Sleepers and Keeper Podcast: James Reimer vs. Alex Lyon Saturday, March 30. 15-game slate. * = confirmed Alex Lyon, DET* at Sergei Bobrovsky, FLA* (12:30 p.m. ET) Logan Thompson, VEG at Filip Gustavsson, MIN (3:30 p.m. ET) John Gibson, ANA at Calvin Pickard, EDM (4 p.m. ET) Jonathan Quick, NYR at Karel Vejmelka, ARI (6 p.m. ET) Kevin Lankinen, NSH at Alexandar Georgiev, COL (6 p.m. ET) Ilya Samsonov, TOR* at Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, BUF (7 p.m. ET) Alex Nedeljkovic, PIT* at Elvis Merzlikins, CLB* (7 p.m. ET) Pyotr Kochetkov, CAR at Samuel Montembeault, MTL* (7 p.m. ET) Arvid Söderblom, CHI* at Samuel Ersson, PHI* (7 p.m. ET) Semyon Varlamov, NYI* at Andrei Vasilevskiy, TB* (7 p.m. ET) Joonas Korpisalo, OTT* at Connor Hellebuyck, WPG* (7 p.m. ET) Jeremy Swayman, BOS* at Charlie Lindgren, WSH* (7 p.m. ET) Mackenzie Blackwood, SJ* at Joel Hofer, STL* (8 p.m. ET) Dave Rittich, LA* at Jacob Markström, CGY* (10 p.m. ET) Jake Oettinger, DAL at Joey Daccord, SEA* (10 p.m. ET) Streaming Options (ranked by matchup) Joel Hofer, STL vs. SJ (12% rostered) This is a hunch, but I think this is a good spot to start Hofer before going back to Jordan Binnington when they host Edmonton next Monday. This should be an easy matchup for the Blues, who are 7-1-1 since their three-game losing streak from March 5-9, and Hofer has been a very reliable backup all season. If Hofer starts, he's a great streaming option. Editor's note: Hofer will indeed get the start. This gives Binnington some rest before Monday's clash against the Oilers and their fearsome offense. Calvin Pickard, EDM vs. ANA (17% rostered) It's been a minute since we've seen Pickard, and with road games in St. Louis and Dallas coming up, perhaps the Oilers give Stuart Skinner a breather in what should be an easy matchup for the Oilers. The Ducks have scored two goals or less in all but one game in March, and they've been shut out five times in their past eight games. If Pickard draws the start, he'll be one of Saturday's top streaming options. Alex Nedeljkovic, PIT at CLB (13% rostered) I'd be a little surprised if Tristan Jarry draws this start because why stop a good thing? Nedeljkovic could be in line for his fourth straight start after two very good performances against the Canes and Jackets. The Pens have dominated this matchup, historically speaking, with a 46-18-0 record. Nedeljkovic's strong play puts him in a position to be the 1A option for the rest of the season. The Pens' playoff hopes are very slim and there's no point in playing Jarry now while he's slumping during their win-now window. Samuel Ersson, PHI vs. CHI (41% rostered) I wouldn't really pin either of the Flyers' most recent losses on Ersson. The danger with Ersson's fantasy value is the relatively low number of shots he sees because the Flyers are good at dominating possession and limiting their opponents' chances. I think this is the matchup that can get the Flyers back on track, and the Hawks offense is generally quite anemic, even with Connor Bedard in the lineup. Jonathan Quick, NYR at ARI (38% rostered) The Rangers are on a roll with a four-game winning streak and Quick might draw the start here in a relatively meaningless -- the Rangers clinched a playoff spot already --matinee game on the road. He'll be going for his fourth straight win, and while his play in the second half hasn't nearly been as good, and the Coyotes have picked it up after a horrendous losing streak, the Rangers have a definite edge. Joonas Korpisalo, OTT at WPG (51% rostered) The Sens are on a roll -- too little, too late -- as they go for their fifth straight win. The Jets are slumping with five straight losses, so it's definitely a matchup between two teams trending in opposite directions. All things being equal, the Jets would usually dominate this matchup. I have some home that Korpisalo can put in a strong performance. Streaming a red-hot goalie can blow up spectacularly, and note the Jets are expected to have Gabe Vilardi back in the lineup while Thomas Chabot remains sidelined. Korpisalo is not my favorite risky streamer for Saturday, but there are worse options out there. Charlie Lindgren, WSH vs. BOS (57% rostered) Lindgren put in a fine performance with 43 saves against the Leafs, but he was still saddled with the loss. The Caps have been playing above their heads recently while the Bruins have really stumbled; that being said, I still don't trust the Caps all that much, and I think what you're hoping for is a lot of saves and a good save percentage from Lindgren. The Caps' expected goals at even strength are trending down again, according to naturalstattrick.com, after peaking earlier in March, coinciding with their hot streak. Samuel Montembeault, MTL vs. CAR (21% rostered) The problem with riding a hot goalie is you never quite know when the music stops. The Habs have limited their opponents to only one goal in each of their past three games, and Montembeault was brilliant in a 2-1 win in Colorado. The Canes have usually dominated this matchup and Montembeault is worth streaming if you think there's a good chance of an upset. I'm slightly less sure; the Canes have alternated wins and losses over their past four games but with each loss they've bounced back really strong, and they're just coming off a 4-0 shutout against the Wings. Montembeault's a risky streaming option but not a desperate one. Karel Vejmelka, ARI vs. NYR (23% rostered) I really like the way Vejmelka and the Coyotes are playing with Vejmelka going for his fourth straight win. He also hasn't allowed more than two goals in four straight games and there's definitely some upset potential with the Coyotes on home ice in a matinee game that the Rangers may not care all that much about having already clinched a playoff spot and made a statement with a win against the Avs in their previous contest. Even if the Coyotes don't win, I expect Vejmelka to offer up plenty of saves and a good save percentage. Joey Daccord, SEA vs. DAL (52% rostered) The Kraken snapped their losing streak but only thanks to the schedule with two straight home games hosting the Ducks. It would've been surprising if the Kraken actually lost either or the two games, and now they face a very good Stars squad that is 9-5-0 against the Kraken all-time, playoffs included. Daccord is usually a great option if you need a good save save percentage, but I'm not sure he will see a high volume or shots or have much of a chance to win the game. Semyon Varlamov, NYI at TB (19% rostered) Varlamov gets his second straight start while the struggling Ilya Sorokin sits, giving Varlamov a chance to win his third straight game. The Lightning have flipped the switch this month, looking more and more like the Cup contender that we know and sometimes watch with awe. The Isles' performances are so erratic it's difficult to know which version will show up, but other than the promise of a good save percentage, I'm not sure I trust Varlamov enough to stream him in this matchup. The Lightning are 6-2-0 in their past eight meetings. Alex Lyon (34) allows a goal while Jeff Petry (46) watches in a March 23, 2024 matchup against the Predators. [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA1MzcwMjMyMzA1MzYyOTAw/usatsi_22848631.jpg] Alex Lyon (34) allows a goal while Jeff Petry (46) watches in a March 23, 2024 matchup against the Predators. Alex Lyon, DET at FLA (36% rostered) Yes, the Panthers are slumping right now but you start Lyon against them at your own peril. The Wings are trying to avoid their fourth loss in a row, and should they fail to register a victory, Lyon will finish March without a single victory in nine appearances. He enters this matchup with a 0-7-1 record, .874 SP and 4.38 GAA. Kevin Lankinen, NSH at COL (2% rostered) Lankinen relieved Juuse Saros in their previous game after it became apparent the Preds' 18-game streak without a regulation loss was going to be snapped. Lankinen stopped all 11 shots he faced and I think there's a good chance he draws the start in a matinee road game to give Saros a little more rest before they head home to host the Bruins. While Lankinen has been pretty solid all season, he's facing an Avs offense that has been a little anemic but could explode at any moment. I'm not confident Lankinen can provide solid numbers; he's played sparingly and faced some meek opponents this season.
