A key matchup awaits with the Capitals visiting the Red Wings as both teams vie for a playoff spot. The Islanders are looking to strengthen their playoff position as they host the rival Rangers.
Tuesday, April 9. 13-game slate.
* = confirmed
Pyotr Kochetkov, CAR at Jeremy Swayman, BOS* (7 p.m. ET)
Charlie Lindgren, WSH* at Alex Lyon, DET* (7 p.m. ET)
Joonas Korpisalo, OTT* at Sergei Bobrovsky, FLA* (7 p.m. ET)
Samuel Ersson, PHI* at Samuel Montembeault, MTL* (7 p.m. ET)
Joseph Woll, TOR at Jake Allen, NJ* (7 p.m. ET)
Igor Shesterkin, NYR at Semyon Varlamov, NYI* (7 p.m. ET)
Jet Greaves, CLB* at Andrei Vasilevskiy, TB* (7 p.m. ET)
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, BUF* at Jake Oettinger, DAL* (8 p.m. ET)
Connor Hellebuyck, WPG* at Juuse Saros, NSH* (8 p.m. ET)
Filip Gustavsson, MIN* at Alexandar Georgiev, COL* (9:30 p.m. ET)
Cam Talbot, LA at Lukáš Dostál, ANA* (10 p.m. ET)
Karel Vejmelka, ARI* at Philipp Grubauer, SEA* (10 p.m. ET)
Dustin Wolf, CGY* at Mackenzie Blackwood, SJ* (10:30 p.m. ET)
Streaming Options
(ranked by matchup)
Dustin Wolf, CGY at SJ (7% rostered)
Wolf is an intriguing start in this spot even though his play has been very uneven. He's allowed four goals in three of his past four starts and a depleted Flames defense isn't doing him any favors. There is definitely risk in this start; the Sharks offense has come alive recently and the Flames' goal support hasn't been particularly strong.
If you don't mind taking the risk, Wolf could have a lot of upside here. The California native who was born in the Bay Area will have family in the stands for this game, which might add some emotional juice to play well.
Justus Annunen, COL vs. MIN (16% rostered)
Just a hunch, but do the Avs give Annunen a look here? The Stars put up seven against Alexandar Georgiev in a key divisional matchup, and while some of the goals weren't on Georgiev, I do think his performances have left a lot to be desired this season.
The Avs have a three-day break after this game and it makes sense to give Annunen a look, stew on it and then split the starts on Saturday and Sunday and then maybe make a final decision then. The Avs should be able to provide plenty of goal support even sans Mikko Rantanen against the Wild, making Annunen a good streaming option and perhaps a rest-of-season hold if he manages to win the No. 1 job. No matter what happens, I think the Avs will have a very interesting decision for Game 1.
Editor's note: Georgiev will start, which means the Avs seem pretty committed to him as their No. 1.
Alex Lyon, DET vs. WSH (46% rostered)
I feel a lot better streaming Lyon now that he's strung together some really solid games, and the Caps are struggling to score goals. The Wings are making a playoff push and they've won two of their past three, both with Lyon in net. I think Lyon will offer a good save percentage and their games have generally been pretty tight recently, save for one blowout win by the Wings.
Karel Vejmelka, ARI at SEA (21% rostered)
Maybe I'm going out on a limb here, but I love the way the Coyotes are playing. They've been a goal-scoring machine and even though the Kraken have won four of their past six, keep in mind three games were against the Ducks and one was against the Sharks. The schedule gods can't make it any easier than that.
Vejmelka's been a little shaky but I'm willing to bet again that the Coyotes offense somehow bails him out. I'm not sure Vejmelka will deliver a good save percentage but certainly a win is plausible.
Semyon Varlamov, NYI vs. NYR (25% rostered)
Non back-to-back game, divisional foe... yup, Varlamov's the guy in net for the Isles now. He's coming off a 41-save shutout and deserves the start even though Ilya Sorokin won two games previously, and it's clear Patrick Roy trusts Varlamov more. Depending on how this matchup goes, Varlamov might finish as the Isles' No. 1, meaning he retains a lot of fantasy value the rest of the way.
I don't necessarily love this matchup because the Rangers are arguably the league's best team, but I definitely do think Varlamov's rest-of-season value just increased significantly.
Philipp Grubauer, SEA vs. ARI (31% rostered)
I'm not exactly sure what is ailing Joey Daccord at the moment, but expect Grubauer to make his fourth straight start after the Kraken broke away from their rotation. Grubauer's had it really easy but he's facing a formidable offense, and the last time he faced a good team, he allowed five goals on 27 shots in a loss to the Kings.
I don't have much confidence in Grubauer, and the Kraken do have a chance to win, but I don't expect a particularly strong performance. There seems to be far more risk to the downside than the upside in this matchup.
Joonas Korpisalo, OTT at FLA (52% rostered)
This is a potential revenge game for Korpisalo, who was pulled in his previous start against the Panthers after allowing four goals on 17 shots. He's been very good in his past two appearances, allowing just three goals on 41 shots (.927 SP), but because it's the Panthers' offense, I am certainly a little wary of this start. Korpisalo would definitely be one of my bottom-of-the-barrel streaming choices.
Charlie Lindgren, WSH at DET (57% rostered)
With Lindgren struggling, posting a sub-.900 SP in four of his past five games, I do wonder if the Caps go to Darcy Kuemper here. I don't have confidence in either goalie, however, and the Caps are mired in a six-game losing streak. Lindgren just looks a little fatigued, and the Caps have not scored more than two goals during that span.