NHL Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Goalie Pickups Dec. 31 - Mrazek, Binnington Show Down In Winter Classic

On every game day this season, THN Fantasy will highlight players and goalies for fantasy managers to stream or roster for the rest of the season. The recommended players and goalies can be used in standard fantasy leagues or for daily fantasy games

13 games on Tuesday, Dec. 31

* = confirmed

Jeremy Swayman, BOS* at Logan Thompson, WSH* (12:30 p.m. ET)

Ilya Sorokin, NYI* at Joseph Woll, TOR* (1 p.m. ET)

Samuel Montembeault, MON* at Adin Hill, VEG* (3 p.m. ET)

Jordan Binnington, STL* at Petr Mrazek, CHI* (5 p.m. ET)

Alex Nedeljkovic, PIT* at Alex Lyon, DET* (8 p.m. ET)

Pyotr Kochetkov, CAR* at Elvis Merzlikins, CLB* (8 p.m. ET)

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, BUF* at Casey DeSmith, DAL* (8 p.m. ET)

Justus Annunen, NSH at Filip Gustavsson, MIN* (8 p.m. ET)

Eric Comrie, WPG at Mackenzie Blackwood, COL* (8 p.m. ET)

Jacob Markstrom, NJ* at John Gibson, ANA (8 p.m. ET)

Samuel Ersson, PHI at Alexandar Georgiev, SJ (8 p.m. ET)

Kevin Lankinen, VAN* at Dustin Wolf, CGY* (9 p.m. ET)

Jaxson Stauber, UTA at Stuart Skinner, EDM (9 p.m. ET)

Goalies

Petr Mrazek, CHI vs. STL (16% rostered)

Feels dangerous since Mrazek has not won a game since Nov. 27 and allowed nine goals in two games since returning from injury. I do, however, think the Hawks can turn it around and the Blues are not looking too good at the moment, either, with seven losses in their past 11 games.

Due to unpredictable outdoor conditions, the outdoor games tend to be lower scoring affairs. Only six of the 15 games featured a team that scored more than three goals. This bodes well for Mrazek's save percentage, but the Hawks are still the underdog.

Alex Lyon, DET vs. PIT (10% rostered)

Lyon will likely get his second straight start after he helped snap the Red Wings' losing streak against the top-tier Capitals, and this should be an easier matchup. I'm still a little wary of this start because the Pens' offense has really come alive lately - five games in December where they've scored at least five goals - and we know the Wings don't defend particularly well. I think the Wings have a chance to win this game, especially since the Pens aren't great on the road (6-9-3).

Justus Annunen, NSH at MIN (8% rostered)

There's a part of me that wonders if the Preds might run with Annunen a little here given how their season has gone, which means he might have some mid-term value. Annunen has been excellent since joining them with a .941 SP and 1.80 GAA compared to his .872 SP and 3.23 GAA with the Avs, while Juuse Saros has struggled and he was recently pulled against the Blues. Make no mistake, this is a tough matchup, especially if the Wild start Filip Gustavsson, who has low-key been one of the league's best goalies this season. The Preds offense may not generate enough goal support for Annunen to get the win. Annunen's own track record is a certainly spotty - he's never been this good, ever - so there's a chance that he just implodes. It's a risky spot start but the upside is a great save percentage and potentially an upset win.

Jaxson Stauber, UTA at EDM (3% rostered)

The sample size is small, but it's quite good. The issue with this matchup, of course, is facing Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who might be the most efficient scorer in the league this season. There's definitely a chance of an upset, but it will require Utah's offense to outscore the Oilers', and hope that Stauber can at least keep things close. I'm doubtful Stauber can improve his current save percentage (.928), but he's not the worst option for New Year's Eve.

John Gibson, ANA vs. NJ (14% rostered)

It's certainly tempting because Gibson can rack up the saves and the Devils will likely heavily outshoot the Ducks. The Ducks, however, should be huge underdogs, and Gibson doesn't offer much more than a high volume of saves. His save percentage this season (.906) is quite good - anything remotely close to .910 is good these days - but there have been spotty starts sprinkled in between.

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