goalieguild

Now that we’re three solid weeks into the NHL season, I’ve been able to re-affirm a number of trends I’ve witnessed and better understand another puck-stopping dynamic that separate a pro goalie from an elite goalie. Today’s lesson should go a long way in acting as a theoretical guide for what I’ve learned and truly help you make better fantasy decisions with your own goaltenders. It will also teach you how the brilliant Tim Thomas shatters this dynamic to the point he’s once again the best goalie in the NHL.

A starter loses a game. The backup wins the next one. Almost instantly, the word controversy seeps into my e-mail inbox, Twitter feed and Center Ice package. The term overwhelms my brain and pushes me to the edge of insanity. Only three weeks into the season and this trend has already happened with so many teams that I’m feeling nauseous, frustrated and annoyed.

In just nine days, Martin Brodeur has started all six games for the New Jersey Devils. That comes as no surprise to anyone. But his 1-4-1 record, 3.18 goals against average and .887 save percentage surely does. With his lone win coming by way of a 24-save shutout over the Sabres, the other five outings speak volumes to his downright dirty start. Mired in mediocrity, Brodeur’s numerous weak goals against has led many analysts to consider him a thing of the past.

For the more things change, the more he stays the same. And that, my fantasy friends, is the essence of Brodeur’s issues.

The duality of a goalie’s first game is something I’ll forever battle with internally. On the left side of my brain, it’s merely a single game over the course of a seven-month season. On the right side, however, it’s clearly the most important game in regards to their start. And that’s when the battle ensues, as I must weigh the pros and cons of their success and failure to begin the regular season, and how that might affect their performances in the coming weeks.

The preseason has finally come to an end and now we wait with feverish anticipation for the real season to begin. With three days off before Thursday’s Opening Night celebration kicks off the new season, today is a perfect opportunity for me to drop updated goalie previews for the start of the fantasy season.

Over the weekend, all three live drafts in the third-annual Guild Fantasy Challenge took place. As you would expect, goaltending was at the forefront of each draft, as our Yahoo! Fantasy head-to-head setup had the rare three starting goalie slots this year. Why the crazy change from the normal two-goalie setup that you’ll see in 99.9% of other leagues?

The dynamic of Colorado's two-day training camp had a bigger impact on the goalies than any other position. Since timing and confidence is everything for a goaltender to start the new season, to be lacking in either of those areas will certainly lend a hand to struggling over the weekend. Even more important, however, is the negative effect of almost no one-on-one time with their new goalie coach, Kirk McLean.

Five Goalies with Everything to Prove: The School of Block turned three years old on Saturday, so I thought a fitting way to celebrate was to repeat the very first session ever held. That first article did one thing - analyze situation. And since that is of utmost importance heading into the week of training camp, let’s look at five goalies with a ton of their fantasy future hanging in the balance of how they start.

Of all the cities where Antti Niemi could have played, very few ever imagined that his final destination would be San Jose. Even I figured it was only a matter of time before he cut his losses and played anywhere that guaranteed him enough starts to improve.

You know…like Finland…or Sweden, maybe?