3 weeks agoVegas Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo extended his season-opening point streak to three games in Sunday's 3-1 victory over Anaheim. He has become the first blue-liner in franchise history to start a season with a three-game scoring streak, notching all of the points with even-strength assists. Pietrangelo's productivity nosedived last season as he battled health issues, but it looks like he still has some juice left. The 34-year-old sees big minutes as part of the top defensive pairing and the second power-play unit. He will attempt to take his streak to four games in Vegas' first road game of the season at Washington on Tuesday night.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
3 weeks agoSeattle Kraken defenseman Vince Dunn (upper body) is considered day-to-day. Dunn was hurt on a hard hit in Saturday's matchup against Minnesota and sat out Sunday's 2-0 loss to Dallas. However, he shouldn't miss too much time. Dunn collected points in each of his first two games of the season, tallying a goal and an assist with six shots on goal and six blocks. In Sunday's loss, Ryker Evans replaced Dunn on the top defensive pairing, with Josh Mahura entering the lineup to work on the bottom pairing. The setup will likely remain the same on Tuesday versus Nashville if Dunn isn't ready to return.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Piper Shaw
3 weeks agoPittsburgh Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic (lower body) will remain unavailable on Monday against Montreal. According to Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan, Nedeljkovic is "making real progress." However, his season debut will have to wait. The 28-year-old had a fantastic finish to last year and could become a viable fantasy option again, depending on the form of his competitors. Tristan Jarry had a nightmare in Wednesday's season opener against the Rangers and has since been stuck on the bench for a couple of games, watching Finnish youngster Joel Blomqvist go 1-1-0. The 22-year-old beat Detroit on Thursday but lost against Toronto on Saturday night, allowing three goals in both outings.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Michelle Crechiolo
3 weeks agoOttawa Senators center Ridly Greig wasn't on the ice for Sunday's practice because of an upper-body injury. He should be considered a game-time decision for Monday's matinee against the Kings. Greig has seen time with the second and fourth line early in the year, averaging 14:03 of ice time. He has produced two scoreless performances without generating any shots on goal. Adam Gaudette will jump on the fourth line if Greig isn't available for Monday's game. The 28-year-old had a great year in the minors last season, recording 71 points (44 goals, 27 assists) in 67 AHL appearances, but he has averaged only 0.32 points in the NHL.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Claire Hanna
3 weeks agoDetroit Red Wings goaltender Ville Husso was waived on Sunday. The team made the move after seeing Husso give up four goals on 14 shots in Thursday's season-opening 6-3 loss to Pittsburgh. Husso also struggled badly last year, finishing with a below-par .892 save percentage and allowing 3.55 goals. He inked a three-year, $14.25 million contract with the Red Wings in 2022 following a strong campaign with the St. Louis Blues. However, Husso has posted a mediocre 75-35-28 record in Motown. Cam Talbot got the nod for Saturday's matchup against Nashville and posted an impressive 42-save shutout in a 3-0 win. Alex Lyon is also an option between the sticks for Detroit.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Elliotte Friedman
3 weeks agoDetroit Red Wings right wing Christian Fischer (upper body) has been ruled out for Monday's matchup against the Rangers. He sustained an upper-body injury in Saturday's meeting with Nashville and is labeled as day-to-day. Fischer has worked on the third line to start the year, going scoreless in two games with zero shots. The Red Wings need to call up a forward from the minors to replace Fischer, or the team could go with seven defensemen in the Original Six matchup.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Max Bultman
3 weeks agoDallas Stars defenseman Matt Dumba (lower body) will not play in Sunday's matchup against Seattle and is considered day-to-day. He will be evaluated further on Monday after Dumba suffered a lower-body injury versus the Islanders on Saturday. Dumba has partnered Miro Heiskanen on the top defensive pairing in his first games with the Stars. Brendan Smith is set to replace Dumba in the lineup on Sunday, and a reconfiguration of the defensive pairs is expected. Esa Lindell and Thomas Harley saw extra usage next to Heiskanen on Saturday and will be asked to step up again versus the Kraken.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Mike Heika
3 weeks agoMinnesota Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon will sit out Sunday's clash with the Jets because of a lower-body injury. The Wild captain is considered day-to-day. Spurgeon has averaged 19:34 of ice time on the first defensive pairing this season, a significant drop from the 23:19 he logged last term. He logged his first point of the campaign with an assist in Saturday's 5-4 shootout loss to Seattle. Brock Faber has averaged the most ice time among the Wild defensemen and will be asked to do even more in Sunday's matchup. Declan Chisholm (illness) is expected to re-enter the lineup as Spurgeon's replacement.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Minnesota Wild PR
3 weeks agoMinnesota Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek (nose) will not play against Winnipeg on Sunday. He was forced to leave Saturday's matchup against Seattle early due to a broken nose and didn't join the team for the trip to Canada. The Swedish centerman is expected to rejoin the lineup on Tuesday versus St. Louis. Ryan Hartman looks set to move up in the lineup and replace Eriksson Ek as the second-line center versus the Jets. The versatile forward opened his points account for the season with a goal on Saturday and has produced eight shots on goal across two games.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Minnesota Wild PR
3 weeks agoToronto Maple Leafs right wing Mitch Marner tallied his first two points of the 2024 campaign in their victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday evening. The 27-year-old tallied the secondary assist on a goal scored by Matthew Knies in the second period. Then, in the final frame, Marner scored the eventual game-winning goal on a breakaway. This was a nice breakout performance for Marner as he was held off the scoresheet in the first two games of the season and held a -1 +/- rating. Last season, Marner posted his sixth-straight campaign of averaging more than one point per game and remains a high-end winger in all fantasy formats.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
3 weeks agoCalgary Flames center Nazem Kadri scored twice in their victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday evening. Kadri tallied his first goal of the night in the second frame on the power-play on a snapshot from the slot. He then would go on to score the empty netter to clinch the victory in the final minute. The 34-year-old has now tallied at least two points in each of the first two games of the campaign. In the season opener he tallied two assists. Kadri has shown great chemistry with his linemates Andrei Kuzmenko and Samuel Honzek both in even strength situations and man-advantage situations and should remain locked into all fantasy lineups.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
3 weeks agoMontreal Canadiens right wing Cole Caufield continued his hot start to the season by scoring two goals in their victory over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday evening. Caufield has now scored at least one goal in every game this season and sits with a total four through the first week. His first goal came in the opening frame off a snapshot from the slot off a pass from defenseman Mike Matheson. Later in the third, the 23-year-old increased their lead by finishing a rebound from center Nick Suzuki. Caufield should remain locked into all lineups going forward and a popular pick in DFS given his hot stretch.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
3 weeks agoAnaheim Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal stopped all 30 shots he faced in the season opener en route to defeating the San Jose Sharks on Saturday evening. This was the 24-year-old's second career shutout. The shots were even in this game, but Dostal was able provide the difference maker in the divisional showdown. Last season, Dostal saw the most starts of his young career and held a modest .902 SV% and 3.33 GAA. Dostal will likely continue to serve as the starting option while John Gibson (abdomen) remains on the IR. Fantasy managers in shallow leagues should continue to monitor Dostal's development as he could be worth a look. DFS players should expect veteran James Reimer to get the nod in the second-half of a back-to-back on Sunday evening against the Vegas Golden Knights.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
3 weeks agoDallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger earned his second victory of the season in shutout fashion as he turned aside all 34 shots he faced against the New York Islanders. Oettinger continued his hot start on Saturday evening as he tallied 30+ saves for the second straight game. In the season opener, Oettinger stopped 33 of the 36 shots he faced en route to defeating the Nashville Predators. The Islanders had the slight majority of shots but the 25-year-old was able to keep the scoresheet clean on Saturday evening. This is a nice start for the former first-round selection as he posted a career worst 2.72 GAA and .905 SV% last season. Fantasy managers should continue to start Oettinger in all leagues and remains a top pick in all DFS formats.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
3 weeks agoDetroit Red Wings goaltender Cam Talbot stopped all 42 shots en route to earning his victory as a Detroit Red Wing. Ville Husso got the starting nod in their first game of the season but was eventually replaced by Talbot after he allowed four goals on 14 shots. Talbot was able to stop 12 of the 14 shots he faced in relief but looked much sharper on Saturday evening as he shutout the Nashville Predators. The Predators dominated play as they had more than 20 shots than Detroit. Nashville also had three power-play opportunities. This is a great sign for Talbot as he looks quite comfortable in his new home after posting a strong .913 SV% and 2.50 GAA last season in Los Angeles. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor this time share going forward as Talbot could eventually take over the starting role if he continues this strong play.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
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