Daily Fantasy Lineup Leans: Projected Lines and Goalies for January 2, 2026

With a compact slate and several injury-driven lineup changes, today is all about squeezing value from matchups, power-play auditions, and goalie confidence. The projected lineups highlight a strong spot for Carter Hart, a marquee Winter Classic start for Igor Shesterkin, and a key blue-line return in Columbus. Let’s break down how to handle these situations for today’s start/sit calls and short-term fantasy moves.

What’s New & Why It Matters

The headline in Vegas is that Hart is expected to start for the Golden Knights against the Blues. With Jack Eichel still sidelined, Vegas leans even more on structure and goaltending, which actually boosts Hart’s volume-based value in categories formats. The matchup against St. Louis profiles as favorable enough that he moves from fringe streamer to recommended start in most leagues.

In New York, Shesterkin draws the spotlight Winter Classic start for the Rangers against the Panthers. Florida is dealing with injuries to Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk, which dings their offensive punch and slightly softens the matchup for Shesterkin. Expect shot volume to remain high, but the combination of reduced firepower and Shesterkin’s talent makes him a strong play rather than a purely volume-based gamble.

Columbus gets a major stabilizer back with Zach Werenski returning from a five-game absence. His presence should immediately upgrade the Blue Jackets’ transition game and power-play puck movement. That has ripple effects for the entire offense and could quietly help their goalie situation by reducing time spent hemmed in their own zone.

Up front for Columbus, Danton Heinen debuts in a middle-six role. On a team looking for scoring depth, any competent finisher who can stick in the top nine and see secondary power-play looks is worth monitoring. Heinen’s deployment today will tell us whether he’s just a body or a real streaming option.

Finally, Eichel’s continued absence for the Golden Knights reshapes their top six and power play. Without their primary offensive driver, secondary scorers have to shoulder more responsibility, but it also lowers the overall ceiling of Vegas stacks in points-only formats for today’s slate.

Fantasy Implications

Points-Only

In pure scoring formats, Shesterkin is the priority goalie play. The Winter Classic setting doesn’t change the fantasy math much, but the combination of heavy workload and a Panthers lineup missing Barkov and Tkachuk nudges his win and save potential up. He’s a clear start wherever you roster him and a strong daily play if your league allows same-day goalie moves.

Werenski’s return is the sneaky points-only storyline. As Columbus’ top-pair defenseman, he’s the likeliest candidate to run the top power-play unit and log big minutes at even strength. If your league rewards defensemen scoring heavily and he’s been dropped during his injury, today is the time to stash before the box scores catch up. Even if he’s not fully ramped up, the role alone gives him a meaningful floor.

Heinen is more of a speculative scoring add. In points-only, he’s best viewed as a short-term streamer if you see him riding shotgun with Columbus’ better offensive pieces or getting PP2 time. Watch his usage closely today; if he’s stapled to checking duties with no power-play exposure, you can pass in shallower formats.

On the Vegas side, Eichel being out lowers the ceiling for their top-six forwards today. You’re still starting your locked-in Golden Knights in deeper leagues, but this is not an ideal spot to chase secondary scorers in points-only formats unless you’re desperate for games played.

Categories / Bangers

In multi-cat leagues, Hart is the key decision point. The projected start against the Blues offers a nice blend of win equity and manageable risk. St. Louis can generate chances, but they’re not an elite offensive juggernaut, so Hart profiles as a solid play for saves, ratios, and a decent shot at the win. If you’re weighing him against a fringe option in a tougher matchup, lean Hart.

Shesterkin remains an auto-start in categories, but the context is important: a high-profile outdoor game usually means both teams are motivated to push, and the Panthers, even without Barkov and Tkachuk, can still fire a lot of pucks. Expect strong save totals; the risk is more about potential late-game chaos than matchup quality. You’re starting him regardless, but don’t be shocked if the line isn’t as tidy as the underlying performance.

Werenski’s value in bangers formats comes from his shot volume and potential for blocks alongside his offensive contributions. Coming off injury, he may not immediately hit peak peripherals, but his role suggests that once he’s up to speed, he’ll help across multiple categories. For today, he’s more of a fringe start in shallow leagues and a must-start in deeper ones that reward defensemen heavily.

Heinen can chip in shots and the occasional hit, but his primary appeal is as a depth scoring and SOG streamer. In standard 12-team bangers leagues, he’s more of a watchlist name until we see sustained usage with skilled linemates or power-play time.

Dynasty / Keeper

Werenski is the main dynasty storyline. A top-pair, offensive-leaning defenseman returning from a short absence is exactly the kind of player you want to buy before the production spike. If a frustrated manager in your league soured on his durability, this is a good moment to explore a deal using your NHL Trade Analyzer as a baseline. Today’s game is more about confirming he’s healthy and back in his usual role than chasing immediate stats.

Heinen is a deeper-league dynasty watch. At his age and role, he’s unlikely to suddenly become a cornerstone asset, but a stable middle-six job with some power-play usage can make him a useful depth piece in 16+ team formats or leagues with large benches. Track whether Columbus trusts him in scoring situations over the next couple of weeks, starting with today’s debut.

For Hart and Shesterkin, today doesn’t change their long-term outlooks much. Shesterkin remains an elite long-term asset; Hart is more of a volatile goalie whose value swings with team context. A strong outing against the Blues would help reinforce confidence, but dynasty decisions on him should be driven by your risk tolerance and league goalie scarcity, not a single start.

Who to Add / Stream / Watch

Carter Hart – Add/Start (standard leagues): Favorable projected matchup against the Blues makes him a strong streaming start for saves and win potential.
Igor Shesterkin – Must-start: Outdoor Winter Classic start versus a banged-up Panthers squad offers elite upside in both volume and win odds.
Zach Werenski – Add/Watch (all formats): Returning to a top-pair, likely PP1 role in Columbus; stash now before his production normalizes.
Danton Heinen – Short-term stream (deep leagues): Debuting in a middle-six role for Columbus with a chance to seize secondary scoring and PP2 minutes.
Jack Eichel – Bench/IR hold: Still out for the Golden Knights today; keep him on IR and don’t count on him for any immediate production.

Fantasy Takeaways

Start Hart confidently as a streaming goalie; the matchup with St. Louis is good enough to justify rolling him out in most categories leagues.
Lock Shesterkin into your lineup; the Winter Classic plus a weakened Panthers offense gives him both ceiling and a solid floor.
Prioritize adding or activating Werenski, especially in leagues that reward defensemen scoring and power-play production.
Use Heinen as a speculative streamer in deeper formats, but let today’s deployment guide whether you commit beyond a short look.
Keep Eichel parked on IR and adjust your Golden Knights expectations downward for today’s slate without their top offensive driver.

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