NHL Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Expected Starters - Saturday, Jan. 6

Saturday, Jan. 6. 12-game slate. 

* = confirmed or probable

Jacob Markstrom, CGY* at Carter Hart, PHI* (1 p.m. ET)

Sergei Bobrovsky, FLA* at Ivan Prosvetov, COL* (4 p.m. ET)

Andrei Vasilevskiy, TB at Linus Ullmark, BOS* (7 p.m. ET)

Marc-André Fleury, MIN* at Daniil Tarasov, CLB* (7 p.m. ET)

Jonathan Quick, NYR* at Samuel Montembeault, MTL* (7 p.m. ET)

Thatcher Demko, VAN at Nico Daws, NJ (7 p.m. ET)

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, BUF* at Tristan Jarry, PIT* (7 p.m. ET)

Martin Jones, TOR* at Mackenzie Blackwood, SJ (7 p.m. ET)

Jordan Binnington, STL at Antti Raanta, CAR (8 p.m. ET)

Juuse Saros, NSH at Scott Wedgewood, DAL* (8 p.m. ET)

Anton Forsberg, OTT* at Stuart Skinner, EDM* (10 p.m. ET)

Ilya Sorokin, NYI* at Logan Thompson, VEG* (10 p.m. ET)

Streaming Options

( < 50% rostered in Yahoo leagues, ranked by matchup)

Scott Wedgewood, DAL vs. NSH (48% rostered)

Everyone's still sleeping on Wedgewood even though he's the starter for a very good team. Sure, he's allowed nine goals in two games, and you wonder if the workload is getting to him, but 11 wins in 16 starts is a really good ratio. The most worrying part is the absence of Miro Heiskanen, but the Preds are also slumping (3-4-1) in their past eight games and lost five straight against the Stars, including three games by at least a three-goal margin. I think the Stars will win and Wedgewood's save percentage won't be stellar, but it'll be good enough to get by. 

Antti Raanta, CAR vs. STL (16% rostered)

In Raanta we trust, right?! The Canes have rattled off five wins in a row and Raanta allowed only three goals in his previous start. I'd be worried about that save percentage, and keep in mind the Canes are playing the second half of a back-to-back, but their offense has really come alive and I think they can provide enough goal support to secure the win. The two teams do not meet often but the Canes have taken four straight against the Blues.

Samuel Ersson, PHI vs. CGY (26% rostered)

Ersson was working on a shutout against the Jackets before it was spoiled with 5:24 remaining. Ersson and Carter Hart had been rotating over the past two weeks but Ersson has been better, and that may prompt the Flyers to break from their rotation. The issue here is the Flames are on a heater with three straight wins and six wins in their past eight. I think this game will be close with an earlier than usual start for both teams and Ersson will at least have a decent save percentage. 

Elvis Merzlikins, CLB vs. MIN (28% rostered)

It could be Merzlikins' (or Spencer Martin's) turn in net and it's an enticing matchup with the Wild mired in a four-game losing streak and unable to get their offense going without Kirill Kaprizov. This puts the Jackets in an even better position to win even though they haven't done so in regulation since Dec. 19, and in four career appearances against the Wild, Merzlikins has never lost in regulation (2-0-2) against them. With a banged-up offense, only one defenseman really capable of defending 20-plus minutes (Brock Faber), I like the Jackets' chances in this matchup. 

Editor's note: Daniil Tarasov will get the start, and it really sounds like the Jackets may commit to him as their No. 1 sooner than later. While I think the Jackets' chances of winning are good, note the Wild will have Mats Zuccarello back in the lineup.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, BUF at PIT (13% rostered)

The tough part about this matchup is how inconsistent the Sabres can be. They lost 5-1 to the Sens but then beat the Habs, 6-1, and it's anyone's guess which team will show up in Pittsburgh. History favors the Pens, though Luukkonen has a respectable .921 SP against them in his career. Given how shaky the Sabres often are, especially in their own zone, I'd be wary of this matchup. There's definitely some upset potential with the Sabres' offensive talent, but if I were more risk-averse, I'd stay away. 

Nico Daws, NJ vs. VAN (16% rostered)

Daws has been impressive but the Devils are playing the second half of a back-to-back and they're facing one of the best and most dangerous offensive teams in the league. Their last matchup ended up being a 6-5 barn burner, and the same will likely happen considering the amount of firepower on both sides. The Devils may pull off the win, but it's going to come at a big cost to Daws' save percentage. 

Samuel Montembeault, MTL vs. NYR (21% rostered)

This will be Montembeault's third start in four games and while he gives the Habs the best chance to win, I'd shy away from this matchup. The Rangers have an excellent offense and won five of their past seven meetings. While the games have been closer than expected, the upset potential just isn't very high. 

Mackenzie Blackwood, SJ vs. TOR (9% rostered)

Blackwood came close to snapping the Sharks' losing streak but received just one goal of support in a loss to the Jets. Depending on how much you believe the Leafs are cursed, they could be against whom the Sharks end their 10-game losing streak. But, on paper, the Leafs have a huge advantage, not to mention they're playing at 4 p.m. local time to accommodate the fans in Toronto. The only reason you would stream Blackwood in this matchup is if you are a glutton for punishment or truly believe the Leafs are cursed.

Anton Forsberg, OTT at EDM (6% rostered)

The Oilers at home where they get last change? Against a Sens defense that can't defend? Forsberg's not an option.