Nico Daws has won two straight games. Do the Devils give him a chance to win his third?
Friday, Jan. 5. Three-game slate.
* = confirmed or probable
Arvid Soderblom, CHI* at Vitek Vanecek, NJ* (7 p.m. ET)
Pyotr Kochetkov, CAR* at Darcy Kuemper, WSH* (7 p.m. ET)
Laurent Brossoit, WPG* at John Gibson, ANA* (10 p.m. ET)
Streaming Options
( < 50% rostered in Yahoo leagues, ranked by matchup)
(NEW) Laurent Brossoit, WPG at ANA (29% rostered)
Brossoit will be a popular stream for Friday's light slate. He's been excellent for four straight games and will be in line for a win and a good save percentage. The Ducks allowed 57 shots on net in their previous game.
Nico Daws, NJ vs. CHI (18% rostered)
The Devils play back-to-back Friday and Saturday, which means Daws is assured of another start — and why not right after securing a win against the Caps to keep the momentum going? It was a close, back-and-forth game, but the Hawks aren't even close to being in the same class. No matter whether Daws or Vitek Vanecek starts this game, the Devils have a huge edge. If Daws starts, he's the top streaming option for Friday.
Another strong performance and a shaky one from Vanecek, who may face an offensive juggernaut in the Canucks, will further solidify Daws' case to be the No. 1.
Editor's note: Vitek Vanecek will get the start, which means Daws faces *gulp* the Canucks tomorrow. That will not be an easy matchup for Daws, and this sets the stage for Vanecek to take the lead on the starting job.
John Gibson, ANA vs. WPG (45% rostered)
Perhaps Lukas Dostal will get the start to keep some positive momentum going after making 55 saves against the Leafs. Regardless, the Ducks are once again the underdog against a very tough team. Neither Gibson nor Dostal will likely earn the win, which means you're hoping for just a really, really good save percentage.
The Ducks have lost six straight against the Jets, most recently on Dec. 10 when Gibson allowed three goals on 30 shots and Connor Hellebuyck faced just 26 shots. If I can help it, I'd avoid this matchup.
Arvid Soderblom, CHI at NJ (2% rostered)
The Hawks are playing the second half of a back-to-back and starting their weaker goalie, which already tilts everything in the Devils' favor. Soderblom may have been good in his previous start against the Preds (.943 SP), but this is a really tough matchup.
In all likelihood, Soderblom's going to allow more than a couple goals and his save percentage is going to suffer. The odds of an upset are so low Soderblom's not worth considering.
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