Top options for Thursday include the Islanders' Semyon Varlamov, who makes his first start under former coach Patrick Roy, and Samuel Ersson, who is now the Flyers' de facto starter.
Thursday, Jan. 25. Nine-game slate.
* = confirmed or probable
Samuel Ersson, PHI* at Alex Lyon, DET* (7 p.m. ET)
Semyon Varlamov, NYI* at Samuel Montembeault, MTL* (7 p.m. ET)
Jeremy Swayman, BOS at Joonas Korpisalo, OTT* (7 p.m. ET)
Connor Ingram, ARI* at Andrei Vasilevskiy, TB* (7 p.m. ET)
Nico Daws, NJ at Antti Raanta, CAR* (7:30 p.m. ET)
John Gibson, ANA at Jake Oettinger, DAL* (8 p.m. ET)
Juuse Saros, NSH* at Filip Gustavsson, MIN* (8 p.m. ET)
Daniil Tarasov, CLB* at Jacob Markstrom, CGY* (9 p.m. ET)
Petr Mrazek, CHI* at Calvin Pickard, EDM* (9 p.m. ET)
Streaming Options
( < 50% rostered on Yahoo, ranked by matchup)
(NEW) Calvin Pickard, EDM vs. CHI (13% rostered)
Pickard is tasked with keeping the Oilers' historic winning streak alive and there's a good chance he can do it. He's won three straight starts and even a poor save percentage isn't a big concern because the Oilers' goal support is so good. Any time Pickard plays, he's a top streaming option.
Semyon VarlamovSemyon Varlamov, NYI at MTL (25% rostered)
I like this matchup for Varlamov, who's making his first start since Jan. 2 when he was forced to leave the game due to an injury. Both teams are struggling, and the Isles may be without Bo Horvat after he took a puck to the face against the Knights, but the Isles should have the edge in this matchup with a more potent offense and power play. This is a revenge game after they lost 5-3 on Dec. 16.
Varlamov had some of his best seasons with the Avs under Patrick Roy and he's 6-2-2 all-time against the Habs.
Samuel Ersson, PHI at DET (46% rostered)
I'm not enamored with this matchup, but note since Carter Hart will not be with the team for an indefinite period of time, going forward it's safe to assume Ersson will be their No. 1 with Cal Petersen backing him up.
Ersson shut out the Wings in a 32-save performance on Dec. 16, which bodes well, though the Wings won 7-6 in a shootout in their second meeting with Hart in net. I think Ersson can at least come out of this matchup with a good save percentage. Even if the start is too risky, he's worth rostering for the rest of the season.
John Gibson, ANA at DAL (37% rostered)
Gibson's coming off an excellent 28-save win against the Sabres but the Stars offense has been particularly potent lately, especially after they moved Wyatt Johnston up to the top line. The Stars have scored at least five goals in three of their past five games, which does not bode well for a Ducks defense that has only one defenseman (Cam Fowler) who can reliably play 20 minutes per game.
Nico Daws, NJ at CAR (10% rostered)
Despite getting the win, Vitek Vanecek still wasn't particularly sharp in a 6-5 barn burner against the Knights. I think the Devils will go back to Daws, who has only one win in his past four starts, as they establish a rotation until either Daws or Vanecek emerges as the starter.
The Canes' goaltending has suddenly become quite good even though they're relying on Antti Raanta, whom they demoted earlier this season, and Spencer Martin, whom they just claimed off waivers. The Canes are a good defensive group and the Devils are missing key offensive players, and it seems unlikely the Devils can score their way out of trouble if Daws isn't sharp.