Wild West: 2018-19 Fantasy Playoffs – Goaltending

Over the last several weeks this column has provided some updates and recommendations for players that could be helping you in push for the playoffs, or your first round matchups. The one place that we haven’t touched on that review is goaltending. This week we are going to take a quick trip around the West and review where we currently stand and see if there are any options for those needing a boost in net.

The stats reflected below are for the last three weeks (as of Friday) to give us an idea of recent trends.

Anaheim:

Name	Team	GP	W	L	OTL	SO	GA	SA	SV	GAA	SV%	QS	QS%
RYAN MILLER	ANA	5	3	2	0	1	9	142	133	1.82	0.937	4	80
JOHN GIBSON	ANA	3	1	2	0	0	8	92	84	2.71	0.913	2	66.7
KEVIN BOYLE	ANA	3	0	3	0	0	8	78	70	2.71	0.897	1	33.3

Anaheim has been a bit of a dumpster fire for the last little bit here, which makes Ryan Miller’s .937 sv% and 80% quality start percentage pretty surprising. Unfortunately the starts that he and Kevin Boyle were getting were completely due to John Gibson being injured. Gibson returned on March 1st and has played reasonably well with two of three quality starts. It is hard to recommend anything here. Miller and Boyle aren’t likely to see a ton opportunity with Gibson back, and Gibson is likely already owned. In addition there is the concern that Anaheim won’t provide the support any goalie needs. Gibson has only three wins dating back to December 17th.

Arizona:

Name	Team	GP	W	L	OTL	SO	GA	SA	SV	GAA	SV%	QS	QS%
DARCY KUEMPER	ARI	9	8	1	0	2	14	276	262	1.53	0.949	7	77.8
CALVIN PICKARD	ARI	1	0	1	0	0	4	32	28	4.09	0.875	0	0

Darcy Kuemper has been something of a revelation in Arizona. He has been the de facto starter since Antti Raanta went down, and while many (myself included) though he would likely falter sooner rather than later is hasn’t happened. His 78% quality start percentage over the last three weeks is actually an 11% improvement over his already good quality start percentage from the previous month’s play. Again unfortunately there isn’t much that can be done here. Kuemper is likely owned, and Calvin Pickard isn’t getting the time of day to try and steal starts.

Calgary:

Name	Team	GP	W	L	OTL	SO	GA	SA	SV	GAA	SV%	QS	QS%
MIKE SMITH	CGY	7	5	2	0	0	16	187	171	2.31	0.914	5	71.4
DAVID RITTICH	CGY	4	2	2	0	0	10	113	103	2.53	0.912	3	75

The pendulum has been swinging wildly in Calgary in 2018-19. First Mike Smith was terrible, and David Rittich saved the day. Then Smith came back with a vengeance and Rittich has only started four games since the middle of February. There is a very good chance that Smith was dropped in your league. While it might be a little late now and he may have been added back over the last couple of weeks, if you need goaltending help check and see if he is around. Calgary is playing well and winning games, though there is still the chance that either may blow up your stats. Consistency hasn’t been a strength of Calgary goaltending.

Chicago:

Name	Team	GP	W	L	OTL	SO	GA	SA	SV	GAA	SV%	QS	QS%
CAM WARD	CHI	5	2	3	0	0	21	155	134	4.33	0.865	0	0
COREY CRAWFORD	CHI	3	2	1	0	0	13	96	83	4.23	0.865	0	0
COLLIN DELIA	CHI	2	0	1	0	0	7	40	33	6.34	0.825	0	0

Chicago has been another whirlwind this season. Corey Crawford has been injured, Cam Ward has been terrible and Collin Delia came in to save the day. As it stands now though, Delia has been sent down, and Crawford is back in the fold. Crawford has started two games since the start of March and has been terrible. Ward was getting more starts, but was also terrible. It is likely that most of the starts will go to Crawford going forward, and there is a chance that he is available in your league, but it is hard to recommend adding him. Chicago has been getting the goal support to win more games than expected so if your league counts just wins and saves he is worth a shot. If you need save percentage or goals against average though he is a pretty risky play.

Colorado:

Name	Team	GP	W	L	OTL	SO	GA	SA	SV	GAA	SV%	QS	QS%
SEMYON VARLAMOV	COL	9	5	3	1	1	22	305	283	2.46	0.928	5	55.6
PHILIPP GRUBAUER	COL	3	1	1	0	1	2	64	62	0.97	0.969	2	66.7

Inconsistent goaltending is he name of the game in Colorado. Philipp Grubauer was supposed to be the answer, but that hasn’t panned out yet. Semyon Varlamov has had periods of excellent play, one to start the season, and one in the middle of February, but his most recent couple of games haven’t been stellar. Currently, there isn’t much actionable information out of Colorado. Varlamov seems to be getting most of the starts, and is likely already owned in your league. Unless Varlamov gets injured Grubauer is a spot start at best, though with the potential to post some reasonable numbers more often than not.

Dallas:

Name

Team

OTL

GAA

SV%

QS%

ANTON KHUDOBIN

DAL

195

180

2.98

0.923

BEN BISHOP

DAL

165

160

1.01

0.97

100

The data here is a little misleading. It seems to show Anton Khudobin and Ben Bishop splitting time and that is not really the case. Khudobin was getting a significant number of starts in February, but he hasn’t yet played in March. Bishop on the other hand has allowed just one goal in his last three games combined. Khudobin has been an excellent backup this season, but Bishop just won’t relinquish the starting gig. For the moment status quo still seems to be in effect. If you need a game though, keep an eye out for a Khudobin start.

Edmonton

Name	Team	GP	W	L	OTL	SO	GA	SA	SV	GAA	SV%	QS	QS%
MIKKO KOSKINEN	EDM	11	6	3	2	1	26	338	312	2.47	0.923	7	63.6
ANTHONY STOLARZ	EDM	1	0	0	0	0	2	20	18	3.41	0.9	0	0

Since Cam Talbot was traded it has been Mikko Koskinen’s net in Edmonton. He provided some significant value earlier this season, but was dropped by many after a pretty rough January and beginning of February. Amazingly he has a quality start in seven of his last nine games, and Edmonton was won their last four. He has likely been added again in most leagues, but like with Smith it is worth looking to see if Koskinen is somehow still available in your league.

L.A.

Name	Team	GP	W	L	OTL	SO	GA	SA	SV	GAA	SV%	QS	QS%
JONATHAN QUICK	L.A	7	1	5	1	0	28	193	165	4.34	0.855	1	14.3
JACK CAMPBELL	L.A	5	0	2	1	0	10	95	85	2.78	0.895	1	20

At the end of February Jack Campbell seemed to be making a run for more playing time with appearances in five of six games. Since the start of March though, it has been all Jonathan Quick. Unfortunately he hasn’t been good. .906 is his highest save percentage since February 21st and he doesn’t have a win since February 7th. Keep an eye on Campbell if this stretch continues, but it isn’t like he has been playing much better. No real actionable advice here, Campbell may be available for a spot start if you are desperate, but it might not be worth it.

Minnesota:

Name	Team	GP	W	L	OTL	SO	GA	SA	SV	GAA	SV%	QS	QS%
DEVAN DUBNYK	MIN	9	6	1	2	1	20	260	240	2.19	0.923	6	66.7
ALEX STALOCK	MIN	2	0	1	1	0	6	73	67	2.89	0.918	1	50

Devan Dubnyk was seemingly developing a pattern in recent years. He was terrible down the stretch. Just in time for the fantasy playoffs. So far 2018-19 is dispelling that fear a bit. He has six quality starts since February 21 with Minnesota winning all of those games. Unfortunately he has had two rough outings in March so far, so his owners need to hope that that isn’t a harbinger of things to come. Again no real actionable advice here, Dubnyk is owned and is likely going to keep the job. If you know Alex Stalock is starting and need the saves great, but his season numbers aren’t great for save percentage.

Nashville:

Name	Team	GP	W	L	OTL	SO	GA	SA	SV	GAA	SV%	QS	QS%
PEKKA RINNE	NSH	6	4	2	0	0	18	179	161	2.94	0.899	3	50
JUUSE SAROS	NSH	3	1	2	0	0	8	119	111	2.6	0.933	2	66.7

The wait for Juuse Saros continues. For the last several seasons many of us have been waiting for Saros to step in and take the reigns and it hasn’t happened yet. Pekka Rinne is still getting the vast majority of starts and is doing fine with them. The Preds are good so he is getting wins, and he is putting up decent games about 50% of the time. Saros has been fine when playing, but much like in Minnesota or Dallas, he is a backup who just isn’t getting the starts he needs to be a valuable add at this point.

San Jose

Name	Team	GP	W	L	OTL	SO	GA	SA	SV	GAA	SV%	QS	QS%
MARTIN JONES	S.J	8	5	2	1	1	23	229	206	2.94	0.9	4	50
AARON DELL	S.J	2	1	0	0	0	3	26	23	2.54	0.885	0	0

What a wasteland goaltending is in San Jose. Martin Jones is getting all of the starts, but that is mostly because Aaron Dell is proving incapable of stealing the job from him. Jones has a bit of a positive stretch at the beginning of February, but if San Jose wasn’t great offensively the picture here would be even more miserable. Even so, Jones is likely owned, so Dell is your choice here. Dell has a good shot at a win when he starts, but his goals against average, and save percentage numbers are likely going to hurt you.

St. Louis

Name	Team	GP	W	L	OTL	SO	GA	SA	SV	GAA	SV%	QS	QS%
JORDAN BINNINGTON	STL	7	5	2	0	2	14	186	172	2.01	0.925	4	57.1
JAKE ALLEN	STL	4	2	1	1	2	6	118	112	1.5	0.949	3	75

Jake Allen has never failed to disappoint… and then not. For several seasons now, he has started the season as the undisputed number one, lost the job (deservedly so) and then done his best to regain in. This season Jordan Binnington has been nothing short of spectacular. From the beginning of January to the end of February he posted 15 of 18 quality starts. March has shown a chink in the armor though with two poor outings, and Allen coming back with two decent games. There is a chance here for Allen to make a comeback so keep an eye out for him if he was dropped.

Vancouver:

Name	Team	GP	W	L	OTL	SO	GA	SA	SV	GAA	SV%	QS	QS%
JACOB MARKSTROM	VAN	7	2	3	2	1	16	238	222	2.26	0.933	5	71.4
THATCHER DEMKO	VAN	2	0	2	0	0	8	58	50	4.04	0.862	1	50

Nothing new here. Jacob Markstrom took over the job early in the season and has never looked back. He has been putting up reasonable number as well, and four of his last five games have been quality starts. He has been excellent value for a goalie many people snagged off the waiver wire at the start of the season. Again, nothing is new here. Thatcher Demko hasn’t been great in his starts recently and isn’t getting many.

Las Vegas

Name	Team	GP	W	L	OTL	SO	GA	SA	SV	GAA	SV%	QS	QS%
MARC-ANDRE FLEURY	VGK	6	4	1	1	2	9	166	157	1.48	0.946	5	83.3
MALCOLM SUBBAN	VGK	3	2	1	0	0	9	105	96	2.94	0.914	2	66.7

Marc-Andre Fleury has generally been excellent in 2018-19, and his recent string of play is no exception. In fact he has six quality starts in his last seven games. 2017-18 was marred with some serious time missed due to injury, a curse which unfortunately hit Malcolm Subban and most of the rest of the depth chart as well. 2018-19 has seen Malcolm Subban start just 12 games and only two of the last nine. Those two starts have not been good though so it makes him hard to recommend as a spot start if you need goals against average or save percentage.

Winnipeg

Name	Team	GP	W	L	OTL	SO	GA	SA	SV	GAA	SV%	QS	QS%
CONNOR HELLEBUYCK	WPG	5	2	2	0	0	19	196	177	3.87	0.903	2	40
LAURENT BROSSOIT	WPG	4	1	2	1	0	11	104	93	3.56	0.894	1	25

Connor Hellebuyck has not quite lived up to expectation in 2018-19. Winnipeg has been winning games, and he has been playing a reasonable amount, but with only two quality starts in is last seven games, he is definitely leaving something to be desired. Laurent Brossoit has generally been one of the better spot start options this season with 13 of 19 quality starts overall. He has also seen time in five of Winnipeg’s last ten games. It doesn’t look like he is making a serious run at challenging Hellebuyck, but a decent backup on a good team is usually worth a look. If you need a goalie game and see that Brossoit is starting he is definitely worth a shot.

Until next time.

Wild West: 2018-19 Fantasy Playoffs – Goaltending