Daily Lineup Leans: Today’s Starts, Sits, and Goalie Confidence

Today’s slate is all about reacting quickly to injuries, goalie confirmations, and last-minute lineup tweaks. With the Penguins missing Sidney Crosby, a potential debut for Tye Kartye on the Rangers, and strong goalie spots for Jeremy Swayman and Igor Shesterkin, fantasy managers need to be decisive. Let’s break down how to handle today’s start/sit calls, power-play auditions, and goalie confidence tiers.

What’s New & Why It Matters

The headline news is Crosby’s lower-body injury keeping him out of the Penguins–Rangers matchup. That not only removes an automatic start from your lineup, it also drags down the overall offensive ceiling for Pittsburgh’s top six and their power play. Anyone who relies on Penguins forwards for exposure to Crosby’s playmaking should temper expectations today.

On the other bench, the Rangers may work in Kartye after claiming him on waivers. He profiles as a depth forward, but on a strong offensive team, even a third-line or second power-play role can have streaming value if the deployment is right. Watch where he slots in during warmups and whether he sneaks into any man-advantage time.

In goal, Swayman is expected to start for the Bruins against the Flyers after returning from the Olympics, while Shesterkin is confirmed for the Rangers in that Crosby-less matchup. Both situations look favorable: Swayman gets a manageable opponent with a strong defensive structure in front of him, and Shesterkin faces a Penguins lineup missing its engine.

For fantasy purposes, today is about leaning into those goalie edges, downgrading any Penguins skaters who depended on Crosby, and monitoring whether Kartye’s debut comes with a real opportunity or just a fourth-line look.

Fantasy Implications

Points-Only

In points-only formats, Crosby being out is a straightforward bench decision if your platform still lists him as active. Make sure he’s on IR or your bench and not clogging a starting spot. Beyond that, you should slightly downgrade any Penguins forwards who typically ride shotgun with him; the power play loses a key distributor, which can turn a top-tier unit into something closer to league average for the night.

On the Rangers side, Shesterkin’s confirmation doesn’t directly affect scoring formats, but it does tilt the game script. A more controlled, lower-event game benefits Rangers skaters who can capitalize on fewer but higher-quality chances. If Kartye gets into the lineup in a middle-six role, he’s more of a speculative watch than a must-start; in points-only, you generally want to see at least some top-six or PP2 usage before rolling him out.

For Boston, Swayman starting against the Flyers suggests the Bruins expect to control play. That’s good news for any Bruins scorers you roster: more offensive zone time, more chances for multi-point nights, and a strong likelihood that Swayman keeps the game stable rather than turning into a track meet.

Categories / Bangers

In multi-category leagues, Crosby’s absence hurts not just goals and assists but also shots volume and any peripheral stats he contributes. If you were counting on him to anchor shots or power-play points, you may need to chase those categories elsewhere on your roster or via a short-term stream.

Penguins depth players might see a bump in ice time, but with a tougher matchup against Shesterkin and a strong Rangers defensive structure, the upside is limited. You can stream them for hits or blocks if your league rewards those heavily, but don’t expect them to replace Crosby’s scoring output for a single night.

Kartye, if he dresses, could offer some peripheral value—depth forwards often bring hits and some shots—but until we see his exact role, he’s more of a deep-league bangers flier than a standard-league play. If he lands on a checking line, think of him as a hits streamer; if he sneaks into a more skilled role, his scoring ceiling rises.

For goalies, Swayman and Shesterkin both project as strong category contributors today. Wins, save percentage, and potentially even a shutout chase are all in play given their matchups. In categories leagues where volume matters, these are the types of starts you prioritize over more volatile options, even if another goalie on your roster technically has a softer opponent on paper.

Dynasty / Keeper

From a long-term perspective, Crosby’s injury doesn’t change his dynasty value much unless it becomes a recurring issue, but it’s a reminder to contenders that aging stars carry more short-term volatility. If your window is wide open, you might explore using an NHL Trade Analyzer style approach to see if moving off an older core piece for a younger asset makes sense in your league context.

Kartye is the more interesting dynasty name today. Being claimed by the Rangers suggests there’s at least some organizational belief he can contribute. If he earns trust quickly and carves out a steady role, he could become a useful depth scorer in deeper dynasty formats. For now, he’s a stash-or-watch candidate in leagues that roster a large number of forwards.

Swayman and Shesterkin are already established as long-term assets in net. Today’s starts simply reinforce their status: Swayman as a strong option who can be streamed or held depending on league depth, and Shesterkin as a locked-in top-tier starter you build your goalie plan around for years.

Who to Add / Stream / Watch

Igor Shesterkin – Add/Auto-start (all leagues): Confirmed starter in a favorable matchup against a Penguins team missing Crosby; elite win and ratios upside.
Jeremy Swayman – Strong stream (standard and deep): Expected start versus the Flyers on a structured Bruins team makes him one of today’s safest goalie plays.
Tye Kartye – Watchlist (deep and dynasty): Newly claimed by the Rangers; monitor deployment and any power-play looks before committing a starting spot.
Sidney Crosby – Bench/IR (all leagues): Out with a lower-body injury, so make sure he’s not occupying an active lineup slot today.

Fantasy Takeaways

Bench Crosby everywhere today and adjust expectations downward for the entire Penguins offense.
Lock in Shesterkin as a top-tier start with elevated win equity against a weakened Penguins lineup.
Stream Swayman confidently versus the Flyers, especially if you need a boost in wins and save percentage.
Stash or watch Kartye in deeper formats; his Rangers debut could lead to a meaningful role if he earns trust quickly.
Use today’s goalie edges to break close weekly matchups instead of chasing risky, high-event games.

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