Daily Fantasy Lineup Leans: Injuries, PP Looks and Goalie Starts for February 3

Today’s slate is shaped by a few key absences, some sneaky depth opportunities, and a repeat start in goal that could swing goalie categories. With Jack Hughes still sidelined, new faces are getting looks, while the Edmonton Oilers shuffle their forward group and the Capitals lean again on Clay Stevenson. Let’s break down how to handle these spots for today’s start/sit calls, power-play upside, and short-term streaming.

What’s New & Why It Matters

The headline injury is Hughes missing his second straight game for the Devils. Any time a top-line center is out, it ripples through even shallow fantasy leagues: linemates lose play-driving support, the power play can sputter, and managers are forced into uncomfortable pivots. For today, you should assume no contribution from Hughes and build your lineup around healthier options rather than hoping for a surprise return.

In Columbus, Dante Fabbro is expected back from injury for the Blue Jackets. He’s not a marquee name, but his return stabilizes their blue line and quietly opens up depth value in leagues that reward defensive peripherals. Even in a third-pair role, a healthy Fabbro can soak up minutes in tougher situations that translate into blocks and some secondary offense.

The Capitals are rolling Clay Stevenson out again as their starting goalie. Consecutive nods signal real trust from the coaching staff, and today’s matchup against the Flyers is favorable enough that he should be on your radar in any league where goaltending is tight. Volume plus a winnable game is exactly what you want when streaming a netminder.

Up front in Edmonton, Andrew Mangiapane slides into the lineup in place of Curtis Lazar. That swap suggests a tilt toward more offense and forechecking pressure in the Oilers’ depth group. Mangiapane’s fantasy value is heavily role-dependent, but any time he’s in the lineup on a team with elite top talent, there’s at least short-term streaming appeal—especially if he sneaks onto a secondary power-play unit.

Finally, in Buffalo, Josh Norris is inching closer to a return for the Sabres. He’s not expected to be a factor today, but his status is important for managers in deeper and dynasty formats. Once he’s back, he could quickly jump into a meaningful role and become a mid-season reinforcement at center.

Fantasy Implications

Points-Only

In points-only formats, Hughes being out is a straightforward bench situation. You can’t afford a zero from a premium slot, and the uncertainty around his exact return date makes him a hold-but-sit for today. If your roster is shallow, consider temporarily elevating a depth forward with a clear top-six or power-play role rather than trying to replace Hughes’ ceiling directly.

For today’s scoring upside, Stevenson is less relevant in pure points leagues unless you count goalie wins and shutouts, but his repeat start does make him a viable play if you’re chasing a win. Washington trusting him again suggests he’s not just a one-off spot starter. Against a beatable opponent, that’s enough to justify rolling him out over a more volatile backup stuck in a timeshare.

Mangiapane is the most interesting short-term forward play. As a third-line winger on Edmonton, his ceiling is tied to whether he gets any special-teams usage or time alongside the Oilers’ top offensive pieces. If you see him slotted with skilled linemates or on PP2, he’s a reasonable one-day plug-in for Hughes owners or anyone needing a warm body with some scoring touch.

Fabbro’s return is more subtle in points-only. His offensive ceiling is modest from a third pair, so he’s only in play in very deep formats where any defenseman with a stable role has value. Think of him as a floor stabilizer rather than a ceiling play—fine if you’re desperate for a start, but not someone to prioritize over higher-upside forwards.

Norris remains a stash-and-watch. He’s not contributing today, but if you have IR or a deep bench, keeping him parked until he’s officially back could pay off later in the month. Once active, he projects as a middle-six scoring option for Buffalo with the potential to move up if he clicks.

Categories / Bangers

Category managers should lean into what each of these situations offers beyond pure points. Stevenson is the clearest category asset today: another confirmed start means a shot at saves, a win, and potentially strong ratios if Washington keeps things tidy in front of him. If you’re trailing in goalie categories, he’s exactly the kind of gamble that can swing a weekly matchup.

Fabbro is a sneaky add in leagues that count hits and blocks. Returning from injury, he’s likely to be used in more defensive situations, which usually means more time in the shooting lanes and along the boards. Even from the third pair, he can quietly rack up peripherals that don’t show up in traditional box scores.

Mangiapane fits the classic bangers stream profile: he can contribute some shots, hits, and the occasional goal or assist, especially if he’s energized by re-entering the lineup. On a strong offensive team, even third-line minutes can be productive if he’s playing a direct, north-south game and getting to the net. For today, he’s a viable plug-in if you need a mix of volume stats with a bit of scoring upside.

Hughes’ absence hurts managers who rely on him for shots and power-play points. You can’t replicate his elite profile, but you can chase volume elsewhere: prioritize active skaters with heavy usage on the man advantage. If you’re unsure how much to weigh power-play deployment, our guide on how to value PP1 time is a good refresher when choosing between fringe options.

Norris is more of a future categories piece. Once he’s back, he can contribute shots and power-play production, but for today he’s simply a name to monitor rather than deploy.

Dynasty / Keeper

In dynasty and keeper formats, today’s news is less about one-day decisions and more about reading tea leaves. Hughes’ short absence doesn’t change his long-term outlook; he remains an elite building block. The key is to avoid panic moves—don’t sell low because of a minor multi-game injury. If anything, this kind of blip can create a small buy window in leagues where a contender is frustrated; use the NHL Trade Analyzer to sanity-check any offers.

Stevenson’s repeat start is more intriguing in long-term leagues. Multiple consecutive starts can be the first sign a goalie is earning real trust and carving out a larger role. If he strings together quality outings, he could move from fringe streamer to someone you consider keeping as a depth option in net.

Fabbro’s return is a reminder that steady, multi-cat defensemen have more value in dynasty than they do in redraft. If he re-establishes himself as a reliable minute-eater for Columbus, he can be a low-cost, long-term depth piece who fills out your roster behind higher-upside blueliners.

Norris is the primary dynasty watch. A successful return for the Sabres with consistent usage could restore his trajectory as a top-six center with power-play relevance. If he looks healthy and productive once back, consider him as a medium-term trade target before his price fully rebounds.

Who to Add / Stream / Watch

Clay Stevenson – Start/Stream (all formats): Confirmed again as the Capitals’ starter with a favorable matchup, making him a strong one-day goalie play.
Dante Fabbro – Add (deep categories): Returning from injury for the Blue Jackets, he can help with hits and blocks while providing steady depth minutes.
Andrew Mangiapane – Short-term stream (bangers/standard): Back in the Oilers’ lineup, he offers a mix of shots, hits, and opportunistic scoring on a high-powered team.
Jack Hughes – Sit (all formats): Still out for his second straight game, he should remain on your bench until he’s officially back.
Josh Norris – Watchlist/Stash (dynasty & deep redraft): Nearing a return for Buffalo, he could quickly regain a meaningful role once active.

Fantasy Takeaways

Bench Jack Hughes today across formats; plan your lineup as if he won’t play and avoid banking on a late surprise.
Clay Stevenson is a priority goalie stream thanks to another start and a beatable opponent, especially if you’re chasing wins and ratios.
Dante Fabbro’s return quietly boosts his value in categories leagues that reward hits and blocks, making him a viable depth add.
Andrew Mangiapane is a solid short-term bangers stream while he’s in the Oilers’ lineup, with bonus appeal if he sees any power-play time.
Keep Josh Norris on your watchlist or IR in deeper and dynasty formats; his eventual return for the Sabres could provide mid-season scoring help.

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