Daily Lineup Leans: Start/Sit, PP1 Auditions and Goalie Calls for January 28

Today’s projected NHL lineups are loaded with moving parts: injured stars out, traded players debuting, and goalies shuffling into and out of the crease. For fantasy managers, that means decisions on tight start/sit calls, short-term streams, and how aggressively to chase new power-play roles. Let’s break down the most actionable situations for tonight’s slate.

What’s New & Why It Matters

The biggest storyline is the New York Islanders reshaping their lineup after recent trades. Ondrej Palat is expected to slide directly into a top-six role in his Islanders debut, with a real chance to see PP1 looks as the team searches for more playmaking on the half-wall. On the blue line, Carson Soucy joins the defense corps and should immediately handle a steady even-strength workload with potential secondary power-play time.

In goal, the Philadelphia Flyers get a boost as Dan Vladar comes off injured reserve and is projected to start. Any time a team restores its preferred starter, it shifts the fantasy calculus: volume, win equity, and confidence all tick up. Meanwhile, the Ottawa Senators continue to lean on James Reimer as their regular starter, reinforcing his status as a dependable daily option rather than a pure streamer.

The Columbus Blue Jackets welcome back Miles Wood, who returns to a third-line role. While that isn’t prime scoring territory, his physical style and north-south game can quickly make him relevant in leagues that count hits and shots if his minutes creep up or he earns spot duty on a scoring line.

Elsewhere, notable injuries to key New York Rangers pieces like Igor Shesterkin and Adam Fox change matchup dynamics. Opponents facing a Rangers team without its elite goalie and top defenseman get a subtle offensive bump, which matters when you’re weighing fringe skater starts or deciding whether to trust a streaming goalie against them.

Fantasy Implications

Points-Only

In pure scoring formats, Palat is the headline. A fresh start on the Islanders with a likely top-six assignment gives him access to better linemates and more offensive-zone usage than he was seeing before the trade. If he lands on PP1, even for an audition, his assist upside jumps immediately. For today, he’s a viable start in most points-only leagues if you have a flexible slot, especially if you need a short-term injection of playmaking.

Soucy’s value in points-only is more muted. Even if he gets some power-play scraps, his fantasy appeal leans more toward peripherals than raw scoring. Treat him as a depth plug-in only if you’re desperate on defense and chasing a lucky secondary assist rather than banking on sustained offense.

On the goalie side, Vladar’s return as the Flyers’ projected starter makes him a relevant option in points-only leagues that count wins and saves. Coming off injury, there’s always some risk, but the fact he’s immediately back in the crease suggests the team is comfortable with his readiness. He’s a reasonable start if your alternatives are backups or timeshares in tough matchups.

Reimer, by contrast, is less of a question mark and more of a set-and-forget option. With the Senators continuing to ride him as their main starter, he offers a stable floor of volume and a decent chance at wins when Ottawa isn’t badly outmatched. In tight weekly matchups, he should be in your lineup unless you’re overflowing with elite goalie options.

Categories / Bangers

Soucy’s Islanders debut is far more interesting in multi-cat and bangers formats. His physical style should translate into hits and blocks right away, and a new team often means a short-term spike in energy and ice time as coaches test how much he can handle. He’s a strong candidate for a one- or two-game stream if you’re chasing peripherals from the blue line.

Wood’s return for Columbus is another bangers-specialty angle. Slotted on the third line, he can still rack up hits, shots, and the occasional PIM in limited minutes. If he works his way into more offensive situations or sees second-unit power-play usage, he becomes a sneaky depth add in deeper leagues. For today, he’s more of a situational start if you’re behind in physical categories and can afford a lower scoring ceiling.

Vladar’s value in category leagues hinges on how much you trust the Flyers’ defensive structure in front of him. Coming off IR, he’s a high-variance start: he could give you strong save totals and a win, or he could hurt your ratios if there’s rust. If you’re chasing volume and wins, he’s worth rolling out; if you’re protecting a narrow GAA/Save% lead, you might lean more conservative.

Reimer’s steady workload in Ottawa makes him a safer category play. He may not post elite ratios every night, but the combination of starts, saves, and reasonable win equity is valuable, especially if your other goalies are in timeshares or facing brutal matchups. In most standard category leagues, he’s a clear start today unless you’re overloaded with top-tier options.

Dynasty / Keeper

In long-term formats, Palat is more of a short- to medium-term asset than a cornerstone, but his move to the Islanders can still shift his trajectory. If he clicks in a top-six role and locks down PP1 usage, his trade value in dynasty bumps up. Managers in deeper leagues should monitor his early games closely and consider using the NHL Trade Analyzer if his perceived value in your league spikes after a hot start.

Soucy’s dynasty appeal is modest but not negligible. A stable role on the Islanders’ blue line with consistent minutes can make him a long-term depth piece in multi-cat formats. If he carves out a regular role on the second power-play unit, he becomes a viable hold in deeper dynasty leagues that reward hits and blocks alongside modest point totals.

Vladar’s return is more meaningful in keeper formats where goalie depth is thin. If he re-establishes himself as a reliable starter for Philadelphia, he can be a multi-year hold as a volume option. Conversely, if he struggles out of the gate, it may signal a timeshare or future competition, so dynasty managers should treat this return as an evaluation window rather than an automatic long-term lock.

Wood’s profile remains that of a depth power forward in dynasty. His path to sustained top-six usage is uncertain, but his physical toolkit keeps him relevant in deep leagues. Use this return from injury to reassess his role and deployment; if he’s stuck in a pure third-line grinder spot with no special-teams time, he’s more of a streaming piece than a must-hold.

Who to Add / Stream / Watch

Ondrej Palat – Add/Stream (points-only, standard): Top-six role and potential PP1 audition with the Islanders make him a strong short-term scoring play.
Carson Soucy – Short-term stream (bangers, deep): Physical defenseman debuting for the Islanders, ideal for hits/blocks streams with a bit of upside.
Dan Vladar – Add (categories, standard): Activated from IR and starting for the Flyers, offering immediate volume with reasonable win potential.
Miles Wood – Watchlist/Spot stream (bangers, deep): Returning from injury in a third-line role, useful if you need hits and shots with some scoring upside.
James Reimer – Start (all formats where rostered): Entrenched as the Senators’ regular starter, providing steady volume and a solid floor for today’s matchup.

Fantasy Takeaways

Prioritize starting James Reimer today; his steady role in Ottawa makes him one of the more reliable goalie options on the slate.
Stream Ondrej Palat aggressively in points-only leagues as he debuts in a top-six Islanders role with a real shot at PP1 time.
Use Carson Soucy as a short-term bangers stream, banking on hits and blocks in his first games with the Islanders.
Consider adding Dan Vladar if you need goalie volume, but weigh your ratio risk carefully coming off his injury.
Stash Miles Wood on your watchlist in multi-cat formats and be ready to stream him if his minutes or offensive deployment increase.

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