An injured goalie can create a predicament for any fantasy hockey team, particularly if a league’s waiver wire lacks decent options. Just ask Carey Price owners.
A couple of well-known starting goalies made their returns to their teams’ lineups last week from injuries, providing some good news. But are these goalies worth starting in your fantasy lineup this week? These goalies are included in our start and sit recommendations for the upcoming week.
START
Marc-Andre Fleury, PIT (@STL, vs. PHI, vs. VAN, @WAS)
Coming off a 22-save shutout of Carolina on Sunday, Fleury could be in for a solid week. Three out of four of the Penguins’ opponents are in the bottom third of the league in offence (you can probably guess which ones). It’s possible that Fleury makes only two starts this week, however.
The game against St. Louis will be the second of back-to-back games, and the games against Vancouver and Washington on the weekend are also back-to-backs. That should make Jeff Zatkoff a short-term add for the week, since he will probably start at least one game and possibly two.
Henrik Lundqvist, NYR (vs. VAN, @CAR, @OTT)
At first glance Lundqvist’s inclusion here would be considered a no-brainer. But his season-long owners may remember his struggles not so long ago (3.27 GAA and .892 SV% in December). Lundqvist has been much better lately, posting a 1.63 goals-against average and a .950 save percentage in three games last week.
This week, he potentially receives the benefit of facing two offences in the bottom third of the league, while the third (Ottawa) has been experiencing a dip in offence during January.
Petr Mrazek, DET (vs. STL, @BUF, vs. ANA)
Mrazek has started seven of the Wings’ last eight games, and he appears to be showing no signs of letting up. He is one of the league’s hottest goalies at the moment with only five goals allowed in his last five games, along with a 1.31 goals-against average and a .957 save percentage in January.
To help matters, all three of the Wings’ opponents this week are in the bottom third in offence. Jimmy Howard will probably start either Friday against Buffalo or Saturday against Anaheim, but Mrazek should still be good for two starts otherwise.
SIT
Jaroslav Halak, NYI (@OTT, vs. PHI)
The Islanders are one of two teams to play only two games this week (Montreal is the other). But unlike the Canadiens, the Islanders’ two games happen to be back-to-backs. This schedule likely limits Halak to only one start this week.
Thomas Greiss has been playing more than the average backup, starting almost as many games as Halak this season because of Halak’s injury trouble. Halak isn’t a bad play against either Ottawa or Philadelphia, but you will probably need to acquire another goalie if you are chasing wins.
Sergei Bobrovsky, CLS (vs. WAS, vs. CGY, @BOS)
Bobrovsky was activated before Saturday’s game to serve as Joonas Korpisalo’s backup, so he should finally be available this week if you wish to deploy him. Since his injury, the Blue Jackets bolstered their defence with the acquisition of Seth Jones. However, the Blue Jackets recently lost another top-4 defenceman to injury in David Savard.
In addition, the Jackets have a tough go this week with three top-half offences, including a Capitals’ team that averages over three goals per game. Not exactly the best situation for Bobrovsky to return to.
Ryan Miller, VAN (@NYR, @BOS, @PIT)
Unlike Bobrovsky, Miller already has two games under his belt, including an impressive 47-save performance against the Islanders on Sunday. Yet the Canucks face two top-third offences in the Rangers and Bruins this week, as well as the always-tough Penguins. Jacob Markstrom’s play while Miller was injured could limit the workhorse Miller to two starts.
Even though Miller and Markstrom have each stolen a victory for the Canucks in each of their last starts, any Canucks goalie is a bit risky at the moment. The Canucks have allowed at least 40 shots in each of their last three games.
Need to know who is starting in goal today or tomorrow? Goalie Post is your fantasy hockey resource for all of that and more.
