel Acciari, C/RW, PIT vs. NYR (2% rostered)
The Pens haven’t revealed their lines after announcing injuries to both Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell, but that’s two top-six spots that just opened up. Acciari has been playing in the bottom six but he’s got some offensive upside and scored a goal in his previous game against the Knights. He’s a candidate to move up the lineup and playing with either Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin will certainly boost his fantasy upside.
Defensemen (Add/Hold)
Erik Gustafsson, NYR at PIT (36% rostered)
A point will stretch Gustafsson’s points streak to six games and he continues to excel in Adam Fox’s absence. If you haven’t picked up Gustafsson by now, note that his fantasy value will likely not get any higher for the rest of the season.
Defensemen (Stream)
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, FLA vs. BOS (49% rostered)
Calls to drop OEL were a bit premature; even with Aaron Ekblad back in the lineup, OEL remained on PP1 with Brandon Montour. We did see OEL’s ice time get cut back to under 20 minutes, which was expected, but staying on PP1 does help him keep some fantasy value. The bad news is they’re facing the Bruins, who are excellent on defense.