Fantasy Start/Sit Leans and Goalie Streams for December 29

With multiple games on tap tonight, small edges in matchups and goalie choices can swing fantasy results. Today’s projected lineups highlight exploitable spots in net, a few injury situations to navigate, and one high-end forward inching closer to a return. Let’s break down how to handle your starts and sits, who to stream, and what to watch on the power play.

What’s New & Why It Matters

The schedule centers around a few key storylines. The Columbus Blue Jackets visit the Ottawa Senators in a matchup that looks friendlier than usual for opposing goalies. Elvis Merzlikins is projected to start for Columbus and draws a Senators team missing important pieces, including Shane Pinto, while Ottawa’s own crease is in flux with Linus Ullmark away from the team.

That absence opens the door for Leevi Merilainen to get the nod for Ottawa. He’s not a locked-in workhorse, but any goalie stepping into a starting role with volume potential deserves attention in fantasy, especially on a busy night where streaming options matter.

In another notable matchup, the Washington Capitals face the Florida Panthers. Washington is expected to roll with Logan Thompson in net against a Panthers squad dealing with major injuries, including Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk. Florida’s offense is thinner than usual, which shifts the risk/reward calculus for starting Thompson in fantasy lineups.

On the skater side, Tkachuk practiced for the first time this season, signaling that Florida’s top power-play unit could soon get a massive boost. He’s not an option for tonight, but his progress has immediate implications for stash decisions and trade talks.

Fantasy Implications

Points-Only

In points-only formats, tonight’s primary focus is goalie deployment and short-term streaming, but there are still implications for your scoring skaters. The Blue Jackets–Senators game profiles as one where secondary scorers could benefit if either side’s goaltending falters. If you’re on the fence about fringe Columbus or Ottawa forwards, the matchup leans toward starting them rather than sitting, given the uncertainty in Ottawa’s crease and Merzlikins’ volatility.

For Washington–Florida, the Panthers’ injuries reduce the appeal of their depth forwards, but once Tkachuk returns, expect an immediate jolt to Florida’s top line and top power play. In points-only leagues, he should already be stashed wherever possible; if he’s somehow available, this is your last realistic window to grab him before he’s back in full deployment.

In the very short term, though, the bigger points-only decision is whether to lean into the Capitals’ offense. A depleted Panthers lineup plus a potentially rusty structure without its stars can tilt possession and scoring chances toward Washington’s top six. If you have borderline Caps forwards, this is a matchup where you lean start over sit.

Categories / Bangers

Category managers should treat tonight as a goalie-volume opportunity. Merzlikins and Merilainen both project for meaningful workloads, and volume alone can swing wins in saves and potentially wins if the game stays under control. Merzlikins, facing a shorthanded Ottawa group, carries the higher confidence rating; Merilainen is more of a risk/reward play if you’re chasing counting stats and are comfortable with ratios possibly taking a hit.

Thompson is particularly interesting in categories. With Florida missing Barkov and Tkachuk, their ability to generate high-danger chances is reduced, which can translate into a friendlier environment for save percentage and goals-against average. If you’re protecting ratios late in the week, Thompson is the safest of the three highlighted goalies to start across formats.

Looking ahead, Tkachuk’s looming return is massive for banger leagues. Once he’s back, he immediately reclaims elite status in hits, shots, and power-play production. If you’re light on those categories, this is the time to explore buying low via your league’s NHL Trade Analyzer valuations before his practice reports turn into game logs and his price spikes.

Dynasty / Keeper

In dynasty and keeper formats, the goalie situations tonight are less about one-game results and more about role clarity. Merilainen getting NHL starts while Ullmark is away is a meaningful data point. Even if he’s just a short-term patch, every appearance helps the organization evaluate whether he can be a longer-term 1B or better. Deep-league managers should at least have him on a watchlist, if not already stashed.

Merzlikins remains more of a known quantity, but strong outings in favorable matchups can stabilize his perceived value after any rough patches. If he strings together a few quality starts, his trade value in dynasty could rebound enough to justify moving him to a contender needing goaltending depth.

Tkachuk’s return trajectory is the headline for dynasty. Practicing for the first time this season is a major milestone; assuming no setbacks, he should quickly reclaim his role as a franchise cornerstone. If you’re rebuilding, he’s exactly the type of injured star you try to acquire before he’s fully back. If you already roster him, resist any temptation to sell low—his multi-category ceiling remains intact.

Who to Add / Stream / Watch

Elvis Merzlikins – Add/Stream (all but shallow): Favorable road matchup against a shorthanded Senators squad makes him a strong start if you need wins and saves.
Leevi Merilainen – Short-term stream (deep/volume-hungry): Stepping into Ottawa’s crease with Ullmark out; useful if you’re chasing goalie starts and can absorb some ratio risk.
Logan Thompson – Add/Stream (all formats): Expected to face a depleted Panthers lineup, giving him one of the safer goalie profiles on tonight’s slate.
Matthew Tkachuk – Watchlist/Stash (all, priority in dynasty): Practicing again and nearing a return; stash now or explore buy-low trades before his value normalizes.

Fantasy Takeaways

Lean into Elvis Merzlikins as a confident start tonight given his projected workload and a favorable matchup against an undermanned Ottawa team.
Leevi Merilainen is a viable short-term volume play while Linus Ullmark is absent, but treat him as a matchup-dependent streamer rather than a set-and-forget starter.
Logan Thompson profiles as one of the safest goalie options on the slate, with Florida’s injuries softening the offensive threat he’ll face.
Matthew Tkachuk practicing signals that his return is getting close; stash or trade for him now before his market price climbs.
For bubble skaters on Columbus, Ottawa, and Washington, tonight’s matchups tilt decisions toward starting them, especially if you’re chasing late-week points or categories.

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