large ad

small ad



The best HDTVs To Watch Hockey on…
HomeTheaterReview.com

Fantasy Insider: Goalie Analysis

November 03, 2006 @ 4:17 PM ET

In the latest edition of Fantasy Insider, we take a look at goaltenders who might have slipped through the radar, but could prove to be quite productive in the weeks and months ahead…

1) Mathieu Garon (Los Angeles Kings): No NHL team is seeing a wider disparity between the performances of their two goaltenders than the Kings. Dan Cloutier (.874 SV%, 3.48 GAA) is near the bottom in virtually every category, while Mathieu Garon (.941 SV%, 1.72 GAA) has been the NHL's finest netminder through the season's first month. And if Garon keeps playing well, he should soon be annointed the team's official starter.

2) Rick DiPietro (New York Islanders): DiPietro was dropped in many leagues following an atrocious start. But he's picked up his game dramatically in recent weeks — as has the team around him — and the Isles are suddenly emerging as one of this season's most pleasant surprises. 4-1 in his last five starts, DiPietro is certainly one of the league's most talented netminders. If he can start to make good on his enormous potential — and it looks as though he's on his way — DiPietro is a great waiver wire pick-up.

3) Ray Emery (Ottawa Senators): When the Senators signed Martin Gerber away from the Carolina Hurricanes during the off-season, it was because they expected him to be their starter. But when Dominik Hasek went down with a groin injury last season, Emery was huge between the pipes for the Sens. And if he keeps playing as well as he has thus far (.939 SV%, 1.86 GAA), look for head coach Bryan Murray to divide the starts more evenly as the season progresses.

4) Olaf Kolzig (Washington Capitals): "Olie the Goalie" has been one of the NHL's steadiest netminders over the past decade. But in recent seasons, the inexperienced Caps' defense has made him persona non grata amongst fantasy hockey poolies. But Alexander Ovechkin and company are much improved this season, and Kolzig's numbers (.915 SV%, 4-2-2 record) merit strong consideration if he's available in your league.

5) David Aebischer (Montreal Canadiens): Cristobal Huet (.917 SV%) was expected to be the starter heading into this season, but the two Habs netminders have actually shared duties equally (six starts apiece), with Aebischer (.924 SV%) playing slightly better.