Budaj will command the crease as Saturday's road starter against the Avalanche, Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Bolts have started a trend of deploying Budaj roughly once every three or four games, and the low utilization a byproduct of No. 1 netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy taking the league by storm with an absurd 21 wins through 26 games. Colorado features a lethal weapon in top-line center Nathan MacKinnon (35 points in 31 games), which has helped the Avs rank seventh in team shooting percentage and 10th offensively overall, therefore, we're not confident that Budaj can improve upon his weak rate stats that include a 3.40 GAA and paltry .881 save percentage.

Budaj saved 28 of 30 shots during Thursday's 5-2 win over Colorado.

EDGE Analysis

This was just the fifth start of the season for Budaj, and it was also by far his best. He's sporting an underwhelming .881 save percentage and 3.40 GAA for the campaign, and with Andrei Vasilevskiy locked into a hefty workload and building a Vezina Trophy case, Budaj's opportunities project to remain few and far between. Still, he's a handcuff option in deep leagues with the potential to be a go-to fantasy asset if Vasilevskiy were to ever miss time.

Budaj will patrol the blue paint versus the Avalanche on Thursday, Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

With how much of a workhorse Andrei Vasilevskiy has been (23 starts), Budaj has seen action in a mere four games this season. In those appearances, the veteran has been rather pedestrian, as he logged a 1-2-1 record with a 3.75 GAA. Barring a significant injury to Vasilevskiy, it seems unlikely that Budaj will see more minutes the rest of the way.

Budaj made 29 saves in Saturday's 5-2 loss to the Penguins.

EDGE Analysis

He didn't play a bad game; he just didn't get much help from his teammates. Budaj was left to fend off two, five-on-threes, but he allowed three goals in those situations and that was the difference. Budaj has made just four starts this season and he's allowed at least four goals in three of them. It's a pretty clear indication that he needs more ice time to be able to deliver the kind of performances he brought to the Kings last season. Unfortunately, Budaj just won't get that behind stud Andrej Vasilevskiy.

Budaj led his team out for pregame warmups Saturday, Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times reports. This indicates that he'll get the road start against the Penguins.

EDGE Analysis

This matchup will feature two backup goalies as Budaj reportedly will be countered by Tristan Jarry, who's only appeared in two games this season. Budaj's best start was his most recent one, stopping 22 of 24 shots for a Nov. 9 win over his former Kings squad. The Czech goalie is capable of slowing down high-caliber opponents, but his fantasy utility is minimal since he's stuck behind early Vezina Trophy favorite Andrei Vasilevskiy.

Budaj stopped 22 of 24 shots in Thursday's win over the Kings.

EDGE Analysis

It wasn't an overly busy night for Budaj, but he came up with the necessary saves to earn his first win of the season. Andrei Vasilevskiy doesn't get many nights off, but Budaj showed Tuesday he's capable of stepping in and delivering. The veteran owns a lackluster .873 save percentage in three appearances, but with the way Tampa Bay is playing right now, Budaj is probably a worthwhile spot start whenever he does get that rare nod.

Budaj will work between the pipes against the Kings, his former team, on the road Thursday night, NHL.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Budaj had a renaissance campaign for the Kings in 2016-17, as he filled in for then-injured No. 1 goalie Jonathan Quick and wound up with a 27-20-3 record and seven shutouts, a 2.12 GAA and .917 save percentage. However, he has no chance of unseating Andrei Vasilevskiy (12-1-1, 2.41 GAA, .917 save percentage) as the starter in Tampa Bay unless his fellow countryman sustains an injury of his own. This will count as just the third appearance for Budaj this season.

Budaj allowed four goals on 17 shots in a 4-1 loss to the Ducks on Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

It was just his second start of the season. Budaj has underwhelmed in his starts -- inactivity makes it hard to get in a game groove. Avoid him right now, even in daily formats.

Budaj will patrol the crease Saturday evening against the visiting Ducks, NHL.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

This will be the Czech goalie's second start of the season, as Tampa's No. 1 tender Andrei Vasilevskiy takes a breather having started the past four games and collecting wins each time out. Budaj's only other appearance took place in New Jersey on Oct. 17, resulting in a 5-4 shootout loss, but he gets the luxury of facing a Ducks team that is without two key defensemen in Cam Fowler (leg) and Kevin Bieksa (hand). Saturday's daily slate features 10 other games if you prefer to look past Budaj or Anaheim's confirmed starter John Gibson.

Budaj allowed four goals on 34 shots in Tuesday's 5-4 shootout loss to New Jersey.

EDGE Analysis

Budaj gave up a game-tying, power-play tally to Drew Stafford with under five minutes to play and was beaten by Kyle Palmieri in the third round of the skills challenge to take the shootout loss. Making his first start in Tampa Bay's seventh game of the season, the veteran backup allowed three goals in the first period before steadying himself until New Jersey's late-game heroics. With 23-year-old starter Andrei Vasilevskiy sporting a 5-1-0 record, the 35-year-old Budaj is unlikely to see more than the occasional appearance.