Weekend Waiver Wire

Dennis Hildeby - Toronto Maple Leafs (12% Yahoo / 27% Fantrax) [OTT - Sat / @DET - Sun]

Hildeby has posted a 2-5-3 record so far this year with a 2.87 goals against and .911 save percentage and one shutout in addition to a 30.8% quality start rate and 7.07GSAx. He’s been a bit unlucky due mainly to the team's defensive play in front of him, that being said, i’m not overly confident in rostering him. A combination of the Maple Leafs 26th ranked defense (3.33 GA/GP) having to face off against the Ottawa Senators (8th ranked - 3.22 GF/GP) and Detroit Red Wings (14th ranked - 3.11 GF/GP) offensive punch doesn’t bode well for Toronto’s backup netminder. Look to more favorable options if possible, if not, it’s a calculated gamble.

David Rittich - New York Islanders (12% Yahoo / 20% Fantrax) [NYR - Sat / @CLB - Sun]

Rittich has been providing the Islanders with some solid play this year sporting an 8-3-2 record accompanied by a 2.42 goals against and .913 save percentage and one shutout in addition to a 69.2% quality start rate and a 11.57 GSAx. What’s even more impressive is New York’s defense which is currently ranked in the top ten (8th overall - 2.70 GA/GP) which is giving them a chance on a nightly basis. A back-to-back set against a New York Rangers team that is struggling mightily at home (5-10-3 at MSG) and Columbus Blue Jackets squad that has gone 3-6-1 in their last ten games played with an Eastern Conference worst -17 goal differential would suggest a rather favorable option for fantasy managers this weekend. A very solid option.

John Gibson - Detroit Red Wings (30% Yahoo / 49%Fantrax) [@CAR - Sat / TOR - Sun]

Cam Talbot - Detroit Red Wings (14% Yahoo / 39% Fantrax)

John Gibson has been on fire of late as the former Anaheim Duck has posted an 8-0 record in his last eight games played with a phenomenal 2.13 goals against and .927 save percentage and two shutouts with six of those games being quality starts. Meanwhile, Cam Talbot has been relegated to the backup role with Gibson's recent run of strong play and I would fade him in most cases until he can get back on track. It will be a sizable test for Gibson as I expect he will be tabbed for the start against a Carolina Hurricanes team that has lost their last two games, however, with the way the Red Wings have been playing of late (8-2-0 in their last ten games played) I would not be shy in rostering him……ride the hot hand!

Arvid Soderblom - Chicago Blackhawks (1% Yahoo / 9% Fantrax) [@DAL - Sat / PIT - Sun]

To keep things simple, I would be turning to Hildeby before adding the Blackhawks backup netminder as Chicago has slipped to the bottom of the Western Conference standings without star centre Connor Bedard. The team has dropped their last six games while they have gone 2-8-0 in their last ten games played. Combine that with matchups against a formidable Dallas Stars squad that has gone 7-2-1 in their last ten and a Pittsburgh Penguins team that is struggling at the moment yet can throw the likes of Crosby / Malkin / Rust / Karlsson over the boards and you have what I would say is the least favorable option this weekend. It’s a hard pass for me.

Jonas Johansson - Tampa Bay Lightning (6% Yahoo / 15% Fantrax) [@FLA - Sat / MTL - Sun]

Johansson’s numbers don’t jump off the page as the now 30-year-old has posted a 7-6-1 record accompanied by a 2.76 goals against and .897 save percentage in addition to a 60.0% quality start rate and -0.43 GSAx. I expect Johansson to draw the Florida game this weekend which should have fantasy managers proceeding with caution as the Panthers are 8-2-0 in their last ten games while the Lightning are puttering along with a 4-5-1 record over their last ten games played. The Lightning do own the league’s seventh ranked offense at 3.25 GF/GP, however, the Panthers have been a very resilient bunch without team captain Sasha Barkov and truculent winger Matthew Tkachuk. Another calculated gamble, albeit a favorable one.

There you have it folks, some streaming options to consider for your fantasy squad heading into the weekend.

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