Weekend Outlook: This weekend's must starts

Happy Friday everyone! Little bit of a different looking weekend slate upcoming with a loaded Saturday and very light New Year’s Day Sunday. With most clubs playing a back-to-back this week, we’ll try and predict who we think will start in net in some good spots. Let’s dive in!

Spencer Martin, Vancouver Canucks (Rostered in 5% of ESPN leagues, 39% Fantrax, 21% Yahoo) 18 starts, 11 wins, 1 OTL, 3.57 GA/G, .886Sv%, 0 SO

Spencer Martin should be the starting goaltender for Vancouver when the Canucks faceoff against the Calgary Flames on Saturday and I like this start for both fantasy and DFS. On the fantasy side of things, I think we can assume that Martin should be a lock to start in net as Collin Delia got the start for the Canucks previously versus Winnipeg on Thursday. I think we can also assume that JT Miller won’t be yelling at Martin to leave the ice for an extra attacker if the Canucks are down but hey, I’m not saying it’s impossible.

What I like most here in this matchup for DFS is the Calgary shot rates. The Flames have the most shots on goal by any club in the past month and like we say, volume is king in DFS. Martin looked fine during his last start out versus the Sharks after three shaky starts previously where he allowed five goals in each. Although that’s worrisome, I think the spot against Calgary could be fine paired with a Quinn Hughes one off. Martin beat the Flames in his last start in mid-December in a 4-3 shootout win.

Brian Elliott, Tampa Bay Lightning (Rostered in 99% of ESPN leagues, 15% Fantrax, 6% Yahoo) 9 starts, 7 wins, 0 OTL, 3.31 GA/G, .894Sv%, 0 SO

With starting goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy playing in each of the Lightning’s last two games on a road back-to-back against the Montreal Canadiens and the New York Rangers, we would assume that Brian Elliott should be the starter when the Lightning take on the Arizona Coyotes at home on Saturday.

Elliott has been off and on as a backup for Tampa this season and I think this play is for anyone in fantasy leagues where you play only one goaltender and need someone for Saturday. In leagues where you play two, I’d have a hard time seeing you in need of someone in net just given the size of Saturday’s slate, so I think you’re covered there. It’s a hard sell to start Elliott who looked lost in his last game out versus Detroit, but if there’s any silver lining it’s that this is Tampa Bay playing Arizona.

For DFS Elliott is going to be extremely pricey if he is indeed named the starter, as you’re almost playing him at that price for the shutout. If this is Vasilevskiy, I think it’s in play.

Tristan Jarry, Pittsburgh Penguins (Rostered in 96% of ESPN leagues, 99% Fantrax, 97% Yahoo) 23 starts, 15 win, 4 OTL, 2.77 GA/G, .918Sv%, SO

This might be my favorite play overall this weekend as Tristan Jarry should be named the starter tonight versus New Jersey. Casey DeSmith got the start in the Penguins last contest against the Detroit Red Wings in a game that I watched but still haven’t the slightest idea as to what exactly happened.

Jarry really hit his stride in December, winning his first seven outings in a row. He did have some luck go against him in some of those contests with a fluky early goal here and there or a redirect early in a contest, but he remained sharp in net and really looked locked in for most of the month. I think if you’re in between Jarry and another goaltender tonight, I’d say that Jarry is the one to start as he’ll face a New Jersey club that has struggled as of late going 2-7-0 in their last ten games.

For continued fantasy news and notes throughout the season, follow me on Twitter @ndySanz