Can Ilya Samsonov keep the Maple Leafs' winning streak alive?
Saturday, Feb. 24. 13-game slate.
* = confirmed or probable
Jordan Binnington, STL* at Alex Lyon, DET* (12 p.m. ET)
Jake Allen, MTL* at Nico Daws, NJ* (2 p.m. ET)
Andrei Vasilevskiy, TB* at Ilya Sorokin, NYI* (2 p.m. ET)
Igor Shesterkin, NYR* at Samuel Ersson, NYR* (3 p.m. ET)
Charlie Lindgren, WSH* at Anthony Stolarz, FLA* (6 p.m. ET)
Ilya Samsonov, TOR at Alexandar Georgiev, COL* (7 p.m. ET)
Logan Thompson, VEG* at Anton Forsberg, OTT* (7 p.m. ET)
Jeremy Swayman, BOS at Thatcher Demko, VAN* (7 p.m. ET)
Jake Oettinger, DAL* at Pyotr Kochetkov, CAR (8 p.m. ET)
Daniel Vladar, CGY* at Stuart Skinner, EDM* (10 p.m. ET)
Marc-André Fleury, MIN* at Joey Daccord, SEA* (10 p.m. ET)
Juuse Saros, NSH* at Kaapo Kähkönen, SJ* (10 p.m. ET)
John Gibson, ANA* at David Rittich, LA* (10:30 p.m. ET)
Streaming Options
( < 50% rostered on Yahoo leagues, ranked by matchup)
(NEW) David Rittich, LA vs. ANA (29% rostered)
Interesting that Rittich gets his second straight start after he lost to the Preds and with Cam Talbot winning two straight. No doubt the Kings have the definite edge in this one, making Rittich the top streaming option and a possible rest-of-season hold if he continues to be the No. 1. The Kings have a back-to-back coming up so we'll see Talbot at some point, either Monday at Edmonton or Tuesday at Calgary.
(NEW) Anthony Stolarz, FLA vs. WSH (21% rostered)
Stolarz gives Sergei Bobrovsky a break here after the Panthers' six-game winning streak was just snapped after getting shut out by Pyotr Kochetkov's 44-save performance for the Canes. Stolarz's numbers have been excellent this season, and that's no surprise since the Panthers are so good. Stolarz is a top streaming option for Saturday. This will be Stolarz's first career appearance against the Caps, surprisingly, and I think both a win and a good save percentage is definitely possible.
Anton Forsberg, OTT vs. VEG (5% rostered)
It's Joonas Korpisalo's turn based on the rotation, but why not break from it and give Forsberg a chance to win consecutive games? He's been excellent during his three-game winning streak, and the Knights will be shorthanded with captain Mark Stone unavailable.
Note the Sens are 1-10-0 all-time against the Knights, with their lone win coming in 2018... which means maybe they can buck the trend? I think there's definitely some upset potential here despite the awful historical track record, but admittedly the Knights are still heavily favored.
Kaapo Kähkönen, SJ vs. NSH (3% rostered)
I get no one wants to have the Sharks in fantasy, but when it comes to streaming options at this of the season, you're generally looking for the best of the worst. Kähkönen has been stopping a ton of pucks lately but the problem is the Sharks can't score. That's a big downside, and note the Preds have won three straight to keep their playoff hopes alive. I'm not enamored by this start, but I think Kähkönen can deliver a good save percentage with an outside shot for a win.
Charlie Lindgren, WSH at FLA (32% rostered)
Lindgren's won three of his past four starts and could draw his third straight start as he begins to siphon more starts from Darcy Kuemper (again). The Panthers just had their six-game winning streak snapped but that took a Herculean 44-save effort from Pyotr Kochetkov; I'm not sure Lindgren has that in him. I think a good save percentage could be in store, but I'm thinking the Panthers win this one fairly easily.
Nico Daws, NJ vs. MTL (21% rostered)
This is going to be interesting. The Devils have to think about this start a little more carefully, since Daws has lost two straight with 11 goals allowed. Is the workload a bit much?
Akira Schmid was re-assigned to the AHL but it's possible he gets called up since the Devils play back-to-back Saturday and Sunday. Note Schmid was re-assigned on Feb. 21, during a four-day break where AHL Utica didn't play any games. Maybe the Devils call up Schmid for Saturday to give Daws an extra day's rest, otherwise they'll have to give 22-year-old Isaac Poulter, an undrafted prospect signed just a week ago on Feb. 15 after spending most of the season as Utica's starter, his first NHL start.
There's no question starting Daws in this spot, even against the struggling Habs, can be a high-risk, high-upside move.
Samuel Montembeault, MTL at NJ (24% rostered)
Perhaps Jake Allen will get a look here considering Montembeault has allowed 10 goals in his past two games. The Habs' goalies remain volatile, and I'm not enamored with this matinee matchup for either team.
Is there a chance for an upset? Definitely, but I also think the Devils offense is explosive and even if the Habs pull off a win, more like than not, Montembeault (or Allen) is not coming away with a very good save percentage.
Editor's note: Allen gets the start.