The Lightning's Jonas Johansson and the Flyers' Samuel Ersson are among the streaming options for Thursday's expected starters. Matchups include a potential Cup preview between the Canucks at Bruins and Avalanche at Hurricanes.
Thursday, Feb. 8. Seven-game slate.
* = confirmed or probable
Thatcher Demko, VAN at Linus Ullmark, BOS (7 p.m. ET)
Darcy Kuemper, WSH at Sergei Bobrovsky, FLA (7 p.m. ET)
Jacob Markstrom, CGY at Vitek Vanecek, NJ (7 p.m. ET)
Connor Hellebuyck, WPG at Samuel Ersson, PHI (7 p.m. ET)
Alexandar Georgiev, COL at Pyotr Kochetkov, CAR (7 p.m. ET)
Jonas Johansson, TB at Ilya Sorokin, NYI (8 p.m. ET)
Adin Hill, VEG at Connor Ingram, ARI* (9 p.m. ET)
Streaming Options
( < 50% rostered on Yahoo, ranked by matchup)
Samuel Ersson, PHI vs. WPG (38% rostered)
I have to admit that the Flyers were impressive against the Panthers, limiting them to just 21 shots in a 2-1 win. Ersson made all the stops necessary and conceded his lone goal on the penalty kill. The Jets are coming off a 3-0 loss to the Pens and I suspect they won't be shut out a second straight time.
I think Ersson has long-term value and based on the Flyers' previous performance with Owen Tippett back in the lineup, I wouldn't mind streaming Ersson in this matchup. I think the upset potential is quite high.
Jonas Johansson, TB at NYI (13% rostered)
Johansson figures to get the start with the Lightning playing the second game of a back-to-back after losing to the Rangers, 3-1, on Wednesday. Johansson has played very sparingly since Andrei Vasilevskiy's return, but he has a chance to win his third straight start after winning on Dec. 31 against the Habs and Jan. 20 against the Sabres.
The Lightning don't command the same kind of respect they once did, and I'm leery of Johansson's ability and the Isles' underrated offense. Ilya Sorokin, who will patrol the other crease, is coming off a 35-save performance against the Leafs, and even though his career numbers against the Lightning aren't good (1-4-0, .870 Sv%, 4.11 GAA), I'm not confident Johansson can pull off the win without a strong performance by the Tampa blueline. They will once again be without Mikhail Sergachev, who suffered a lower-body injury against the Rangers in his first game since returning from a 17-game absence.