Daily Lineup Leans: Start/Sit Calls and Goalie Confidence for February 4

Today’s projected NHL lineups give fantasy managers a clear window into top-line usage, power-play auditions, and which goalies you can trust. With injuries shuffling depth charts and a few key returns, your edge comes from leaning into secure roles and favorable matchups rather than chasing names. Let’s break down how to handle Connor Bedard, Spencer Knight, Kirill Marchenko, Anton Lundell, and Tristan Jarry tonight.

What’s New & Why It Matters

The biggest storyline is in Chicago, where Bedard is locked in as the top-line center and Knight is confirmed to start in goal. For fantasy, that’s a green light to treat the Blackhawks’ top unit as a concentrated source of offense and to consider Knight as a viable categories play when the matchup isn’t brutal.

Columbus gets a boost with Marchenko returning from illness. His presence in a top-six role stabilizes the Blue Jackets’ scoring depth and should restore some power-play punch. If he slides right back into a prime offensive role, he’s instantly relevant in points formats and as a streaming wing in deeper leagues.

Florida welcomes back Lundell, who strengthens the middle of the lineup as a second-line center. His return not only helps his own value but also raises the floor of his linemates, especially if he’s trusted with offensive-zone starts and secondary power-play time.

In net, Edmonton is rolling with Jarry against the Flames. With his start confirmed, fantasy managers get another viable option for wins and ratios in categories leagues. Meanwhile, Montreal is expected to go with Samuel Montembeault, and Winnipeg is keeping its previous lineup intact, which signals coaching confidence and role stability across their roster.

Fantasy Implications

Points-Only

In pure scoring formats, Bedard is the headliner. As Chicago’s top-line center, he’s the focal point of every offensive-zone draw and the most likely driver of any multi-point night the Blackhawks generate. If he’s flirting with or already on the top power-play unit, you treat him as an automatic start regardless of matchup.

Marchenko’s return is sneaky important for points-only leagues. A top-six winger on Columbus with a scoring-minded profile, he’s the kind of player who can go on short heaters when healthy and deployed in offensive situations. If he’s back in a shooting role at even strength and on a main power-play unit, he’s a strong start in any league where roughly 150–200 forwards are active.

Lundell is more format-dependent. As a second-line center for Florida, his path to value is through steady secondary scoring and the occasional spike night when the Panthers’ offense rolls. In shallower points leagues he’s more of a matchup play, but in deeper setups or where you start multiple centers, his return to a prominent role is enough to justify a start if you need a safe floor.

Categories / Bangers

In multi-cat leagues, the goalie confirmations are the main story. Knight is locked in as Chicago’s starter, and when he draws a manageable matchup, he becomes a viable option for saves and a shot at a win. He’s especially useful if your league counts volume stats and you’re chasing starts this week.

Jarry’s confirmed start for Edmonton against Calgary gives you another solid categories option. On a team that can support him with offense, he’s positioned to help in wins and potentially save percentage when he’s on his game. If you’re debating between fringe streamers, the security of a confirmed start on a strong team often wins out.

Among skaters, Bedard’s shot volume and offensive usage make him a premium categories play even if hits and blocks aren’t a big part of his profile. Marchenko can contribute in goals, shots, and potentially power-play points if he’s back in his usual role. Lundell’s value in categories is more subtle—faceoff wins in some formats, modest shot totals, and decent plus-minus when Florida is rolling—but his return from absence means you can at least count on stable deployment again.

Dynasty / Keeper

For dynasty managers, today’s lineups mostly reinforce what you already know. Bedard being stapled to the top line at his age is exactly what you want to see; every high-leverage rep accelerates his path to elite status. There’s no reason to overthink it—he’s a foundational piece and a nightly start in any long-term format.

Knight’s confirmed starts are more meaningful in dynasty than in redraft. Every time he’s trusted with the crease, it signals organizational belief and gives him a chance to stabilize his long-term value. If he strings together competent outings, his stock rises quickly, making him interesting both as a hold and as a possible buy-low via the NHL Trade Analyzer.

Marchenko and Lundell both profile as mid-range dynasty assets whose value hinges on consistent top-six usage and power-play roles. Marchenko’s return from illness is encouraging—no long-term concern, and he jumps right back into a scoring role. Lundell’s spot as Florida’s second-line center is exactly the kind of deployment that can grow into a more prominent role over time if he continues to produce.

Who to Add / Stream / Watch

Connor Bedard – Add/Start (all formats): Locked-in top-line usage with prime offensive deployment makes him a must-start wherever he’s rostered.
Spencer Knight – Short-term stream (categories): Confirmed starter for Chicago; useful if you need goalie volume and a shot at a win in standard and deeper leagues.
Kirill Marchenko – Add/Start (points, deeper categories): Returning to a top-six scoring role in Columbus; strong streaming wing with goal-scoring upside.
Anton Lundell – Watchlist/Spot start (standard, add in deep): Back as Florida’s second-line center; safe depth scoring with some PP2 potential.
Tristan Jarry – Start (categories): Confirmed starter for Edmonton against Calgary; solid option for wins and ratios if you’re not overloaded in net.
Samuel Montembeault – Short-term stream (deep categories): Expected starter for Montreal; viable if you’re chasing saves in deeper formats and can absorb some risk.
Winnipeg top-six forwards – Watchlist/Stream (all formats): Stable lineup and roles make their top scorers reliable nightly options when the matchup is favorable.

Fantasy Takeaways

Start Bedard everywhere—his top-line role and offensive focus give him one of the highest ceilings on the slate.
Use Knight and Jarry as confident goalie starts in categories leagues where confirmed volume matters.
Activate Marchenko in points formats; his return to a top-six role in Columbus restores his scoring upside.
Lundell is a solid depth center play, especially in deeper leagues where second-line deployment carries real value.
Leverage confirmed starters and stable top-six roles over name value when making tight start/sit calls tonight.

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