NHL Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Expected Starters - Thursday, Jan. 4

Thursday, Jan. 4. 13-game slate.

* = confirmed or probable

Alex Nedeljkovic, PIT* at Jeremy Swayman, BOS* (7 p.m. ET)

Devon Levi, BUF* at Jake Allen, MTL* (7 p.m. ET)

Petr Mrazek, CHI* at Igor Shesterkin, NYR* (7 p.m. ET)

Daniil Tarasov, CLB* at Samuel Ersson, PHI (7 p.m. ET)

Alexandar Georgiev, COL* at Scott Wedgewood, DAL* (8 p.m. ET)

Andrei Vasilevskiy, TB at Marc-André Fleury, MIN (8 p.m. ET)

Jacob Markstrom, CGY at Juuse Saros, NSH (8 p.m. ET)

Thatcher Demko, VAN* at Jordan Binnington, STL* (8 p.m. ET)

Ilya Sorokin, NYI* at Connor Ingram, ARI* (9 p.m. ET)

Joonas Korpisalo, OTT at Joey Daccord, SEA* (10 p.m. ET)

Sergei Bobrovsky, FLA* at Logan Thompson, VEG* (10 p.m. ET)

Alex Lyon, DET* at David Rittich, LA* (10:30 p.m. ET)

Connor Hellebuyck, WPG* at Mackenzie Blackwood, SJ (10:30 p.m. ET)

Streaming Options

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

Samuel Ersson, PHI vs. CLB (25% rostered)

The Flyers are slumping with a three-game losing streak and five losses in their past six games. However, they're now back at home and the Jackets are terrible on the road, and might have even more trouble scoring than the Flyers. The magic on Ersson hasn't worn off quite yet despite losing two of his past three starts; his save percentage has not dipped below .900 since Dec. 12. 

(NEW) Alex Nedeljkovic, PIT at BOS (21% rostered)

Nedeljkovic will get the start after Tristan Jarry was pulled in his previous start. The Pens are clearly riding the hot hand, and Nedeljkovic has some sneaky medium-term value while Jarry sits. This is a tough matchup but Nedeljkovic should at least post a solid save percentage. 

(NEW) David Rittich, LA vs. DET (5% rostered)

I'm intrigued by this matchup. Though the Kings have not been good at home, they are favored and Rittich's strong performances in his first two games is really encouraging. Granted, the Wings' offense will be much more challenging than the Sharks', but those two wins might be the confidence boost Rittich needs to pull it off. The Kings are very good defensively and I'd be willing to roll the dice with Rittich.

Elvis Merzlikins, CLB at PHI (29% rostered)

The Flyers have scored more than three goals just twice in their past nine games, which is good news for Merzlikins. The bad news is the Jackets' offense has sputtered a little, and the Flyers are a very hard-working team that won't give up many chances. The Jackets may have a shot, but it's going to take a very strong performance to pull it off. 

Editor's note: Daniil Tarasov will get the start, his second in three games following a strong 39-save performance against the Sabres. It's tough to trust Tarasov and you're crossing your fingers this is a low-scoring affair. I'm still wary of this matchup. 

Alex Lyon, DET at LA (32% rostered)

I like the goalie but I don't like the matchup. Lyon gets his fourth straight start after winning two of his past three, but they've been really shaky performances with a sub-.900 SP in each of those games. It feels like the Wings are starting Lyon out of necessity because they don't have any better options. The Kings have lost three straight, matching the longest losing streak of their season while the Wings have lost 10 of their past 14, and only two of those wins were in regulation. The Kings' home record is woeful (7-7-4), but they certainly have the edge. I suspect that even if Lyon gets the win, it's going to come at a costly low save percentage. 

Cayden Primeau, MTL vs. BUF (2% rostered)

With Samuel Montembeault already getting two straight starts — the Habs have not started the same goalie three straight games all season — the hunch is that Primeau gets the start after sitting out three games. It's a little surprising the Habs are underdogs when I think the outcome is close to a coin flip. Primeau's .898 SP doesn't breed much confidence anyway, and I'd avoid this matchup just due to its unpredictability. 

Editor's note: Jake Allen will get the start and that gives me slightly more confidence. Allen has generally been good, and you'll likely get a better save percentage out of him than Primeau, but a win is still a coin toss. The Sabres are still favored, though slightly less so. 

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, BUF at MTL (14% rostered)

Both teams have struggled but the Habs have the historical edge, having won five of their past six against the Sabres, but it's the Sabres who are the slight favorites coming off three days' rest. Still, the Sabres' goalies have been far too unreliable to be good streamer on a night with so many good options. I'd be wary of this matchup without the guarantee of good goal support from the Sabres.

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

Blackwood recovered from illness and will likely get the start after sitting out three games and then backing up Kaapo Kahkonen against the Wings. Blackwood's a very streaky goaltending who can rack up the saves, but he hasn't been doing that since earlier in the season. Against a very strong team against the Jets, there's little fantasy value to be had.

Petr Mrazek, CHI at NYR (29% rostered)

This is the Hawks' fourth of five straight road games during which they've been outscored 16-5. Needless to say, this is not a good matchup for the Hawks and Mrazek has really struggled lately. Pass.