NHL Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Goalie Pickups and Expected Starters March 29 - Rangers' Quick Reponse, Wings Turn to Talbot

On every game day this season, THN Fantasy will highlight players and goalies for fantasy managers to stream or roster for the rest of the season. The recommended players and goalies are rostered in less than 50 percent of Yahoo leagues and can be selected in standard fantasy leagues or for daily fantasy games.

11 games on Saturday, March 29

* = confirmed

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, BUF at Samuel Ersson, PHI (1 p.m. ET)

Ilya Sorokin, NYI* at Andrei Vasilevskiy, TB (2 p.m. ET)

Jordan Binnington, STL at Mackenzie Blackwood, COL (4:30 p.m. ET)

Jacob Markstrom, NJ at Filip Gustavsson, MIN (6 p.m. ET)

Ilya Samsonov, VGK at Juuse Saros, NSH (6:30 p.m. ET)

Daniil Tarasov, CBJ at Linus Ullmark, OTT (7 p.m. ET)

Anthony Stolarz, TOR at Darcy Kuemper, LA (7 p.m. ET)

Jeremy Swayman, BOS at Cam Talbot, DET (8 p.m. ET)

Dustin Wolf, CGY at Calvin Pickard, EDM (10 p.m. ET)

Jonathan Quick, NYR at Georgi Romanov, SJ (10:30 p.m. ET)

Jake Oettinger, DAL at Joey Daccord, SEA (10:30 p.m. ET)

Goalies

Jonathan Quick, NYR at SJ (10% rostered)

Quick allowed seven goals in his previous start and he’s cooled off considerably after a 5-1-0 start to the season, and since November has not posted a save percentage above .900 in any month. Still, the Rangers should hold the advantage in this one. The Sharks have not beaten the Rangers in regulation since Oct. 23, 2017.

Normally, I’d like Quick a lot more. The Rangers are in shambles and possibly tired from the previous night, while the Sharks are playing loose and won two straight. There’s definitely a lot of upset potential here, but I still think the Rangers are the superior team – they really should be, anyway – and Quick should be a fine option if you’re looking for a win.

Cam Talbot, DET vs. BOS (36% rostered)

Talbot stopped 21 of 22 shots (.955) against the Sens after coming in relief for Alex Lyon, which means he’s likely back in the starter’s crease. With Petr Mrazek still on the mend, Talbot gets this enticing start against the Bruins, who have lost seven straight and allowed at least six goals in four games. Talbot allowed two goals on 29 shots (.931 SP) on Nov. 23, including only one even-strength goal, but tagged with the loss.

The Wings aren’t faring much better these days but they should certainly have the upper hand. The Wings’ offense is deeper, which bodes well for Talbot’s goal support, and when David Pastrnak is mired in a slump – one goal in six games – the Bruins offense doesn’t pose much of a threat. I like Talbot’s odds of earning a win.

Calvin Pickard, EDM vs. CGY (17% rostered)

A 6-1 loss to the Kraken showed how deficient the Oilers can be without their top two players. This is another tough matchup with the Flames riding a lot of momentum thanks to four wins in their past five games. This will be Pickard’s fist appearance against the Flames this season. In his lone appearance against the Flames last season, he earned a win after stopping 33 of 35 shots (.943 SP).

The Oilers should come out with a better effort and the result is a toss-up. The Flames hold the slight edge with the Oilers missing their top two players, and definitely have the edge in net. I think Pickard can rack up the saves and should earn the win; the Oilers are favored.  

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