The Maple Leafs are going back to Ilya Samsonov as they try to figure out their goalie rotation.
Saturday, March 2. 13-game slate.
* = confirmed or probable
Connor Hellebuyck, WPG* at Pyotr Kochetkov, CAR* (12:30 p.m. ET)
Sergei Bobrovsky, FLA at Alex Lyon, DET* (3 p.m. ET)
Stuart Skinner, EDM* at Philipp Grubauer, SEA (4 p.m. ET)
Alexandar Georgiev, COL* at Juuse Saros, NSH (6 p.m. ET)
Marc-André Fleury, MIN* at Jordan Binnington, STL (6 p.m. ET)
Logan Thompson, VEG at Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, BUF* (7 p.m. ET)
Mads Søgaard, OTT* at Felix Sandström, PHI (7 p.m. ET)
Cayden Primeau, MTL* at Andrei Vasilevskiy, TB* (7 p.m. ET)
Igor Shesterkin, NYR at Ilya Samsonov, TOR* (7 p.m. ET)
Linus Ullmark, BOS at Ilya Sorokin, NYI* (7:30 p.m. ET)
Elvis Merzlikins, CLB at Petr Mrázek, CHI (8 p.m. ET)
Kaapo Kähkönen, SJ at Jake Oettinger, DAL (8 p.m. ET)
Tristan Jarry, PIT at Jacob Markström, CGY (10 p.m. ET)
Streaming Options
( < 50% rostered on Yahoo, ranked by matchup)
Elvis Merzlikins, CLB at CHI (23% rostered)
Considering the current state of both franchises, the Jackets still have the edge. They have a deeper roster with more balance, while Merzlikins has to worry about only one player. He stopped 33 of 36 shots earlier this season in a win against the Hawks, who are 1-10-3 in their past 14, and since Jan. 1 have only won twice in regulation, both games by just one goal.
Anton Forsberg, OTT vs. PHI (11% rostered)
We shall see if Forsberg starts both back-to-back games after Joonas Korpisalo came down with an illness and was not able to start Friday. We will know more Saturday morning, but either Forsberg or Korpisalo will start, or otherwise be forced to call up Mads Søgaard from the AHL on short notice. Kevin Mandolese and Leevi Meriläinen are also options, but neither have seen NHL action this season.
Both teams are playing the second game of their back-to-backs, so this will be hard to predict. Generally speaking, the Flyers have consistently pushed hard in every game under John Tortorella, while the Sens have been on-and-off all season. Two things work in the Sens' favor: The Flyers' very average offense may be without Travis Konecny yet again, captain Sean Couturier was demoted to the fourth line and veteran minor leaguer Felix Sandström is expected to start. I think Forsberg (or Korpisalo) can pull off the win, but I'm not convinced the peripherals will be any good. All bets are off if Søgaard, Mandolese or Meriläinen get the start.
Editor's note: Søgaard gets the start. The Sens have lost three straight, including Friday's loss to the Coyotes.
Petr Mrázek, CHI vs. CLB (33% rostered)
Mrázek can still certainly rack up the saves, but I don't think the Hawks will be outshot by a considerable margin, and his play has suffered lately with 16 goals allowed in his past four games. Mrázek will need ample goal support to secure the win in this scenario, but it's hard when your only scorer is Connor Bedard. On home ice, the Hawks certainly have a chance, but they're the underdog and betting on them to snap their slump is like catching a falling knife. If you prefer to preserve your (hopefully good) save percentage over the weekend of your weekly matchup, skip Mrázek.
Cayden Primeau, MTL at TB (1% rostered)
I'm not enamored with this matchup nor am I a big fan of Primeau's, but there is definitely some upset potential here. The Habs lost a close game to the Panthers while the Lightning have lost two straight and five of their past seven. The Lightning have already beaten the Habs twice this season with Matt Tomkins and Jonas Johansson in net, and if they start Andrei Vasilevskiy, there's a good chance this is a sweep. The Lightning are strong at home -- 18-8-4 -- and I suspect the best-case scenario for Primeau would be to walk away with a good save percentage.
Felix Sandström, PHI at OTT (0% rostered)
The Flyers called up Sandström for lack of a better option; Cal Petersen was not sharp in a 7-6 loss to the Pens, and there's no one else playing pro in North America right now. Sandström has not made much of career in the NHL at 27 years old for good reason. He's been stuck in the minors over the past five-plus seasons, and in 20 games for the Flyers last season went 3-12-3 with a .880 SP and 3.72 GAA.
His AHL numbers weren't much better this season, with an .882 SP and 3.23 GAA. That doesn't breed a lot of confidence, and without the track record or the youthful potential, there's little reason to stream Sandström unless you're willing to take the risk. There's always a chance he puts in a solid performance, but it's a high-risk, moderate-reward option.
Philipp Grubauer, SEA vs. EDM (22% rostered)
Grubauer's fantasy value has been rising steadily since his return from injury, and this would be his fifth straight start. And why not? He's coming off a 33-save shutout against the Pens, but this will be his toughest matchup yet facing Connor McDavid. How Grubauer responds in this game could determine who they play Monday in Calgary because they probably don't want Joey Daccord stewing on the bench for too long. I think Grubauer's still worth rostering but, just to be cautious, I wouldn't stream him against the Oilers.