Fantasy Daily Lineup Guide: Starts, Sits and Goalie Leans for November 29

Today’s projected NHL lineups are loaded with injury news, goalie uncertainty and a few sneaky PP1 auditions. This guide focuses on what matters for fantasy: who you can trust in net, which returning forwards to get back into your lineup, and which injured stars must stay glued to the bench. Use this to fine-tune your start/sit calls for tonight’s slate.

What’s New & Why It Matters

The biggest fantasy swing today is in goal for the New York Rangers, where Igor Shesterkin is expected to start again with Jonathan Quick sidelined. Extra volume from a high-end starter is gold in categories leagues, especially when the backup isn’t available to steal a surprise start.

Up front, the Edmonton Oilers get a major offensive boost with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins returning from injury. He slides right back into a top-six role and projects to see prime power-play usage, which immediately restores his value in points-heavy formats.

The Seattle Kraken welcome back Kaapo Kakko, who should rejoin a scoring line and potentially see second-unit power-play work. He’s more of a depth or streaming option, but fresh legs and a top-six role can matter on a busy night if you’re chasing volume.

On the downside, the Tampa Bay Lightning remain without Brayden Point due to an undisclosed injury. Any time a top-line center is out, it ripples through the entire lineup: linemates lose a play-driving pivot, secondary options get bumped up, and the power play can look disjointed. Treat Tampa’s forward group with more caution until he’s back.

In Montreal, Jakub Dobes could get a look for the Montreal Canadiens after recent workload and schedule factors. That’s more of a dynasty and deep-league storyline today, but any surprise start from a young goalie is worth monitoring for future value.

Fantasy Implications

Points-Only

In pure scoring formats, your priority is getting exposure to prime offensive roles and power-play time. Nugent-Hopkins jumps right back into must-start territory. On a loaded Oilers top six, he doesn’t need to be at 100% to rack up points if he’s stapled to elite linemates and the first power-play unit. If he was dropped in shallow leagues while injured, he should be added immediately and started tonight.

Kakko is more of a matchup-dependent play. As a returning top-six winger for the Kraken, his value hinges on whether he sticks in a scoring role and sees meaningful power-play usage. In standard points-only leagues, he’s a fringe start; in deeper formats or if you’re short on healthy forwards, he’s a reasonable plug-in with some multi-point upside if the Kraken offense clicks.

The Lightning situation is trickier. With Point out, Tampa’s top unit loses a key finisher and transporter. That can drag down the overall efficiency of the power play and even-strength scoring. If you’re deciding between similar-tier options, it’s reasonable to lean away from marginal Tampa forwards until the offense shows it can function smoothly without Point.

Categories / Bangers

In categories leagues, Shesterkin’s projected start is a major edge. Extra volume from a high-end goalie means more chances to bank wins, saves and strong ratios. With Quick unavailable, there’s minimal risk of a late swap that burns your goalie slot. Unless you’re punting goalie categories entirely, Shesterkin belongs in your lineup.

Nugent-Hopkins is also a strong play in multi-cat formats. Even when he isn’t scoring, he can contribute with shots, power-play points and the occasional peripheral stat. Coming off injury, expectations should be tempered for heavy hits or PIMs, but the offensive categories alone justify starting him.

Kakko’s value rises slightly in bangers leagues. As a bigger-bodied forward returning to a top-six role, he can chip in hits along with modest offense. In deeper categories leagues, he’s a viable stream if you need to close gaps in hits and shots without completely punting points.

Point, meanwhile, is an automatic sit across all formats while he’s out. Don’t try to get cute with IR-plus loopholes or last-minute activation hopes; lock in a healthy replacement and protect your floor.

Dynasty / Keeper

For dynasty managers, today is more about information gathering than aggressive moves. Nugent-Hopkins returning healthy reinforces his medium-term stability as a core piece in Edmonton’s top six; there’s no reason to panic-sell or downgrade him based on the injury.

Kakko’s return is another small data point in his long-term development. Watch how the Kraken deploy him: if he consistently earns top-six minutes and power-play looks, it’s a sign the organization still views him as a key offensive piece. That keeps his dynasty stock in the "hold and see" tier rather than a clear drop.

The most interesting dynasty note is Dobes. A potential start for the Canadiens would be a valuable audition. You don’t need to rush him into lineups in most formats, but adding him to a watchlist—and in very deep leagues, a speculative bench spot—makes sense. Any young goalie who starts to nibble at a future 1A role is worth monitoring closely.

Who to Add / Stream / Watch

Igor Shesterkin – Start: Locked-in volume starter with Quick out; roll him in all leagues for strong win and ratio upside.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Add/Start: Back from injury and right into a top-six, PP1 role on a high-octane Oilers attack.
Kaapo Kakko – Short-term stream: Returning to a top-six role for Seattle; useful depth scorer and hits contributor in deeper formats.
Brayden Point – Sit/Hold: Still out with an undisclosed injury; keep him on IR or the bench and don’t risk a zero.
Jakub Dobes – Watchlist: Possible spot start for Montreal; intriguing longer-term stash in dynasty if he looks composed.

Fantasy Takeaways

Start Shesterkin confidently wherever you have him; Quick’s injury locks in his workload and makes him a priority play.
Get Nugent-Hopkins back into active lineups immediately—his return restores a key piece of Edmonton’s scoring depth and power play.
Use Kakko as a matchup-based stream in deeper leagues, especially if you need a blend of depth scoring and peripherals.
Keep Point on your bench or IR until he’s confirmed back; don’t gamble on an injured star in daily formats.
Add Dobes to your dynasty watchlist and monitor any start he gets for signs he could push for a bigger role down the line.

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