The Eastern Conference wild card race continues as the Penguins host the Red Wings. The Islanders, Capitals and Flyers are also in action.
Thursday, April 11. 10-game slate.
* = confirmed
Charlie Lindgren, WSH* at Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, BUF* (7 p.m. ET)
Jet Greaves, CLB* at Sergei Bobrovsky, FLA* (7 p.m. ET)
Samuel Ersson, PHI* at Jonathan Quick, NYR* (7 p.m. ET)
Alex Lyon, DET* at Alex Nedeljkovic, PIT* (7 p.m. ET)
Anton Forsberg, OTT* at Matt Tomkins, TB (7 p.m. ET)
Jake Allen, NJ* at Ilya Samsonov, TOR* (7 p.m. ET)
Samuel Montembeault, MTL* at Semyon Varlamov, NYI* (7:30 p.m. ET)
Laurent Brossoit, WPG* at Jake Oettinger, DAL* (8 p.m. ET)
Devin Cooley, SJ* at Joey Daccord, SEA* (10 p.m. ET)
Jacob Markstrom, CGY* at Cam Talbot, LA* (10:30 p.m. ET)
Streaming Options
(ranked by matchup)
Jonathan Quick, NYR vs. PHI (38% rostered)
I wonder if Quick gets the start here; the Rangers have only three games remaining and I figure Igor Shesterkin will at least face the Isles, and if they lock up the division or conference before the final game, maybe Shesterkin can get some extra rest.
Regardless of who starts, prepare for the Flyers to outshoot the Rangers but lose the game. That's been the theme for them lately, and if Quick starts, he should be a good streaming option for saves and a win. The Flyers lack an elite finisher to be truly terrifying beyond volume of shots.
Semyon Varlamov, NYI vs. MTL (28% rostered)
Win and you're in, or is Varlamov really the guy? This will be Varlamov's third straight start, and if it's "win and you're in," then he should get the next game, too. The Habs snapped a three-game losing streak with a 9-3 win against the Flyers, but that was the Flyers, and Varlamov will be much harder to score against.
Given how well Varlamov has been playing, I like this matchup very much.
Philipp Grubauer, SEA vs. SJ (34% rostered)
The Kraken actually got heavily outplayed by the Coyotes -- the Kraken controlled nearly 60 percent of the shots at 5-on-5 00 but still managed to win 5-0 thanks to a 39-save shutout from Grubauer. Hockey, man.
Grubauer likely gets the start following an impressive performance, and while I wouldn't read too much into what only looked like a dominant win on paper, it's also a weaker opponent in the Sharks. The Kraken have won two of their previous three meetings with the only loss coming in a 32-save shutout loss to Mackenzie Blackwood. The combined score in the other two games is 11-3.
Editor's note: In a bit of a shocking move, the Kraken are going with Joey Daccord even though Grubauer started all three games last week. I can't help but think that something was ailing Daccord last week. Regardless, I like this matchup very much for Daccord.
Matt Tomkins, TB vs. OTT (1% rostered)
Tomkins is a good streaming option based on how the Lightning have played but his track record at this level isn't great. He allowed four goals in a 7-4 win against the Habs in his previous start and despite having a .883 SP for the season has managed to win twice.
I think the Lightning have the upper hand in this matchup but I also expect plenty of goals. It's doubtful Tomkins provides anything significant other than a 'W'.
Alex Nedeljkovic, PIT vs. DET (29% rostered)
If it hasn't been made clear yet, Nedeljkovic is the Pens' No. 1 right now. The overtime loss to the Leafs stung, but the Pens have been playing well and also really been good at limiting shots.
Combined with home-ice advantage and an anemic Wings offense, the Pens are in good shape to win this game. Nedeljkovic doesn't always have the best save percentage because he doesn't always face a lot of shots.
Alex Lyon, DET at PIT (48% rostered)
Lyon's back in our good graces in fantasy with four really quality starts in his past five games, though it's produced just two wins. That's because the Wings offense hasn't been particularly helpful, and they might have trouble scoring against the Pens. I like Lyon as an option for saves and a good save percentage, but not sure about the win. It's possible, but I expect this to be a tight game.
Cayden Primeau, MTL vs. NYI (5% rostered)
Primeau's been excellent in some guys and, hopefully, he can rack up the saves. The Habs are not going to provide nine goals' worth of goal support again, and the Isles have been much better recently with Varlamov in net. It might be really hard for the Habs to score, and as good as Primeau can be, the Habs' defense has been porous. You're looking at possibly a good save percentage and lots of saves, but an outside chance of a win.
Editor's note: Sam Montembeault will get the start, and while I feel he's a stronger goalie than Primeau, the Isles are still the better team.
Charlie Lindgren, WSH at BUF (57% rostered)
Lindgren is coming off an excellent start against the Wings and stopped 42 of 43 shots in a 2-1 win. He was two seconds away from a shutout before Patrick Kane spoiled it, and the Caps definitely carry some positive momentum into this matchup.
However, the Caps' goal support has not been particularly good, and they'll likely need another gem performance from Lindgren to win. I think Lindgren can get the saves but I'm still hesitant to buy his stock against a Sabres that put six goals on the Caps in their previous meeting.
Laurent Brossoit, WPG at DAL (23% rostered)
This is a tough matchup for Brossoit and he's tasked with extending the Jets' winning streak to five games. It's their third road game on a four-game trip, and the middle ones are always the toughest. The Stars are an excellent team with three very good scoring lines, and as good as Brossoit has been this season, I see little upside in starting him in this spot.
Joonas Korpisalo, OTT at TB (51% rostered)
Korpisalo has faced the Lightning twice already this season, winning their first matchup on Oct. 15 when the Lightning were slow out of the gates, but he was pulled in his second start on Nov. 4 when he allowed three goals on 21 shots. Despite Korpisalo's strong play lately, this is just a scary start and the Sens offense has barely been able to score three goals per game recently.
Editor's note: Anton Forsberg will get the start. I have even less confidence in him than Korpisalo.
Jake Allen, NJ at TOR (32% rostered)
This is a potential revenge game for the Devils who lost 5-2 at home in their home-and-home series, but two things terrify me: Auston Matthews' determined quest to score 70 and the lack of Jack Hughes to provide goal support, which is just about the only way Allen and the Devils can win their matchup.
The risk is just far too great against a Leafs team that's been scoring and getting healthy with Mitch Marner back in the lineup, and the upside seems pretty low being the underdog in a potentially high-scoring game.