Logan Thompson faces his former team and the Blue Jackets prepare for an emotional home opener against the defending Stanley Cup champions as they honor the Gaudreau brothers.
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 can be used in standard fantasy leagues or for daily fantasy games.
Games for Tuesday, Oct. 15
* = confirmed
Arturs Silovs, VAN* at Andrei Vasilevskiy, TB* (7 p.m. ET)
Adin Hill, VEG* at Logan Thompson, WSH* (7 p.m. ET)
Jacob Markstrom, NJ* at Pyotr Kochetkov, CAR* (7 p.m. ET)
Spencer Knight, FLA* at Elvis Merzlikins, CLB* (7:13 p.m. ET)
Filip Gustavsson, MIN* at Jordan Binnington, STL* (7:30 p.m. ET)
Joey Daccord, SEA* at Juuse Saros, NSH* (8 p.m. ET)
Mackenzie Blackwood, SJ* at Jake Oettinger, DAL* (8 p.m. ET)
Petr Mrazek, CHI at Dustin Wolf, CGY* (9 p.m. ET)
Samuel Ersson, PHI* at Stuart Skinner, EDM* (10 p.m. ET)
Goalies
Dustin Wolf, CGY vs. CHI (26% rostered)
Both Wolf and Dan Vladar have looked strong to start the season and it would make sense to keep rotating them until one of them runs away with the No. 1 job. Wolf was excellent in his season debut with 37 saves in a 6-3 win against the Flyers, and after Vladar drew the start in the previous game against the Oilers, it'll likely be Wolf's turn.
The Flames are playing their third game in four nights, so fatigue may be a factor. The Blackhawks are coming off two days' rest but also closing out their four-game road trip.
Elvis Merzlikins, CLB vs. FLA (5% rostered)
It pays to be a little contrarian at times, and I like this start for Merzlikins and the Jackets. It's the Jackets' home opener following a two-day break after a big 6-4 win against the Avs, and it will surely be an emotional one as the Jackets honor the Gaudreau brothers. Puck drop is at 7:13 p.m. to honor Johnny Gaudreau's jersey number.
The Panthers, meanwhile, are expected to start backup Spencer Knight, who allowed four goals on 26 shots in his season debut Saturday in Buffalo, and they're playing the second half of a back-to-back and their fourth road game in six days.
Logan Thompson, WSH vs. VEG (56% rostered)
Making an exception for Thompson since only goalies rostered in less than 50 percent of Yahoo leagues are highlighted, but it's an interesting matchup with Thompson going against his former team. There's been a lot of talk that Vegas' system provides an easier environment for goalies to make saves and pad their stats, but Thompson's out to prove them wrong after requesting a trade. He wasn't going to get the starts with Adin Hill ahead of him on the depth chart.
A good start means Thompson might siphon some playing time away from Charlie Lindgren, who's the incumbent. Thompson did not start the opener partially because he missed the latter part of camp for personal reasons. Thompson's a risky play against a good team, but keep an eye on him as his fantasy value may increase.
Kevin Lankinen, VAN at TB (16% rostered)
Lankinen was excellent in his season debut despite the loss, allowing just two goals on 31 shots against the Flyers. If the Canucks are going to simply rotate goalies until Thatcher Demko returns, then Arturs Silovs might get the start, but things are pretty dire with an 0-0-2 start and Lankinen played well enough to warrant a second straight look. I'm a little wary of this start, however, because the Lightning have dominated the Canucks in recent seasons, losing just once in seven matchups since 2020, even though the Lightning may be a little shorthanded and dress 11 forwards again.
A strong start - which is entirely possible - even if Lankinen's tagged with the loss, might give him some rest-of-season value. The Canucks were victorious, 4-1, in their previous matchup, though it was in Vancouver.
