Here is a look at each team’s goaltending situation heading in to the fantasy week of March 30th to April 5th.

Atlantic Division

Team: New Jersey Devils
Goaltender: Martin Brodeur
Opponents: @New York Rangers, @Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, @Buffalo
Outlook: A busy week for Brodeur and the Devils who have lost 4 straight. Weekes could see a start in the Tampa game with it being the first of a back-to-back but expect Brodeur to carry the rest of the workload against 3 teams fighting for their playoff lives. The fantasy season is coming to an end and it’s time for managers to take chances to hopefully finish strong so I’d say start Marty, he’s due for a “W.”
Strategy: Safe to Start

Team: New York Islanders
Goaltender: Yann Danis/Joey MacDonald
Opponents: @Washington, Montreal, Tampa Bay
Outlook: The Isles have been pleasantly surprising lately, pointing in 3 of their last 6 games and shutting out Detroit along the way. They have 2 tough games to start the week with a highly offensive Caps team and a playoff hungry Montreal squad. Both goalies should see time but even with the recent spark it’s probably best to keep these guys benched.
Strategy: Emergency Basis Only

Team: New York Rangers
Goaltender: Henrik Lundqvist
Opponents: New Jersey, @Carolina, @Boston
Outlook: They’ve pointed in 5 of their last 7 but the Rangers have dropped 2 straight games. They have a tough week ahead of them and need Lundy to play his best puck if this team is going to make the playoffs. They’re going to ride him and so should you.
Strategy: Safe to Start

Team: Philadelphia Flyers
Goaltender: Martin Biron/Antero Niittymaki
Opponents: @Toronto, Toronto, @Ottawa
Outlook: Philly has won 4 of it’s last 5 games heading into Sunday’s matchup with Boston and have an easier schedule to start the week than some of their other divisional foes. They’ve been riding Biron but have a back-to-back Friday and Saturday so keep an eye on the situation to see if Niitty gets a start. Either way, it’s safe to start these guys.
Strategy: Safe to Start

Team: Pittsburgh Penguins
Goaltender: Marc-Andre Fleury
Opponents: New Jersey, @Carolina, @Florida
Outlook: The Pens are hot right now winning 5 of their last 6 games. They have a tough week against teams all looking to still be playing at the end of April but with the success this young squad has had lately, it’s safe to roll with Fleury.
Strategy: Safe to Start

Northeast Division

Team: Boston Bruins
Goaltender: Tim Thomas/Manny Fernandez
Opponents: Tampa Bay, Ottawa, New York Rangers
Outlook: The Bruins enjoy a 3 game home stand this week after Sunday’s game in Philly. They’ve pointed in 31 of their 37 games this season in Boston and look to maintain the top spot in the East. Thomas has assumed the starter role at this point in the season but both goalies are seeing time so check Goalie Post to see who looks to get the nod. Either way, managers should play these guys with confidence because the team in front of either goalie is that strong.
Strategy: Safe to Start

Team: Buffalo Sabres
Goaltender: Ryan Miller
Opponents: @Atlanta, @Washington, New Jersey
Outlook: He’s back! He’s also won 2 straight and the Sabres still have a shot at a playoff berth if they can continue their 3 game winning streak this week. Barring any soreness, Miller should play pretty much every game for Buffalo from here on out, utilizing the always start your studs fantasy rule in real hockey for the Sabres at this point due to their position, so make sure he’s active on your roster no matter how tough some of these games look on paper.
Strategy: Safe to Start

Team: Montreal Canadiens
Goaltender: Carey Price/Jaroslav Halak
Opponents: Chicago, @New York Islanders, @Toronto
Outlook: Price has started 3 straight and he’s picked up a point in each of them. Chicago will be tough, and Toronto and New York are looking to play the spoiler role so the Habs need to come out hungry if they plan on seeing post season action this year. Price has been decent lately and with the Habs really battling for that final spot in the East, they should turn up their game even higher in the next couple weeks.
Strategy: Safe to Start

Team: Ottawa Senators
Goaltender: Brian Elliot/Alex Auld
Opponents: @Florida, @Boston, Philadelphia
Outlook: The Sens have dropped 2 straight heading into Sunday after getting wins in their previous 5 games. A tough schedule this week for the offensively sound, but goaltender challenged team from Canada’s capital so it’s best to use caution with games against teams who are all playoff hungry.
Strategy: Use Caution

Team: Toronto Maple Leafs
Goaltender: Martin Gerber/Curtis Joseph
Opponents: Philadelphia, @Philadelphia, Montreal
Outlook: The Leafs have lost 2 straight and have a tough schedule ahead of them this week. Gerber has 1 more game on his suspension and Pogge just got sent down so it’s CuJo against Philly. Monitor the situation even when Gerber rejoins them because both goalies should split the rest of the season but either way this is not a safe week to start a Toronto tender.
Strategy: Emergency Basis Only

Southeast Division

Team: Atlanta Thrashers
Goaltender: Kari Lehtonen
Opponents: Buffalo, @Florida, @Washington
Outlook: Atlanta is streaking upward again with 2 straight wins. They’ve enjoyed playing the spoiler a few times this year, and with games against 2 playoff hungry teams to start the week they could fill that role again. Due to the fact that Florida and Buffalo are fighting for a spot right now, and Washington being as offensively powerful as they are, it might be best to use caution this week.
Strategy: Use Caution

Team: Carolina Hurricanes
Goaltender: Cam Ward
Opponents: New York Rangers, Pittsburgh
Outlook: The ‘Canes have only 5 games left and 4 of them are in Raleigh where they’ve pointed in 24 of their 37 games on home ice. Carolina has also won 6 straight and are one of the hottest teams in the league right now so keep rolling with Cam.
Strategy: Safe to Start

Team: Florida Panthers
Goaltender: Tomas Vokoun/Craig Anderson
Opponents: Ottawa, Atlanta, Pittsburgh
Outlook: The Panthers are fighting for a playoff spot and they’re on the right track with 2 straight wins. All 3 games this week are in Florida where the Cats have points in 26 of their 37 games. Anderson has been seeing a few starts but with no back-to-backs they should be rolling with Vokoun; however, be sure to keep an eye on the situation. They should be fighting extra hard in front of their home crowd so I’m gonna say its safe to give the nod to whoever they go with.
Strategy: Safe to Start

Team: Tampa Bay Lightning
Goaltender: Kari Ramo/Mike McKenna
Opponents: @Boston, @New Jersey, @New York Islanders
Outlook: With losses in 5 of their last 6 heading into Sunday, and the schedule not being favorable this week, it would be best to steer clear of the Bolts’ goaltending.
Strategy: Emergency Basis Only

Team: Washington Capitals
Goaltender: Jose Theodore
Opponents: New York Islanders, Buffalo, Atlanta
Outlook: The Caps have notched points in all but 9 of their 38 home games this season and play their last 3 games in D.C. before the playoffs this week. With odds like these it’s tough to call this situation anything but pretty safe. Be warned, though, in hockey crazy things can happen.
Strategy: Safe To Start

Central Division

Team: Chicago Blackhawks
Goaltender: Nikolai Khabibulin/Cristobal Huet
Opponents: @Montreal, St. Louis, Nashville, @Columbus
Outlook: Khabibulin has started 4 straight and Chicago has won their last 3 heading into Sunday. This week’s games for the ‘Hawks should say a lot in the Western Conference playoff race with 3 teams in the hunt. They do have a busy schedule with a back-to-back Tuesday and Wednesday so keep an eye on who gets the start, but this young Chicago team has played extremely well in front their veteran tender lately so have very little worries in giving him the nod on your fantasy roster. Expect Huet to get at least a start in due to the busy week Chicago has.
Strategy: Safe To Start

Team: Columbus Blue Jackets
Goaltender: Steve Mason
Opponents: Nashville, @Nashville, Chicago
Outlook: The Jackets have points in 5 straight games heading into Sunday’s matchup and Steve Mason earned his NHL-best 10th shutout last week so keep riding the hot tender who will continue to try and state his case for the Calder trophy.
Strategy: Safe To Start

Team: Detroit Red Wings
Goaltender: Ty Conklin/Chris Osgood
Opponents: St. Louis, Minnesota
Outlook: The Wings dropped 2 of their 3 games last week before Sunday’s contest including a surprising shutout by the Islanders. They’re looking to regain the top spot in the West so expect them to work to get back on track this week at home, where they have points in 30 of their 36 games played so far at the Joe. Both tenders are seeing time so check and see who Babcock goes with between the pipes.
Strategy: Safe to Start

Team: Nashville Predators
Goaltender: Pekka Rinne
Opponents: @Columbus, @Chicago, Columbus
Outlook: The Preds have won 2 straight heading into Sunday’s game against the Wings and are in the playoff hunt out west. They have a home-and-home with the Jackets and visit a hot Chicago team so the week won’t be easy but Rinne has been strong lately so have confidence in the young Nashville starter.
Strategy: Safe to Start

Team: St. Louis Blues
Goaltender: Chris Mason
Opponents: @Chicago, @Detroit, @Dallas
Outlook: It’s been 4 straight wins for the Blues going into their road trip, which starts Sunday in Columbus. This week the games start off tough before they take on an ice cold Dallas team to finish things off. St. Louis is looking to squeak into that final playoff spot and Chris Mason has been playing too well lately to not play him.
Strategy: Safe to Start

Northwest Division

Team: Calgary Flames
Goaltender: Miikka Kiprusoff
Opponents: San Jose, @Dallas, @Minnesota
Outlook: Looks like the team that everyone thought was easily the trade deadline winner has not performed so great lately. The Flames are 2-2 in their last 4 and have a tough game to start the week with the current best-in-the-West Sharks coming to town. Dallas is a weak team right now and Calgary just got a big win against the Wild Saturday night so managers should feel good about rolling with Kipper this week. Aside from the SJ game, though, the Flames should certainly fare well towards the end of the week so start Kiprusoff even in a weekly set roster league and hope he does well against the Sharks.
Strategy: Safe to Start

Team: Colorado Avalanche
Goaltender: Peter Budaj/Andrew Raycroft
Opponents: Phoenix, @Vancouver
Outlook: The Avs have lost 6 straight and even with Phoenix being an easier matchup it’s better to keep these goalies benched this week. Check out last week’s WGO comment about the Avs again, as it continues to hold true.
Strategy: Emergency Basis Only

Team: Edmonton Oilers
Goaltender: Dwayne Roloson
Opponents: Anaheim, San Jose, Vancouver
Outlook: A tough home schedule this week for the Oilers who have pointed in 22 of their 35 games in Edmonton heading into Sunday’s contest. They currently hold the final playoff spot in the West but with a schedule this tough this week it’s best to use caution.
Strategy: Use Caution

Team: Minnesota Wild
Goaltender: Niklas Backstrom/Josh Harding
Opponents: Vancouver, Calgary, @Detroit
Outlook: The Wild have lost 2 of their last 3 heading into Sunday’s game against Edmonton, as they too are in the mix for the final playoff spot out West. Even though they’ve only failed to point in 11 of their 37 home games this year, the schedule is too unfavorable this week to call this situation safe. Proceed with caution…
Strategy: Use Caution

Team: Vancouver Canucks
Goaltender: Roberto Luongo
Opponents: @Minnesota, Anaheim, @Edmonton, Colorado
Outlook: A busy week for a Canucks team that’s won 6 of their last 8 before Sunday’s matchup in Chicago. They have 2 games at home, where they’ve won 11 straight, and with Luongo in net the odds are in their favor.
Strategy: Safe to Start

Pacific Division

Team: Anaheim Ducks
Goaltender: Jean-Sebastien Giguere/Jonas Hiller
Opponents: @Edmonton, @Vancouver, @San Jose, San Jose
Outlook: The Ducks have won 5 of their last 6 heading into Sunday, as they hit the road for a busy schedule this week. They continue to roll with both goaltenders to try and get into the playoffs and their offense has been hot lately. Monitor the situation to see who gets the start and even with a tough schedule this week, its hard to say “be cautious” with a team who’s done so well as of late. Ride ‘em while they’re hot.
Strategy: Safe to Start

Team: Dallas Stars
Goaltender: Marty Turco
Opponents: @Phoenix, @Los Angeles, Calgary, St. Louis
Outlook: The Stars have lost 6 straight and are not playing good puck right now in front of Turco. Marty has had his strong moments in a few of those losses but this late in the season, with a downward spiral like this, it’s best to use caution with Turco and the Stars, especially at the end of the week.
Strategy: Use Caution

Team: Los Angeles Kings
Goaltender: Jon Quick
Opponents: Dallas, @Phoenix, Phoenix
Outlook: The Kings haven’t been the strongest team lately, losing 4 of their last 5 games. Their matchups this week aren’t exactly unfavorable but with the poorer play of late it’s best to try and pick and choose your starts with Quick this week. Each game is a potential coin flip in terms of who wins at this point.
Strategy: Use Caution

Team: Phoenix Coyotes
Goaltender: Ilya Bryzgalov
Opponents: Dallas, @Colorado, Los Angeles, @Los Angeles
Outlook: The ‘Yotes have pointed in 4 of their last 6 but with such a busy schedule this week, with some hit-or-miss matchups, it’s best to use caution.
Strategy: Use Caution

Team: San Jose Sharks
Goaltender: Evgeni Nabokov
Opponents: @Calgary, @Edmonton, Anaheim, @Anaheim
Outlook: Even with losses in 2 of their last 3 it’s tough to bet against the West’s currently top-seeded squad. They do have some tough matchups this week with games on the road where their record isn’t as strong as the one on home ice, but with a goalie like Nabby with a strong team like the Sharks in front of him, you really can’t go wrong most of the time. Go with him and hope the Sharks prove to these teams why they’re #1 in the West right now.
Strategy: Safe to Start