After Anders Nilsson and James Reimer were dealt, Monday’s trade deadline was slow for goalie movement, with only minor leaguer Drew MacIntyre and nearly retired Nicklas Backstrom changing teams.
If you’d like to find out how the Nilsson and Reimer trades should play out, along with the other important deals, check out the Dobber Trade Deadline Tracker, which includes a list of trades made in February along with their fantasy implications.
With the trade deadline out of the way, let’s focus on the coming week as far as goalies you should consider starting or benching.
START
Ben Bishop, TB (@PHI, vs. BOS, vs. PHI, @CLS)
Bishop and the Lightning are hitting their stride at the right time, with goaltender winning six-straight games. The streak may continue into this week with the Bolts playing four games, including three matchups against non-playoff teams. Andrei Vasilevskiy may start one of the back-to-back games on Monday or Tuesday. Bishop has been quietly effective this season, leading the NHL with a 2.06 goals-against average.
Petr Mrazek, DET (@CLS, vs. WPG, vs. NYR, vs. TOR)
Mrazek has struggled mightily recently over the past few weeks with a 3.81 goals-against average and .869 save percentage since Feb. 14 (find more stats like these at the Dobber Hockey Profiles). After being pulled in the first period of Sunday’s game against Chicago, Mrazek has a great opportunity to put that start behind him and turn it around this week. The Wings play four games, including three at home and three against non-playoff teams. This kind of schedule makes it easier to have faith.
Martin Jones, SJ (@CGY, @EDM, vs. NJ, vs. WSH)
The Sharks have a tough matchup with the Capitals at the end of the week, but is relatively easy otherwise with matchups against three non-playoff teams. Newly acquired James Reimer could make his second start as a Shark for one the Alberta games on Monday or Tuesday, so he’s worth at least a one-day add if available. But the starting job is still Jones’ to lose, as he has won three in a row and hasn’t allowed more than two goals in each of his last four starts.
SIT
Keith Kinkaid, NJ (@SJ, @LA)
Cory Schneider could be out for the week after he left Friday’s game with a leg injury, so it goes without saying that you should be looking for a replacement. If you’re considering Kinkaid as an option, you may want to look elsewhere. The Devils play only two games this week, both of which are on the road against potential playoff teams. After allowing six goals in a loss to Pittsburgh on Sunday, Kinkaid’s season numbers don’t inspire confidence anyway (2.74 GAA, .902 SV%).
Corey Crawford, CHI (@STL, @DAL)
Like New Jersey, the Blackhawks play only two games and both are on the road. Chicago is going through a stretch where they’re playing only seven games in three weeks, limiting Crawford’s starts. Crawford regressed in February with a 5-4-1 record, 2.76 goals-against average and .915 save percentage, but came on strong Sunday, making 33 saves in a 4-1 win over Detroit.
Semyon Varlamov (vs. ARI, vs. ANA, @WPG)
Varlamov has posted a brutal 3.68 goals-against average and an .889 save percentage since the start of February. It’s gotten to the point where Calvin Pickard has started the last two games after replacing Varlamov in Tuesday’s game (Varlamov allowed three goals in the first period). The overall schedule isn’t particularly difficult for the Avalanche, but one especially worrisome matchup for Colorado is its Wednesday matchup with the red-hot Ducks.
Need to find out who’s starting in net today? Goalie Post has you covered.
