NHL Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Expected Starters - Tuesday, Dec. 19

Tuesday, Dec. 19. 11-game slate.

* = confirmed or probable

Marc-André Fleury, MIN* at Linus Ullmark, BOS (7 p.m. ET)

Daniil Tarasov, CLB* at Devon Levi, BUF* (7 p.m. ET)

Logan Thompson, VEG* at Pyotr Kochetkov, CAR* (7 p.m. ET)

Carter Hart, PHI at Vitek Vanecek, NJ (7 p.m. ET)

Jordan Binnington, STL* at Andrei Vasilevskiy, TB* (7 p.m. ET)

Igor Shesterkin, NYR at Martin Jones, TOR* (7 p.m. ET)

Stuart Skinner, EDM* at Ilya Sorokin, NYI* (7 p.m. ET)

Casey DeSmith, VAN* at Juuse Saros, NSH (8 p.m. ET)

Alexandar Georgiev, COL* at Petr Mrazek, CHI* (8:30 p.m. ET)

Joonas Korpisalo, OTT at Connor Ingram, ARI* (9 p.m. ET)

David Rittich, LA at Kaapo Kahkonen, SJ* (10:30 p.m. ET)

Streaming Options

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

(NEW) Casey DeSmith, VAN at NSH (13% rostered)

This is a good matchup for the Canucks, who have won three straight matchups against the Preds. DeSmith has generally been very good this season, and while Andrei Kuzmenko will sit as a healthy scratch, the Canucks have been very good offensively in spite of his poor play. DeSmith is one of the top streaming options for Tuesday. 

Devon Levi, BUF vs. CLB (56% rostered)

No doubt Levi will be a popular pick for Tuesday. Though Levi has technically “graduated” from streamer to roster stash, he’s still widely available in most leagues. He’s been outplaying Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen lately, and since Levi’s return from the AHL, he has been excellent. This is a good matchup for the Sabres and Levi would be worth streaming and holding beyond this point.

Martin Jones, TOR vs. NYR (27% rostered)

Just a hunch, but the Leafs might go back to Jones after a 38-save shutout win against the Pens. Why not, right? Ilya Samsonov is struggling and Jones has been excellent so far. This is a tough matchup but the Leafs may have the edge as long as they stay out of the box. The Rangers’ special teams is excellent, but the Leafs have also taken the 26th-fewest penalties (109) entering Monday’s games.

Editor's note: Jones is indeed starting for the Leafs. This makes the most sense and he's the logical choice after a stellar shutout performance.

(NEW) David Rittich, LA at SJ (1% rostered)

With a back-to-back, Rittich is expected to make his season debut against the Sharks while Cam Talbot will start at home against the Kraken. This is a great matchup for the Kings, but Rittich's a wild card given how underwhelming he's been in the NHL. His .901 SP in the AHL doesn't inspire a lot of confidence and prospect Erik Portillo has been much better. As a streaming option, the odds of getting a win from Rittich is pretty good, but it would be shocking if his peripherals are any good. 

Marc-André Fleury, MIN at BOS (47% rostered)

It’s the second half of a back-to-back for the Wild and things didn’t go well at the start against the Pens on Monday night; perhaps it was karma for not starting Fleury in what may be his last appearance in Pittsburgh. Either way, this is a tough matchup for the Wild. The Bruins are coming off two days’ rest and expected to have both top center Pavel Zacha and top defender Charlie McAvoy back in the lineup. Pass.

Elvis Merzlikins, CLB at BUF (33% rostered)

It’s possible that Spencer Martin takes this start with word that maybe both the Jackets and Merzlikins wish to have a change in scenery. Merzlikins was actually quite good in his previous start making 43 saves, but nearly blew a 5-0 lead – credit to the Leafs’ late push – before sitting out against the Devils with Daniil Tarasov starting and Martin backing him up. The save percentage is actually quite good considering how poor the Jackets have been, but biggest upside in fantasy in this matchup for Merzlikins is the number of saves.

Editor's note: It's not Martin, but Daniil Tarasov who will start for the Jackets. You wonder if this is the beginning of the end of Merzlikins' tenure in Columbus. Either way, this is still not an ideal matchup and Tarasov allowed five goals on 29 shots in his season debut. As an aside, if Merzlikins is dealt, I imagine he might get a bump in fantasy value, but it will depend if the acquiring team is deploying him as a starter or in a timeshare. 

Kaapo Kahkonen, SJ vs. LA (4% rostered)

Kahkonen was really good in his previous start, stopping 23 of 24 shots against the Coyotes, though he was still tagged with the loss thanks to zero goal support. Kahkonen and Mackenzie Blackwood have alternated games lately, and that might be the plan through the end of the year. The Kings have won four straight matchups and it’s hard to see it turn out any differently this time.

Arvid Soderblom, CHI vs. COL (3% rostered)

Based on their current rotation, it’s Soderblom’s turn after Petr Mrazek lost to the Canucks on Sunday. With a 4.00 GAA and .872 SP, Soderblom isn’t an option in any format considering he can’t rack up the saves even if the Hawks are being dominated. That’s probably going to be the case here against an elite Avs offense and Nathan MacKinnon playing like an MVP.

Editor's note: Mrazek will draw the start, breaking away from the alternating starts. Mrazek is the stronger goalie but this is not a good matchup for the Hawks, who don't have the defense or offense to contend with the Avs, even with Alexandar Georgiev struggling.