Goalie Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em ft. Demko, Swayman, Knight and More

Happy holidays and happy hockey day ahead! The NHL is back from Christmas vacation and we’ve got a loaded slate featuring 13 games and 26 goalies, all battling for victory this Saturday night! With so many net-minders in action, we likely have some coaching decisions of our own to make, so let’s crunch the numbers, check our guts, and dive right in to Goalie Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em!

(Please note that the goalies listed are considered “probable” to start. Keep refreshing your Goalie Post app to see which goalies are “confirmed” starting. Don’t have the app? Get it for Apple or Android.)

START ‘EM

Thatcher Demko, Vancouver Canucks - Since returning from injury December 11, Demko has gone 3-2 for the Canucks while posting a more than respectable 1.80 GAA and .929 SV% during that stretch. On Saturday night, Demko will be looking to keep the crease clean against the traveling San Jose Sharks, losers of 3 straight. Oh, and by the way, Demko has won a few games against San Jose in his tenure - he actually sports a perfect 13-0 record against the Sharks for his career, posting a 2.14 GAA and .927 SV%. So ya, he’s done good for himself in these games and we should look for him to keep that streak alive this Saturday. If you had any doubts, breathe easy, and Start ‘Em!

START ‘EM

Jeremy Swayman, Boston Bruins - The Sabres have quietly been on a 7 game win streak, putting themselves right back in the playoff race. Saturday night, they will be in Beantown to face a Bruins squad that has now lost 4 in a row, surrendering a whopping 20 goals over that stretch of defeats. Essentially, this is a game against a divisional opponent that the Buffalo Sabres can and should win, that they will inevitably find a way to lose. Sorry fans of Buffalo, but Swayman has a history of disappointing you, as he has an impressive 8-1-1 record against the Sabres in his career, alongside an 1.81 GAA and .925 SV%. Look for Swayman to enter this game feeling rested and refreshed, leaving whatever funk he had been stuck in (13 goals against in his last 3 starts, all loses) far behind him. Start ‘Em!

SIT ‘EM

Spencer Knight, Chicago Blackhawks - Spencer Knight has looked the part of a starting goalie since moving to the Windy City, going 10-10-5 and putting up a 2.55 GAA alongside a .914 SV%, handling the clear majority of starts. But since the Blackhawks lost their superstar in the making, Connor Bedard, Knight has gone 0-4 and the Blackhawks have managed 10 goals over 6 games, all loses, scoring more than 2 goals only once in those 6 defeats. Now they come back from the break and go on the road to face Dallas, a team that is second in the league in goals forced, second in goal differential, second in power play percentage, and first in shooting percentage. Spencer Knight owners, we should stay away from this matchup, far away. With brighter days ahead, Sit ‘Em!

SIT ‘EM

John Gibson, Detroit Red Wings - Believe it or not, Gibson has won his last 8 starts and the Red Wings are sitting in first place in the Atlantic division! The ex-Duck has had a red-hot December, racking up those 8 wins with a 2.12 GAA and a .927 SV% and 2 shut outs. So why is he on this week’s “Sit ‘Em” side? Well, his opponent this Saturday, the Metropolitan division leading Carolina Hurricanes, not only are fifth in the league in goals forced per game (3.36) and second in shots forced per game (32.3), they, also, are due. Due, big time. In an odd forecast, the Hurricanes got ravished by the state of Florida last week, blowing a pair of 3 goal leads, first to the Florida Panthers and then the Tampa Bay Lightning, before collapsing again, this time after holding a 2 goal lead to the same Panthers just 5 days later. As fire as Gibson has been performing lately, we should expect the Hurricanes to come out storming and take out their frustrations on the team and goalie in front of them. Gut check, Sit ‘Em!

DESPERATION MODE START

Calvin Pickard, Edmonton Oilers - When Connor McDavid is on fire, just roll along with it. McJesus lit up the Calgary Flames, who happen to be Edmonton’s opponent Saturday night, for 5 assists in a 5-1 victory just before the break and now squares off with them again riding an 11 game point streak now worth 31 points. The Oilers have a league-leading 36% conversion on the power play and the Battle of Alberta should offer ample opportunity for that power play unit to get on the ice and find the back of the net. So be it Pickard, Connor Ingram, Tristan Jarry, or the EBUG, if you need a goalie win, then look for the Oilers to come through for you here. Start ‘Em!

That’s all for this week, thanks for reading! My name is Garrett Finlay and you can follow me on X @garrett_fi51284 and on Bluesky @garrettfinlay.bsky.social where I am often talking goalies and fantasy hockey. I’ll be back here next Thursday to breakdown another busy night of twine tending action! Happy Hockeying and good luck out there!