Today’s NHL Lineups: Start/Sit Calls, PP1 Looks and Goalie Tiers

With the Winnipeg Jets visiting the Carolina Hurricanes, fantasy managers get a compact slate that still offers big lineup decisions. Connor Hellebuyck’s injury pushes Eric Comrie into the spotlight, while Carolina leans on Frederik Andersen in a favorable home matchup. Up front, top-line roles for Andrei Svechnikov and Sebastian Aho, plus a second-line audition for Logan Stankoven, shape today’s start/sit calls, PP1 exposure, and streaming angles.

What’s New & Why It Matters

The biggest news is in the Jets’ crease: Hellebuyck is out with a knee injury, making Comrie the expected starter. That immediately shifts goalie tiers for today. Comrie goes from irrelevant in most formats to a viable, if volatile, stream simply because he should see volume behind a decent defensive structure. In daily leagues, that kind of short-term opportunity is exactly what you hunt for.

On the other side, Andersen is projected to start for Carolina. At home, behind one of the league’s most territorial teams, he profiles as a high-confidence play in both points-only and categories formats. The matchup is not a complete layup—Winnipeg’s top line with Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele can score—but Carolina’s overall shot share and defensive depth tilt the edge toward Andersen.

Injuries to Jaccob Slavin and Jesperi Kotkaniemi also matter. Slavin’s absence can slightly loosen Carolina’s defensive grip, potentially boosting shot volume for Jets skaters and making Comrie’s win odds a bit shakier. Kotkaniemi being out opens up more offensive responsibility for Carolina’s top six, with Svechnikov and Aho driving the first line and Stankoven getting a meaningful second-line look. That’s where today’s PP1 auditions and breakout watchlist value come from.

Fantasy Implications

Points-Only

In pure scoring formats, your focus is on who’s riding shotgun with elite talent and who’s most likely to touch the puck on the power play. Svechnikov is the clear headliner here. Slotted as a top-line winger next to Aho, he’s in a prime spot to rack up points at even strength, and he’s the type of shooter who can flip a matchup with one multi-point night. If he’s been underperforming to date, this is exactly the kind of usage that screams buy-low; the role is there, and the matchup against a Hellebuyck-less Jets squad is appealing.

For Winnipeg, Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele remain automatic starts in points-only. Even facing a strong defensive team, you don’t sit your primary offensive engines. If anything, the Hurricanes’ ability to tilt the ice could force Winnipeg’s top line into more rush chances and counterattacks, which is where Connor thrives. You’re not overthinking those decisions today.

Stankoven is where things get interesting. Listed as a second-line center for Carolina, he’s in a spot to pick up secondary scoring with quality wingers and sheltered matchups behind the Aho line. In points-only redraft, he’s more of a watchlist or deep-league stream unless you see clear PP1 deployment. But even without confirmed top power-play time, a second-line role on a high-event Carolina team gives him sneaky upside if you’re chasing a short-term spark.

Categories / Bangers

In multi-cat leagues, the calculus shifts slightly. Andersen becomes one of the stronger goalie category plays on the slate: good chance at a win, solid ratios, and likely a healthy save total with Winnipeg’s shooters pressing to compensate for their own goaltending situation. If you’re protecting GAA and SV%, Andersen is a priority start.

Comrie is more of a risk/reward option. He could see a heavy shot load, which is great for saves and potentially save percentage if he holds up. But Carolina’s volume and shot quality mean there’s real blowup risk. If you’re chasing saves or wins in a weekly matchup and are already behind, rolling Comrie as a high-variance play makes sense. If you’re nursing slim leads in ratios, you might bench him and lean on safer options.

Svechnikov is a premium categories asset whenever he’s healthy and in the top six. He contributes across goals, shots, and often the physical categories. Against a Jets team missing its star goalie, you’re hoping for a spike in power-play opportunities and shot volume. Even if the points don’t fully land, his peripherals usually keep him rosterable and startable.

Stankoven is more format-dependent. In bangers leagues that don’t heavily reward shots, he’s more speculative. But if your league counts SOG and you’re in a deeper format, his second-line role could translate into usable volume. Think of him as a streaming option if you need a one- or two-game push in shots and maybe a point or two.

Dynasty / Keeper

Today’s game is a small snapshot, but it tells us a lot about long-term value. Svechnikov is already a known dynasty commodity, but his current top-line role with Aho reinforces that Carolina still views him as a core offensive piece. If his surface numbers lag behind his talent and opportunity, this is a good window to explore a buy-low via your league’s NHL Trade Analyzer.

Stankoven is the true dynasty swing here. A second-line center role on a deep Hurricanes roster suggests the organization trusts him with meaningful minutes. Even if he bounces between lines this season, simply being in the mix for top-six and potential PP1 time is exactly what you want from a prospect. In dynasty, he belongs on every competitive roster’s watchlist and on the bench of rebuilding teams that can afford patience.

For goalies, Comrie’s spot start (or short-term run) is more about showcasing whether he can be a viable 1B or strong backup long term. In deep dynasty formats that value goalie depth, he’s a speculative stash if he strings together quality starts while Hellebuyck is out. Andersen is more of a win-now piece; his value is tied to Carolina’s contention window and his health. In keepers with limited slots, he’s a hold for contenders and a potential sell for rebuilders if he posts strong early-season numbers.

Who to Add / Stream / Watch

Andrei Svechnikov – Add/Hold (all formats): Top-line role with Aho and strong PP usage make him a must-start and a buy-low target if his managers are impatient.
Eric Comrie – Short-term stream (standard/deep): Expected starter with Hellebuyck out; high-volume, high-variance play for managers chasing saves or wins.
Frederik Andersen – Confident start (all formats): Home favorite behind a strong defensive team against a Jets squad missing its star goalie.
Logan Stankoven – Watchlist / deep-league stream: Second-line center opportunity on a potent Carolina offense gives him sneaky upside, especially if he sniffs PP1.
Kyle Connor – Automatic start: Top-line sniper for Winnipeg remains a set-and-forget option even in a tough matchup.
Mark Scheifele – Automatic start: Top-line center and primary distributor for the Jets; you don’t sit him regardless of opponent.

Fantasy Takeaways

With Hellebuyck sidelined, Eric Comrie jumps into streaming relevance as a high-volume, high-risk start for managers chasing goalie categories.
Frederik Andersen is a priority start today, with strong win and ratio potential behind Carolina’s territorial play at home.
Andrei Svechnikov’s top-line role with Sebastian Aho makes him a clear buy-low and automatic start across formats.
Logan Stankoven’s second-line deployment in Carolina puts him firmly on the dynasty watchlist and on the radar as a deep-league stream.
Injuries to Jaccob Slavin and Jesperi Kotkaniemi slightly boost offensive opportunity for Winnipeg’s top line and Carolina’s secondary scorers, sharpening today’s start/sit edges.

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