Start 'Em / Sit'Em ft. Markstrom, Ullmark, Swayman and More

note - This article was written by Garrett Finlay

Greetings and salutations to all you fine fantasy hockey folks out there! We have got
ourselves an 11 game slate on the books tonight and with 22 goalies in the field, we
likely have a few decisions to make on who to start and who to sit.

We are over one week into this beautiful 2025-26 hockey season and already we have
been painfully reminded that no goalie is safe from a bad start. Just ask anyone who
went ahead and drafted from the top tier of goaltenders. In fact, lets take a quick look at
the numbers from last year’s top 3 Vezina Trophy finalists, awarded to the league’s best
goaltender.

First we have our reigning Vezina champion, Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck, who is
currently rocking a 3.54 GAA to go along with an .899 SV%. Next up is Tampa Bay’s
Andrei Vasilevskiy, he is coming in hot, sporting a 4.08 GAA and .870 SV%. And finally,
Darcy Kuemper of the Los Angeles Kings, sitting pretty with a 3.35 GAA alongside his
.868 SV%. Oh and these three studs have a combined one win between their 8 games
played. Not exactly the mettle of champions, but hey, the season is young.

Yes, the season is young. It is only week 2 and so these goalies, much like our
fantasy hopes and dreams, are still very much alive and well and it is not anywhere
close to time for us to hit the panic button. Let’s check the numbers, trust our guts, and
decide which goalies are getting the start on our busy Thursday night, and which
goalies are better left on the bench. Welcome to Goalie Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em - let’s jump
in!

(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 —
Jacob Markstrom, New Jersey Devils- Similar to some of the aforementioned elite
options in net, the Swedish keeper comes into Thursday’s game with numbers that can
really only go up from here (3.89 GAA, .845 SV%). And while the New Jersey Devils
will be taking on the two time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, it will
be on the second night of a back to back for the Cats (at Detroit Wednesday) and it will
be the home opener for Markstrom and the Devils. New Jersey has shown some holes
on defense in the early going, but that likely had to do with Luke Hughes working
himself back into season shape after missing almost all of training camp and the
preseason with a contract dispute. Things have tightened up considerably as the
season has progressed (only 5 goals allowed in the past two games, after 6 goals in the
season opener), and we should expect Markstrom to have his best game of the year
thus far on Thursday night in front of a raucous home crowd at the Prudential Center in
New Jersey. There is a slight injury concern here, as Markstrom was seen hobbling off
the ice after relieving Jake Allen in Monday night’s tilt against the Blue Jackets, but if
Markstom makes the start, then we do, too. Start ‘Em!

UPDATE- New Jersey Devils have recalled goalie Nico Daws, indicating that
Markstrom’s injury status is very much in question. If Jake Allen gets the start, then he
is still a “Start ‘Em,” having posted an impressive 2.66 GAA with .906 SV% last year.
He started on Monday for the Devils and turned aside 23 of 24 shots before exiting the
game after the second period due to cramps. If Allen is hydrated, he should get the
start and we can start him with confidence, too. Start ‘Em!

START ‘EM —
Linus Ullmark, Ottawa Senators- Another Swede, another former Vezina winner -
another lousy start to the 2025-26 fantasy hockey season. Linus Ullmark enters
Thursday’s matchup against the Seattle Kraken with a 4.07 GAA and an .842 SV%,
both marks far below his career averages of 2.56 GAA and .916 SV%. Maybe this is
the new normal we have to get used to as fantasy managers - the overall numbers for
goalies are trending down? Nah, that’s nothing we have to worry specifically about on
Thursday, where we have enough goalie thoughts to keep us occupied! Now back to
Ullmark - the 32 year old has pretty much dominated the Kraken in their short existence,
to the tune of 1.79 GAA and .936 SV% in 5 career games, capped by a 30 save shutout
against them last December. The Sens will likely be missing captain Brady Tkachuk for
this one (out at least 4 weeks with a hand injury), so the committee will have to step up
here, still Seattle seems unlikely to put up more than 3 goals in this game, making
Ullmark a relatively safe play for your Thursday night. Start ‘Em!

SIT ‘EM —
Jeremy Swayman, Boston Bruins- You gotta love what the Bruins are brewing in
Beantown this year. A hard-nosed, defensively responsible, grind it out team that has
put up a 3-1 record through 4 games, while only allowing 9 goals against. And just 2
goals have gotten past Swayman in his 2 starts this year, as the former Maine Black
Bear has been a steady presence in net, posting a sparkling 1.00 GAA with a .966
SV%. But the season is young, as we have stated, and contrary to the struggling studs
we already discussed, Swayman’s numbers can really only go down, and it looks like
they are poised to take a hit Thursday night against a high powered Vegas offense. The
Golden Knights have put up 14 goals in their 4 games played, 6th in the league, and
boast a power play currently clicking at 26.7%, also 6th in the league. The Bruins,
meanwhile, have yet to let in a Power Play goal this year, despite taking on 14
opportunities against the man advantage. And while a 100% Penalty Kill is good for top
in the league, it is clearly an unsustainable number that is just begging for regression. I
think the numbers take a hit against Vegas, and if you aren’t chasing goalie categories
or points already in this week’s matchup, then let’s leave “the Bulldog” on the bench. Sit
‘Em!

SIT ‘EM —
Thatcher Demko, Vancouver Canucks- Dallas Stars: 3-0 (tied for first), averaging 5
goals scored a game (tied for first), with a Power Play unloading goals at a 33% clip
(fourth), and an overall team shooting percentage of %17 (first), which while
unsustainable, has pretty much just made defending goaltenders look silly so far. So
while the American born Thatcher has had a great start to the year (1.54 GAA and .944
SV%), the Canucks may not have the fire power or depth to keep up with an incredibly
complete Dallas team that is coming off wins against the West’s best, including wins
against last years President Trophy winner Winnipeg, and playoff teams Colorado and
Minnesota, all while scoring 5 goals a game. So, let’s be happy for Thatcher Demko’s
health and great start to the season, but let’s be mindful of the game at hand against
what looks to be this years top dog. Let’s leave Demko on the bench this Thursday. Sit
‘Em!

DESPERATION MODE PLAY —
Casey DeSmith, Dallas Stars- Well, now who could we start in place of Demko on a
busy Thursday night? Look no further than the opposite side of the ice! Casey
DeSmith is probable to make his season debut against the Vancouver Canucks on
home ice and is coming off a great statistical season last year (2.59 GAA, .915 SV%, 2
SHO in 27 games played). Currently 17% rostered on Fantrax, 5% on Yahoo, and 1%
on ESPN, the 34 year old DeSmith should be readily available in your league and is
worth a start between the pipes if you are in need goalie points or category coverage.
Keep an eye on who gets the start for Dallas, as this could be a lay up win for DeSmith.

That’s all for this week! 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!