Does Ilya Samsonov get the start in a rivalry matchup between the Maple Leafs and Sabres?
Wednesday, March 6. Three-game slate.
* = confirmed or probable
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, BUF* at Ilya Samsonov, TOR* (7 p.m. ET)
Alex Lyon, DET at Alexandar Georgiev, COL* (9:30 p.m. ET)
Anton Forsberg, OTT at John Gibson, ANA (10 p.m. ET)
Streaming Options
( < 50% rostered on Yahoo, ranked by matchup)
John Gibson, ANA vs. OTT (35% rostered)
Gibson was forced to sit out Sunday due to illness, but with Alex Stalock returned to the AHL on Monday, it's looking like Gibson is ready to return against the Sens. If not, then look for Lukas Dostal to get his third straight start.
The Sens would normally be considered the favorite but this feels like a toss-up. There are good reasons either the Sens (they're more talented) or the Ducks (home team, more momentum and a better goalie, relatively speaking), in cases like this, if you really need a goalie, why not go for the underdog? Recent history is on the Ducks' side, and they've played some close games with teams much better than them, including the Canucks and Devils.
Anton Forsberg, OTT at ANA (7% rostered)
Both Forsberg and Joonas Korpisalo were not available for Saturday's game against the Flyers but Forsberg has joined the Sens on their road trip. With a back-to-back Wednesday in Anaheim and Thursday in L.A., it's likely that Forsberg and Korpisalo will be healthy enough to split the starts. Whoever gets the start -- and lately Forsberg's been their go-to guy -- gets a chance to snap the Sens' four-game losing streak.
However, I'm a little wary of this start. We shall see if Forsberg and Korpisalo have fully recovered from their lower-body injury and illness, respectively, and the Ducks have won four of their past six meetings.