After the Frozen Frenzy, there's just one game on tap with Capitals at Devils.
It’s just one paltry game for Wednesday, though Frozen Frenzy on Tuesday was a success. More of that, please. And on Saturdays, too.
If you had a bad Tuesday, this is your chance to make up for it. These quiet off-days is your chance to make a pick up because, odds are, your opponent probably isn’t starting many players, either.
Enough chatter, let’s get at ‘er.
Expected Starters
Akira Schmid, NJ vs. WSH (49% rostered)
Hunter Shepard, WSH at NJ (0% rostered)
The Devils are working a rotation, and with Vitek Vanecek getting the win against the Habs last night and Schmid rocking a less-than-stellar .892 SP so far, it looks like Vanecek will still be the No. 1. Schmid was a popular zero-goalie option because of his strong performance last playoffs and certainly had the potential to unseat Vanecek as the starter, but it’s not happening just yet. That being said, this should be an easy win for Schmid given the Devils’ elite offense.
The Caps had Clay Stevenson working as Darcy Kuemper’s backup for about a week, but Shepard is actually their No. 3 option. Stevenson, who spent most of last season in the ECHL, was simply keeping the seat warm for Shepard while he got reps with AHL Hershey.
This is a tough assignment for Shepard, who will be making his NHL debut at 27 years old after going undrafted despite an excellent four-year career with Minnesota-Duluth where he won two national championships. He backstopped Hershey to the Calder Cup last season and was named playoff MVP, but in two starts in the AHL this season has struggled with a .885 SP. Now he has to face Jack Hughes’ Devils, and there’s just no NHL track record to reference to recommend him as a streamer.
Of course, some teams play better defense when an inexperienced goalie is in net, but these are the Caps; they have few options and no longer provide goal support like they used to. Start Shepard at your own risk.
Forwards (Add/Hold)
Tom Wilson, RW, WSH (43% rostered)
Wilson has yet to score a goal, but with another assist and registering at least three hits in four of five games, he’s back among the unicorns in banger leagues. The Devils are a skill team, so if you’re looking to fill the hits and blocks categories, turn to the Caps for your best options.
Dylan Strome, C, WSH (25% rostered)
It was a quiet game for Strome with zero points and only one shot last night, but what a performance by Alex Ovechkin with a goal and 14 (!) shots. Ovechkin took what I said about him personally; with performances like that, he can fend off Father Time easily, and there’s no center who would benefit more than Strome, who centers Ovechkin at even strength.
Forwards (Stream)
Erik Haula, LW, NJ (12% rostered)
The best part about Haula is that you can get plenty of faceoff wins from the LW slot, and he’s always the guy Lindy Ruff moves up the lineup if he needs to change things up. For peripheral categories, Haula’s your best bet.
Alexander Holtz, RW, NJ (2% rostered)
Holtz is basically playing fourth-line minutes but they’re extra special because he at least gets to play PP2. He scored his first of the season and it was also the second straight game in which he had at least one shot.
Matthew Phillips, C, WSH (1% rostered)
Ovechkin took almost all of the shooting volume but Phillips finished last night with three shots and a block. Riding shotgun on the top line should give Phillips plenty of chances to score a point, and he’s also playing PP2.
Defensemen (Stream)
Jonas Siegenthaler, D, NJ (12% rostered)
If you need broad category coverage, Siegenthaler’s your guy. He’s yet to score a point after a three-assist effort in the season opener, but he provides a pretty steady diet of shots, hits and blocks. Only Dougie Hamilton averages more ice time than Siegenthaler among Devils defensemen.
