Weekly Goalie Outlook for Feb 16-22 (Week 20)

This weekly goalie outlook is published every Sunday for the upcoming fantasy week, which can be helpful for head to head leagues, especially those who are in leagues with rosters that have to be set and locked for the entire week. Here is a look at each team’s goaltending situation heading in to the fantasy week of February 16th to February 22nd.

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division

Team: New Jersey Devils
Goaltender: Scott Clemmensen/Kevin Weekes
Opponents: @Florida, @Tampa Bay, @New York Islanders
Outlook: The Devils are hot right now as they ride a 3 game winning streak heading into Sunday’s game. Scott Clemmensen is seeing most of the action but Kevin Weekes is getting starts here and there. Weekes got a 4-2 win over the Isles on Wednesday so we may see him in net when the Devils visit Long Island on Saturday. It’s also worth noting that Brodeur has returned to the ice and it practicing with the team again. Something has gotta give here in a few weeks, so be ready to make some adjustments.
Strategy: Safe to Start

Team: New York Islanders
Goaltender: Joey MacDonald/Yann Danis
Opponents: Pittsburgh, @New York Rangers, Carolina, New Jersey
Outlook: It looks like both goalies are going to get time, but the Isles have lost 5 straight so it shouldn’t really matters right now who gets the nod.
Strategy: Emergency Basis Only

Team: New York Rangers
Goaltender: Henrik Lundqvist
Opponents: @St. Louis, New York Islanders, @Buffalo, Toronto
Outlook: Last week we advised caution with Lundqvist figuring it would only be the case for the week. Even though the Rangers got their first February win last week, they still don’t look like a team on the rise and have some tough games ahead of them this week with streaky teams from St. Louis and Toronto, as well as a Buffalo team that’s 2-0 against them this season.
Strategy: Use Caution

Team: Philadelphia Flyers
Goaltender: Martin Biron/ Antero Niittymaki
Opponents: Buffalo, Pittsburgh
Outlook: The Flyers have won 3 of their last 5 as the goaltenders continue to split starts. It’s a very light schedule this week with 2 games at home where they’ve won 16 of there 26 games this season. Expect to see both goalies, but if Thursday’s starter can get a win against Buffalo, we could see the same tender between the pipes against the struggling Pens. Considering Biron is a former Sabre and got a 3-0 shutout the last time the 2 teams met, you may want to pencil him in on Thursday.
Strategy: Safe to Start

Team: Pittsburgh Penguins
Goaltender: Marc-Andre Fleury
Opponents: @New York Islanders, Montreal, @Philadelphia, @Washington
Outlook: After Toronto put up 5 goals in the 3rd period on Saturday against the Pens, it’s tough to even call the Isles the outright underdog on Monday. The Pens have lost 6 of the last 10 and New York is the only “weak” team they’ll face in their 4 games this week.
Strategy: Use Caution

Northeast Division

Team: Boston Bruins
Goaltender: Tim Thomas/Manny Fernandez
Opponents: @Carolina, @Florida, @Tampa Bay
Outlook: After winning 4 straight the Bruins have dropped their last 4. This week, the East’s top team looks to get back on track with games against 3 different teams that they are a combined 7-0 against this season. A 4 game losing streak is definitely something to keep your eye on but it’s hard to advise caution with a record like that. Fernandez should see one game this week.
Strategy: Safe to Start

Team: Buffalo Sabres
Goaltender: Ryan Miller
Opponents: @Toronto, @Philadelphia, New York Rangers
Outlook: After a weak game against Ottawa on Wednesday, Buffalo answered back with a comeback win against San Jose Friday night. The Sabres were shutout by former goalie Martin Biron and his Flyers during their only meeting so far this year, but they have 2 straight wins against both the Leafs and the Rangers. Expect to see Miller in all three.
Strategy: Safe to Start

Team: Montreal Canadiens
Goaltender: Carey Price/Jaroslav Halak
Opponents: @Washington, @Pittsburgh, Ottawa
Outlook: The Habs got a much needed win in Colorado last week as Halak stopped 46 shots. Sure the Pens are struggling but Washington and Ottawa are red hot right now which means this week could be another tough one for the Canadiens. Both goalies look to be getting time so monitor the situation and use caution when deciding to start one of these tenders against the Caps and Sens.
Strategy: Use Caution

Team: Ottawa Senators
Goaltender: Brian Elliot
Opponents: @Nashville, @Colorado, Vancouver, @Montreal
Outlook: This team is on FIRE! The Sens have won 4 straight including a huge comeback win in Minnesota on Saturday night. Elliot has been stellar but look for Alex Auld to steal a start in this busy week.
Strategy: Safe to Start

Team: Toronto Maple Leafs
Goaltender: Vesa Toskala/Curtis Joseph
Opponents: Buffalo, Columbus, Vancouver, @New York Rangers
Outlook: The Leafs had a strong 3rd period Saturday night netting 5 goals against the Pens. However, they are an extremely up and down team right now and have dropped 2 straight to Buffalo. Cujo got pulled in a loss in Tampa last week but Toskala hasn’t exactly been on Ron Wilson’s good side as of late. Caution is definitely advised since it’s hard to predict which Leafs team will show up at the arena on game nights.
Strategy: Use Caution

Southeast Division

Team: Atlanta Thrashers
Goaltender: Kari Lehtonen
Opponents: @Los Angeles, @Phoenix, @San Jose
Outlook: Atlanta has lost 3 of their last 4 games heading into Sunday. This week they spend some time out west but with games against a surprisingly hot L.A. offense and the top team in Western Conference caution is advised.
Strategy: Use Caution

Team: Carolina Hurricanes
Goaltender: Cam Ward
Opponents: Boston, @New York Islanders, Tampa Bay, Colorado
Outlook: Carolina has lost 2 straight going into Sunday’s game in Buffalo. However, with Boston being the only noticeably tough matchup of their 4 games this week, the ‘Canes have a good chance at getting back on track.
Strategy: Safe to Start

Team: Florida Panthers
Goaltender: Tomas Vokoun
Opponents: New Jersey, Chicago, Boston
Outlook: The Panthers are riding a 3 game winning streak going into Sunday’s matchup against the Caps. This week they get a 3 game home stand where they’ve enjoyed some success this year winning 15 of the 26 games played in Florida. The Panthers have struggled against both New Jersey and Boston this season as they’ve lost both games they’ve played against each of these teams but given their strong play as of late, it’s hard to advise caution.
Strategy: Safe To Start

Team: Tampa Bay Lightning
Goaltender: Mike McKenna/Kari Ramo
Opponents: Chicago, New Jersey, @Carolina, Boston
Outlook: As Mike Smith continues to recover from a concussion Mike McKenna enjoys some rare playing time as he’s started the past 5 games for the Lightning. The bad news is he is he only has 2 wins in those 5 games and was pulled after allowing 3 goals on the first 12 shots in the most recent contest. This week doesn’t appear favorable for the Bolts with games against some strong offenses, so you’re better off leaving McKenna on the waiver wire and waiting for Mike Smith to return.
Strategy: Emergency Basis Only

Team: Washington Capitals
Goaltender: Jose Theodore
Opponents: Montreal, Colordao, Pittsburgh
Outlook: The Caps have won 22 of their 27 home games this season and they haven’t scored less than 3 goals since January 27th.
Strategy: Safe To Start

Western Conference

Central Division

Team: Chicago Blackhawks
Goaltender: Cristobal Huet/Nikolai Khabibulin
Opponents: @Tampa Bay, @Florida, @Dallas, Minnesota
Outlook: Huet got the nod Saturday night because Nikolai sat out with a lower body injury. The injury isn’t considered serious and he is supposed to return to action this week. Khabibulin has been considered the #1 tender in the Windy City but expect both of these guys to continue to see time.
Strategy: Safe To Start

Team: Columbus Blue Jackets
Goaltender: Steve Mason
Opponents: Dallas, St. Louis, @Toronto, Anaheim
Outlook: Steve Mason returned last week and the Jackets are rolling with a 4 game winning streak at the moment. LaCosta was returned to Syracuse (AHL) as soon as Mason was activated so Wade Dubielewicz will continue as the backup in Columbus.
Strategy: Safe To Start

Team: Detroit Red Wings
Goaltender: Ty Conklin/Chris Osgood
Opponents: Nashville, Anaheim, @Minnestoa
Outlook: The Wings only have 1 loss in their last 7 games as the defending Stanley Cup Champs have gotten back to form in recent weeks after a mini-slide. They start the week with 2 games at the Joe where they’ve been successful this season with winning 20 of 26. They also head to Minnesota to play a Wild team that is 0-2 against them this season. Plan on both goalies seeing time.
Strategy: Safe to Start

Team: Nashville Predators
Goaltender: Pekka Rinne/Dan Ellis
Opponents: Ottawa, @Detroit, St. Louis, @St. Louis
Outlook: The Preds have won 2 straight with Pekka Rinne as their starter. Nashville has won 6 of its 8 games in February so this situation is now safe to start for the time being.
Strategy: Safe To Start

Team: St. Louis Blues
Goaltender: Chris Mason/
Opponents: New York Rangers, @Columbus, @Nashville, Nashville
Outlook: Mason got the shutout against Chicago but the Blues have dropped 2 of their last 3. The Rangers will be coming off of a tough matchup with the Flyers on Sunday and they’ve beaten the Blues in 3 of the 4 contests this year. Still, this situation is far from safe with a team that’s this hot and cold right now.
Strategy: Use Caution

Northwest Division

Team: Calgary Flames
Goaltender: Miikka Kiprusoff
Opponents: Vancouver, @Minnesota, @Edmonton
Outlook: Calgary’s offense is clicking right now and it should be a 2 win, possibly 3 win week for Kippers and crew. As long as Calgary maintains their current pace, they should lock themselves into that 3rd spot in the West for the post-season.
Strategy: Safe to Start

Team: Colorado Avalanche
Goaltender: Peter Budaj/Andrew Raycroft
Opponents: Ottawa, @Washington, @Carolina
Outlook: The ‘Lanche could be playing Gordon Bombay and the Mighty Ducks and we would still hesitate to give you go-ahead to start Budaj or Raycroft. Unless you’re absolutely handcuffed this week with tenders, consider finding other options between the pipes.
Strategy: Emergency Basis Only

Team: Edmonton Oilers
Goaltender: Dwayne Roloson/Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers
Opponents: @Phoenix, @San Jose, @Dallas, Calgary
Outlook: The Oilers continue to play inconsistent puck down the stretch here which leaves Roloson owners in a predicament on game nights. Will Rolo stonewall the opposition or will he and the team allow 9 goals to happen again tonight? They are in a playoff fight for their lives right now so any games against conference opponents are big ones. Rolo and crew have a busy week and none of the games this week could be considered favorable for Edmonton to win. Be careful.
Strategy: Use Caution

Team: Minnesota Wild
Goaltender: Niklas Backstrom
Opponents: Calgary, Detroit, @Chicago
Outlook: If you’re playing the schedule this week, Backstrom has 3 of the toughest teams in the league and if the option to keep him on the bench arises, you may want to find a more favorable matchup amongst your tenders. If you can afford to take a loss here and there to help maintain other fantasy stats, Backstrom is certainly one of the few goaltenders you can do that with. He has easily been one of the best tenders in the league this year, however, with the lack of offense around him, he easily goes overlooked.
Strategy: Use Caution

Team: Vancouver Canucks
Goaltender: Roberto Luongo
Opponents: @Calgary, @Ottawa, @Toronto
Outlook: The Canucks have scored 22 goals in their last 5 games (not including Sunday night at Montreal) and are headed to the east coast to play some teams that are a little lower on the totem pole in the standings right now. Don’t hesitate to start Luongo this week as the team appears to be in a groove right now.
Strategy: Safe to Start

Pacific Division

Team: Anaheim Ducks
Goaltender: Jean-Sebastien Giguere/Jonas Hiller
Opponents: Los Angeles, @Detroit, @Columbus
Outlook: Hiller is 3-2 in his last 5 starts while Giggy is 2-3 in his last 5. Certainly neither goaltender is emerging as a clear cut winner to finish the season as the starter so continue to monitor the Ducks on game night to see who will be between the pipes. The Ducks have an extremely tricky schedule this week and it may be to your advantage to leave either tender on the bench against the Red Wings as they have only lost 4 games at home this season.
Strategy: Use Caution

Team: Dallas Stars
Goaltender: Marty Turco
Opponents: @Columbus, Edmonton, Chicago
Outlook: Turco on the Stars continue to turn up the heat in the 2nd half and are competing with the top dogs in the West. A tricky yet manageable schedule for Dallas this week.
Strategy: Safe to Start

Team: Los Angeles Kings
Goaltender: Jon Quick/Erik Ersberg
Opponents: Atlanta, @Anaheim, @San Jose, Phoenix
Outlook: Please note that Erik Ersberg is back in the lineup for the Kings and took a loss in his first game back from injury. San Jose is the only threatening game for the Kings who are rolling as of late. Look for Quick to see more time than Ersberg as he has been a top tender in the league over the past 2 weeks.
Strategy: Safe to Start

Team: Phoenix Coyotes
Goaltender: Ilya Bryzgalov
Opponents: Edmonton, Atlanta, @Los Angeles
Outlook: The ‘Yotes are struggling right now but have a game against the lowly Thrashers this week. Don’t rule out starting Bryzgalov as the Coyotes will surprise you here and there.
Strategy: Use Caution

Team: San Jose Sharks
Goaltender: Evgeni Nabokov
Opponents: Edmonton, Los Angeles, Atlanta
Outlook: A somewhat less than successful eastern swing for the Sharks this past week but they have a favorable schedule this week, so fire at will with Nabby.
Strategy: Safe to Start