Weekend Waiver Wire

The end of the season is winding down. All NHL teams have 15 or less games remaining before the regular season ends. It’s make-or-break time in most fantasy leagues as the playoffs approach. Today we will examine some viable options for you not only for the weekend but for the stretch run!

Jake Allen – New Jersey Devils (33% owned on Fantrax and 29% owned on Yahoo)
Allen was mentioned last week, and we will mention him again today. He is still very sparsely owned in most leagues. He has now made four starts since being traded to New Jersey, and performed quite well in those starts. He is 3-1-0 with a 1.76 goal against average, a 0.946 save percentage, 123 saves, and zero shutouts. The Devils are six points out of a wild card spot to make the playoffs. Based on usage thus far since the trade deadline, Allen should be the goaltender for their playoff push. If he is available in your league and you are making a playoff push as well or trying to finalize your team lineup for the playoffs, he could be a difference maker for you.

David Rittich – Los Angeles Kings (26% owned on Fantrax and 20% owned on Yahoo)
Cam Talbot has taken back control of the crease in Los Angeles. Talbot has started nine games to Rittich’s six games over the past 30 days. Both goalies have almost identical stats over this period, with Talbot having more volume due to the advantage in games played. Rittich is not taking a back seat without a fight though! He has shutouts in two of his past three starts. During the past 30 days in six games played, Rittich is 3-3-0 with a 2.00 goal against average, a 0.925 save percentage, 148 saves, and two shutouts. Talbot more than likely gets the start tomorrow (Saturday) against the Tampa Bay Lightning, unless the two shutouts sway L.A.’s coaches to ride the hotter hand. Worst case is Rittich probably gets the start on Monday against the Vancouver Canucks. Neither matchup is ideal, but the volume should be there with potentially solid metrics.

James Reimer – Detroit Red Wings (16% owned on Fantrax and 12% owned on Yahoo)
Alex Lyon was a popular add and streamer the past 30 days. But, in the past 14 days, he has floundered. Enter the journeyman James Reimer. Over his past five games played, he is 3-1-0 with a 2.98 goal against average, a 0.911 save percentage, 144 saves, and zero Shutouts. Not earth-shattering statistics, but solid nonetheless. With the Red Wings positioned in the last wild card spot for the playoffs in the Eastern Conference and only three points up on the Washington Capitals, Detroit will run with whomever gives them the best chance to win. That is Reimer at the moment.

Anthony Stolarz – Florida Panthers (22% owned on Fantrax and 20% owned on Yahoo)
Sergei Bobrovsky is the de facto starter in Florida. This relegates Stolarz solely to a backup role, barring injury. Thus, he will only start in back-to-back situations. Well, speak of the devil! The Panthers have exactly that this weekend. They play the New York Rangers on Saturday and the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday. Stolarz won his last start against the Calgary Flames, saving 34 of 35 shots for a 0.971 save percentage and 1.00 goals against average. Florida is a solid team, sitting at second place in the Atlantic in the Eastern Conference. They are 6-4-0 in their last ten games, but have lost three in a row. Hopefully Stolarz will get the start Sunday against the Flyers, in a better matchup on paper at least.

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