Monday Morning Ramblings featuring goalies for the fantasy playoffs

Goaltenders might be the only position where quantity can balance out quality, as goalies can be activated from the bench based on matchups or favourable weekly schedules.

After the Olympic Break concludes, the trade deadline will be closer than ever. Let us take a look at the fantasy playoff schedule and figure out which goalies could provide higher value than expected, as well as goalies to avoid in the fantasy playoffs.

Week 22 (March 23-29):

The Boston Bruins have not one but two back to backs during this week. Meaning Swayman and Korpisalo will likely get 2 starts each. If you are employing a zero G strategy, you could probably nab Korpisalo off waivers and get two starts.

The Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs and the Carolina Hurricanes have 3 games but 2 of those are in a back to back. Therefore, the starter on the Leafs/Canes/Wings will only get 2 starts - same number as Korpisalo.

The Winnipeg Jets have 3 games (on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday): at home against Vegas and Colorado, and then an away game in Colorado.

Hellebuyck should be avoided at all costs. The Jets' opponents have a league high 3.66 GF per game this week.

The team playing the weakest offenses this week (combined 2.71 GF per game): The Chicago Blackhawks, who play 4 away games against more or less non-playoff Metropolitan teams (Isles, Flyers, Rangers, and Devils). Spencer Knight could provide some good stats.

Which goalies will get you wins this week? The Ducks, Kings, and Flames play teams with the worst points percentage. Calgary has 3 home games against the Kings (Tue.), Ducks (Thu.), and Canucks (Sat.).

The most home games this week (4) is the Tampa Bay Lightning. Vasilevsky should get 3 of those starts.

Week 23 (March 30 -  April 5):

The New York Islanders have 2 back to backs this week - Sorokin and Rittich will likely get 2 starts each. If you are employing a zero G strategy, you could waive Korpisalo that you picked up the week prior and nab Rittich off waivers and get another two starts.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have 5 games this week! They have been employing a straight up alternating goalie start plan between Skinner and Silovs.

One note of caution, Skinner is an unrestricted free agent and although the Penguins are in a playoff spot, it is possible they deal Skinner because the Pens brass is comfortable with 21 year old Sergei Murashov and 24 year old Joel Blomqvist. 

Blomqvist and Silovs are RFA at the end of the season. Silovs will get at least 2 maybe 3 games, and the other Penguins goalie will also at least 2 maybe 3 starts. If you are looking for volume, there is potential for a waiver wire addition here that could get you 3 starts this week.

The heaviest volume goalies during the season will take a much needed pause this week as Utah (Vejmelka) and Nashville (Saros) only have 2 (away) games this week.

Utah does face the least offensviely inclined (2.71 GF per game) opponents (Seattle and Vancouver).
 
The Avalanche go up against the 2nd weakest offenses (2.73 GF per game) but have 4 games, including a back to back.

If goalie wins is what you are looking for, then look no further than Vegas goalies. They play Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton. 

The Flames face opponents with the strongest offense (3.45 GF per game) in Colorado, Vegas, and Anaheim. Avoid Wolf and Cooley this week.

The Minnesota Wild and LA Kings have 3 games but 2 of those are in a back to back. Therefore, the Kuemper (and Gustavsson?) will only get a maximum of 2 starts in week 23.

Week 24 (April 6 - April 16):

It is a bit too early to comment on the extended finals week, as goalies will be rested depending on teams that have already clinched.

What we do know is that the Sharks and the Kraken have the most games (7), whereas the Bruins, Rangers, Penguins, Isles, and Capitals play just 4 games. Utah has the most home games (5 of 6) games this period.

The Sharks are the only team with TWO sets of back to backs. Both Askarov and Nedeljkovic will be busy.

Wolf and Cooley should again be avoided this week as the Flames face teams with the highest combined points percentage (0.640) - including Colorado twice and Dallas once.

The Kings go up against the teams with the lowest points percentage (0.472) and the lowest GF per game (2.80) - including Vancouver twice, and Calgary once. Kuemper should be a great option to end the season here, if he can stay healthy.