Nico Daws is starting to take over the New Jersey Devils' net.
Saturday, Feb. 17. 13-game slate.
* = confirmed or probable
David Rittich, LA* at Linus Ullmark, BOS* (12:30 p.m. ET)
Calvin Pickard, EDM* at Jake Oettinger, DAL* (3 p.m. ET)
Joonas Korpisalo, OTT* at Petr Mrazek, CHI* (3 p.m. ET)
James Reimer, DET* at Jacob Markstrom, CGY (4 p.m. ET)
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, BUF at Filip Gustavsson, MIN* (5 p.m. ET)
Juuse Saros, NSH at Jordan Binnington, STL (5 p.m. ET)
Sergei Bobrovsky, FLA* at Andrei Vasilevskiy, TB (5 p.m. ET)
Darcy Kuemper, WSH* at Jake Allen, MTL* (7 p.m. ET)
Lukas Dostal, ANA* at Martin Jones, TOR* (7 p.m. ET)
Samuel Ersson, PHI* at Nico Daws, NJ (8 p.m. ET)
Connor Hellebuyck, WPG at Thatcher Demko, VAN (10 p.m. ET)
Elvis Merzlikins, CLB at Kaapo Kähkönen, SJ* (10:30 p.m. ET)
Spencer Martin, CAR at Adin Hill, VEG (10:30 p.m. ET)
Streaming Options
( < 50% rostered on Yahoo, ranked by matchup)
(NEW) Martin Jones, TOR vs. ANA (31% rostered)
I'm a little surprised Jones get the HNIC start, especially since the Leafs have a back-to-back coming up Feb. 21-22, and I figured Jones would get back in action at that time. Regardless, Jones knows the Ducks very well from his days in San Jose, and overall owns a 15-12-1/.913 SP/2.34 GAA split against them. This is one of the rare starts where I do like Jones as a streaming option.
Cayden Primeau, MTL vs. WSH (2% rostered)
Primeau saw very little work with a 13-save shutout against the Ducks in his previous start, but the unblemished performance deserves another start. The Caps will be tougher, but they're slumping really bad right now with eight losses in their past nine games. The Habs are always tough to beat Saturday nights in Montreal.
Editor's note: Jake Allen will get the start. It's hard to figure out the Habs' three-goalie rotation but I still like the matchup for the Habs, though not nearly as much. Allen's worth streaming, but not the top option for tonight.
Nico Daws, NJ vs. PHI (17% rostered)
Is it safe to call Daws the Devils' starter? He didn't earn the win Thursday against the Kings, but he allowed just two goals on 29 shots in his third straight start. Even if you think Daws' hold on the starting job is precarious -- it is -- he's their best option right now.
The Flyers are always a tough out but I think the Devils' offense should be able to provide enough goal support to earn the win. Hopefully, it's a close and low-scoring game. Over the past four years, the Devils hold the slight edge 10-6-2.
Spencer Martin, CAR at VEG (2% rostered)
I know Martin looked very strong in his Canes debut with a 26-save win against the Bruins, but this matchup still scares me a little. Both teams are on a bit of a roll, but Martin's a career backup -- can you trust him on a tough road city?
The matchups have been historically close, with a 6-5-0 edge for the Canes, but three of those needed extra and another two games were decided by one goal. This is a toss-up with a chance that neither team's goalie puts up a good save percentage. Both teams are just too good at generating shots and offensive chances.
Kaapo Kähkönen, SJ vs. CLB (5% rostered)
Kähkönen's had a poor run of luck recently with zero wins in two starts even though he's stopped 69 of 73 shots (.945 SP). I'm not sure if the firing of GM Jarmo Kekäläinen will affect the Jackets' play very much, but they've been a very inconsistent team all season and I think the change is just adding more to a dark cloud that has hung over the team all season.
Meanwhile, the Sharks seem to have this "us against the world" mentality with a 6-3 win over the Flames even without Tomas Hertl and Logan Couture.
Elvis Merzlikins, CLB at SJ (21% rostered)
This really is a toss-up but I give the edge to the Sharks. They're at home and seem to have a bit more positive momentum with five wins in their past eight games, and two of their losses were by just one goal.
Historically, the Jackets have had the edge with a 6-4-0 record against them since 2018. Their past two matchups have been high-scoring affairs, and I suspect that may be the case yet again. I just don't really see either Kähkönen or Merzlikins having very strong stats in this game.
James Reimer, DET at CGY (4% rostered)
I have zero trust in Reimer, and so should you. Keep in mind Reimer is the Wings' third choice, behind the injured Ville Husso and Alex Lyon, who seems just a tad overworked.
This will be Reimer's first start since Jan. 14 -- a 4-2 win against the Leafs, his former employer -- and this being goaltending, there's always a chance Reimer turns in an outstanding performance, but I'd bet against it.