After an injury-plagued 2018 season, Fleury started 61 games in 2019 and ranked tied for fifth in wins (35), 13th in GAA (2.51) and tied for 21st in SV% (.913). Entering 2020, Fleury is poised to start 60-plus games for the eighth time in his career and should find himself among the league leaders in wins. He was 1-1-0 with a 1.54 GAA, .950 SV% and one shutout in two games vs. the Sharks last year.
Kempny will not be available for the Capitals season-opener but head coach Todd Reirden did not rule out a possible return against the Islanders on Friday. Kempny will likely replace Martin Fehervary when he’s set to return.
The 2018-19 season was a career-year for Markstrom, who set new career-highs in starts (60) and wins (28) while posting a 2.77 GAA and .912 SV%. Coming into 2019-20, the Canucks will lean heavily on Markstrom, who should start 60 games and could win 30 games for the first time. He was 2-0-1 with a 1.95 GAA and .929 SV% in three games vs. the Oilers last season.
Samsonov was a first-round pick (No.22 overall) in 2015 and is one of hockey’s top goaltending prospects. With Braden Holtby heading into the final year of his contract, the Capitals will want to get a look at exactly what they have in Samsonov. He had a 20-16-1 with a 2.70 GAA and .898 SV% in 37 games with the Hershey Bears (AHL) last year.
The 2018-19 season was a career-year for Markstrom, who set new career-highs in starts (60) and wins (28) while posting a 2.77 GAA and .912 SV%. Coming into 2019-20, the Canucks will lean heavily on Markstrom, who should start 60 games and could win 30 games for the first time. He was 2-0-1 with a 1.95 GAA and .929 SV% in three games vs. the Oilers last season.
After an injury-plagued 2018 season, Fleury started 61 games in 2019 and ranked tied for fifth in wins (35), 13th in GAA (2.51) and tied for 21st in SV% (.913). Entering 2020, Fleury is poised to start 60-plus games for the eighth time in his career and should find himself among the league leaders in wins. He was 1-1-0 with a 1.54 GAA, .950 SV% and one shutout in two games vs. the Sharks last year.
In his 14th season, Lundqvist was 18-23-10 with career-worsts in GAA (3.07) and SV% (.907). The Rangers revamped their top-6 and blueline this offseason, which should allow Lundqvist to bump-up his win total in 2019-20. He will have to play well to fend off Alexandar Georgiev for starts and it starts Thursday vs. the Jets—he was 0-1-1 with a 3.39 GAA and .910 SV% in two games vs. Winnipeg last year.
It shouldn’t come as a big surprise that the Panthers prized offseason acquisition will start on opening night. Bobrovsky has started 60-plus games for three straight seasons and has led the NHL in wins (115), tied for second in SV% (.922) and tied for third in GAA (2.35) over that span. You didn’t draft Bobrovsky to bench him, but he draws a brutal matchup to open the season.
After two years in Calgary, Smith made the three-hour drive up AB-2 to Edmonton this offseason. During his time with the Flames, Smith ranked 17th in the NHL in wins (48), 20th in GAA (2.68) and t-29th in SV% (.909). He will make his Oilers debut against a Canucks team that he was 2-1-0 with a 3.02 GAA and .871 SV% against last season.
Johnson will get a huge opportunity early in the season, as he’s set to centre Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov on Thursday. Johnson skated between the dynamic duo on Wednesday and will also skate on the top power-play unit while Brayden Point is sidelined.
Hedman was listed as day-to-day on Monday but was always trending towards playing in the season opener. Hedman is coming off of 54 points (12G / 42A) last season and will skate with Kevin Shattenkirk at 5v5 and anchor the top power-play unit.
Crosby has practiced for the last two days and will play in the Penguins season opener. Crosby is set to centre the top line with Jake Guentzel and Patric Hornqvist on his wings. The 32-year-old centre is coming off of his first 100-point season since 2014.
As expected, Galchenyuk was back on the ice for Wednesday’s practice, skating on the second line with Evgeni Malkin and Brandon Tanev. Head coach Mike Sullivan called Galchenyuk a “game-time decision” but all signs point towards him making his Penguins debut in the top-6 and on the second power-play unit.
2018-19 was Kuemper's first full season in Arizona and it went very well. Kuemper went 27-20-8 with a 2.33 GAA and .925 SV% in 55 games while filling in for an injured Antti Raanta. Entering 2019-20, Kuemper will be the Coyotes No.2 but showed he’s capable of handling the starting gig should the oft-injured Raanta miss time again. Kuemper is signed through the 2021-22 campaign.
After two years in Calgary, Smith made the three-hour drive up AB-2 to Edmonton this offseason. During his time with the Flames, Smith ranked 17th in the NHL in wins (48), 20th in GAA (2.68) and t-29th in SV% (.909). He will make his Oilers debut against a Canucks team that he was 2-1-0 with a 3.02 GAA and .871 SV% against last season.
For the third straight season, Bishop failed to start 60-plus games, but he led the NHL in SV% (.934) and was second in GAA (1.98). Durability and usage is a small concern with Bishop, but he is consistently among the best goalies in the NHL, making him a strong No.1 fantasy option. Bishop was 17-7-2 with a 1.90 GAA, .937 SV% and six shutouts on home-ice in 2018-19.
Binnington started the 2018-19 season in the AHL but took the NHL by storm once he was called-up. Binnington went 24-5-1 while leading the NHL in GAA (1.89) and tying for fourth in SV% (.927) in 32 games. He played very well in the postseason as well, en route to winning the Stanley Cup. Not a bad rookie season. He’ll start his second season on home-ice, where he went 14-2-0 last year.
Binnington started the 2018-19 season in the AHL but took the NHL by storm once he was called-up. Binnington went 24-5-1 while leading the NHL in GAA (1.89) and tying for fourth in SV% (.927) in 32 games. He played very well in the postseason as well, en route to winning the Stanley Cup. Not a bad rookie season. He’ll start his second season on home-ice, where he went 14-2-0 last year.
Krejci was a full participant at practice on Wednesday, which is a great sign for his availability for Thursday’s season opener. Monitor his status during tomorrow’s morning skate, but things are trending in the right direction for the veteran pivot.
Spezza signed a one-year deal with the Maple Leafs this summer and it looks like he will sit for Game 1 of 82. Nick Shore is expected to take his projected spot on the fourth-line and Trevor Moore will replace him on their second power-play unit.
