It's a six-game Friday before a busy Saturday. Get a head start on the weekend matchups with the waiver wire column.
Expected Starters
(ranked by matchup)
Lukas Dostal, ANA vs. PHI (41% rostered)
Dostal has been playing so well the Ducks should throw him back into the net just to give him some reps. If Dostal does get the start, this is a great matchup against a low-scoring team that just got beat by the Sharks, of all teams. The Ducks have plenty of firepower to provide goal support; more than what the Flyers can provide for their goalies, at least.
Akira Schmid, NJ vs. WSH (32% rostered)
Vitek Vanecek just had his worst performance of the season allowing five goals on 31 shots against the Avs, which snapped a personal four-game point streak. This might give Schmid a chance to start, and it’s not a particularly tough matchup with the Caps struggling to score all season, including just five goals in their past three games. The goal support is obviously not the same without Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier, but the Devils are definitely the better team.
Forwards (Add/Hold)
Nazem Kadri, C, CGY at TOR (46% rostered)
Yes, we definitely gave up on Kadri a little too quickly. He’s one of the few Flames who hasn’t struggled lately, scoring two goals and six points in his past four games and the Flames have – shockingly – managed to win two in a row. The Flames will face Joseph Woll, who hasn’t been able to wrestle the starting job away from Ilya Samsonov. Since leaving the Leafs, Kadri has scored seven points in six games against them.
Casey Mittelstadt, C, BUF vs. MIN (19% rostered)
The Minnesota-born pivot faces against his home team in the midst of a five-game point streak. The Wild are allowing the third-most goals per game, making this a favorable matchup for a Sabres offense that has come alive and scored at least four goals in five of their past seven games. Note Alex Tuch is questionable due to an upper-body injury, but Mittelstadt’s line with JJ Peterka and Jordan Greenway will likely stay intact due to their strong play should Don Granato mix it up.
Forwards (Stream)
Evan Rodrigues, C/LW/RW, FLA vs. CAR (45% rostered)
Rodrigues can be really streaky, so busting his five-game slump with a two-point game against the Caps was a really good sign. Rodrigues has established really chemistry with Sam Reinhart, and the Canes will be starting either Antti Raanta or third-string Pyotr Kochetkov, neither of whom have exactly been lights-out this season. If Rodrigues gets hot again, he’s good mid-term hold.
Anton Lundell, C, FLA vs. CAR (7% rostered)
Lundell went five games without a point to start the season and, all of a sudden, has five points in seven games. Centering the second line gives Lundell more offensive upside than he normally provides, and he’s been very productive lately. The Canes haven’t been as stout defensively as in season’s past, allowing 3.38 goals per game, tied for 10th-most in the league.
Nick Robertson, LW, TOR vs. CGY (2% rostered)
Robertson scored his first of the season against the Sens and he’s provided the necessary offensive jolt from the Leafs’ bottom six. Linemate Calle Jarnkrok (8% rostered) is also a great streaming option on a four-game point streak. The Flames defense is deep, and depth might be the big difference maker. Robertson has plenty of offensive upside despite playing limited minutes.
Connor Zary, C, CGY at TOR (1% rostered)
Still waiting for Yahoo to give Zary his LW eligibility, unless you’ve been able to do it yourself. Zary’s been on fire, scoring three points in three games since getting called up to replace Matt Coronato. Zary has really formed a very productive partnership with Nazem Kadri so far and the Leafs defense has been a hot-button topic all week.
Michael Amadio, C, VEG vs. SJ (1% rostered)
The Sharks are playing the second half of a back-to-back after hosting the Oilers on Thursday, and they already have very little depth to rely on as it is. Amadio’s currently centering the second line with Chandler Stephenson injured, and also seeing minutes on PP2. Amadio doesn’t have a lot of offensive talent, but you hope that’ll be offset with more minutes in offensive situations. Kaapo Kahkonen has been the weaker of the Sharks’ goalies this season and the Knights are lucky to face him instead of Mackenzie Blackwood, who I swear turns into the next coming of Patrick Roy at least once a season.
Defensemen (Add/Hold)
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, FLA vs. CAR (27% rostered)
We haven’t seen this from OEL in years. With four points in three games, OEL has become a very valuable asset in fantasy once again. This scoring spike likely won’t last, but as long as he’s playing big minutes at even strength and on the power play, he’s going to get chances to at least pile up the shots and blocks. OEL is a high-floor defenseman averaging nearly 24 minutes per game.
Defensemen (Stream)
Brock Faber, MIN at BUF (5% rostered)
An assist against the Rangers extended Faber’s assist streak to three games, and he’s scored all four of his assists on the season in his past five games. He’s obviously earned a lot of trust from Dean Evason, and the big minutes also means plenty of chances to shoot, hit or block. In 14-team leagues, you can make an argument to hold Faber all season.
