Daily Fantasy Lineup Leans: Goalies, Injuries and PP1 Angles

Today’s projected lineups are all about goaltending decisions and how key injuries reshape opportunity. With several backup or fringe starters in the crease and major names like Erik Karlsson and Thatcher Demko sidelined, fantasy managers need to lean into matchup context, PP1 deployment, and short-term streaming value rather than name recognition.

What’s New & Why It Matters

The slate centers on three fantasy-relevant goalie starts and two major injury situations that ripple through multiple formats.

Samuel Ersson is expected to start for the Flyers against the Penguins. With Philadelphia trusting him as their starter today, he becomes a viable stream where you’re chasing a win and reasonable ratios. The matchup isn’t soft, but the team context is stable enough that he’s more than a desperation play.
Alex Nedeljkovic is projected to go for the Sharks versus the Capitals. San Jose’s overall strength is a concern, but for category leagues that value saves and volume, Nedeljkovic’s workload makes him a legitimate start if you can stomach some risk in goals-against.
Kevin Lankinen is lined up to start for the Canucks against the Blue Jackets. With Columbus offering a more favorable matchup, Lankinen profiles as the safest of the three streamers for both win equity and ratios.
Erik Karlsson is out for the Penguins with a lower-body injury. His absence opens the door for other Pittsburgh defensemen to absorb PP1 and offensive-zone usage, which can create sneaky short-term value on the blue line.
Thatcher Demko remains sidelined for the Canucks, which keeps Lankinen in the crease and locks him in as a priority stream. It also means Vancouver may simplify their defensive structure, slightly boosting goalie confidence.

From a PP1 standpoint, Karlsson’s injury is the biggest lever. Whenever a high-end power-play quarterback is out, the replacement inherits prime offensive touches. Even if that replacement isn’t named in projections yet, fantasy managers should be ready to pounce on whoever lands that top-unit role, especially in deeper formats. If you’re unsure how much to weigh that promotion, our guide on how to value PP1 time is a useful framework.

Fantasy Implications

Points-Only

In points-only leagues, goalie decisions are mostly about wins and minimizing disaster outings. Among today’s starters, Lankinen stands out as the most attractive option: a capable netminder behind a solid Canucks team in a friendly matchup with the Blue Jackets. If you’re debating between a fringe skater and Lankinen for your last active slot, lean Lankinen for the win potential.

Ersson is more of a matchup-neutral play. The Penguins can generate offense even without Karlsson, so there is some risk of a multi-goal against night. But if your alternatives are bench-level options, his shot at a win and reasonable save total still makes him a viable start.

Nedeljkovic is the most volatile of the trio in points-only. The Sharks’ team strength and the Capitals’ ability to exploit defensive lapses mean the floor is low. He’s a start if you’re chasing volume and don’t have a safer option, but he’s the first one to bench if you have a more stable goalie available.

On the skater side, Karlsson’s absence should make you cautious about overrating Pittsburgh’s secondary scoring today. Losing their top offensive defenseman can slow puck movement and reduce overall power-play efficiency. If you were on the fence about a marginal Penguins forward, this tilts you toward a sit.

Categories / Bangers

Category leagues reward volume, and that’s where today’s goalie slate gets interesting. Nedeljkovic, despite the team context, can be a sneaky asset if you need saves. San Jose is likely to concede plenty of shots to Washington, giving him a path to strong save totals even in a loss. If you’re comfortably ahead in ratios but chasing saves or appearances, he’s a green-light start.

Lankinen offers the best balance: strong shot at a win, decent save volume, and a matchup that shouldn’t crater your goals-against or save percentage. In tight weekly matchups, he’s the priority add or start if available.

Ersson sits between them: likely to see a healthy shot volume against the Penguins but with more win upside than Nedeljkovic thanks to a sturdier team environment. If your opponent is streaming aggressively, matching with Ersson plus Lankinen is a solid way to keep pace in goalie categories.

With Karlsson out, expect the Penguins’ blue line to rely more on committee contributions for blocks and hits. That can be useful in deep leagues where any defenseman seeing extra minutes has value. Similarly, Demko’s absence keeps Canucks goalies busy; Lankinen could see a few more shots than Demko typically would as Vancouver adjusts, which is good news for saves without necessarily destroying ratios in this matchup.

Dynasty / Keeper

In dynasty and keeper formats, today’s slate is less about long-term talent evaluation and more about tracking who steps up when stars are missing.

Ersson, Nedeljkovic, and Lankinen are all in the “prove it” tier of goalies. None are entrenched as long-term, unquestioned starters, but every quality start in a spot like this nudges their organization’s confidence. If you’re stashing goalies, monitor usage trends: multiple consecutive starts or strong outings in tough matchups can hint at a larger role next season.

Karlsson’s injury is a reminder of how fragile elite offensive defensemen can be. In keepers, you don’t move off him because of a short-term absence, but you should be aware that the Penguins will eventually need a succession plan on the blue line. Whoever claims PP1 in his absence today becomes a name to file away as a speculative future asset.

Demko’s ongoing absence similarly underscores the importance of depth in goal. Lankinen’s extended run gives him a chance to carve out a more stable 1B or high-end backup role. In deep dynasty formats, that kind of role has real value, especially on a competitive Canucks team.

Who to Add / Stream / Watch

Samuel Ersson – Add/Stream (standard leagues): Expected start for the Flyers with a realistic shot at a win and solid save volume makes him a strong one-day goalie plug.
Alex Nedeljkovic – Stream (categories, especially saves): Likely to face heavy shot volume against the Capitals, ideal if you need saves and can afford some ratio risk.
Kevin Lankinen – Priority Add/Stream (all formats): Inherits a favorable matchup versus the Blue Jackets on a good Canucks squad, offering the best blend of win equity and ratios.
Erik Karlsson – Hold but Sit (all formats): Injured and unavailable today; don’t drop in competitive leagues, but ensure he’s on your bench and consider streaming a replacement defenseman.
Thatcher Demko – IR Stash (all formats): Still out with a lower-body issue; move him to IR and use the open spot to stream Lankinen or another short-term goalie.
Penguins PP1 replacement D – Watchlist (deep leagues): Whoever steps into Karlsson’s power-play role today is an immediate speculative add in deeper formats given the quality of Pittsburgh’s top unit.

Fantasy Takeaways

Stream Samuel Ersson confidently if you need a spot start in net; the Flyers give him a reasonable floor and win upside.
Alex Nedeljkovic is a high-risk, high-volume play best suited for category managers chasing saves rather than protecting ratios.
Kevin Lankinen is today’s top goalie stream, with Demko out and a cushy matchup against the Blue Jackets boosting his outlook.
With Erik Karlsson sidelined, be ready to pounce on the Penguins defenseman who lands PP1 duties, especially in deeper leagues.
Thatcher Demko should be stashed on IR while you mine short-term value from Vancouver’s crease, with Lankinen the primary beneficiary.

Source: NHL.com. See the original for full details.