Before we get to the Week 22 streaming options, there are oodles of NHL trade rumors floating around right now and many of them involve goalies. While Marc-Andre Fleury remains the focus of the goalie market, Semyon Varlamov’s name has begun to gain traction as a possibility. With the emergence of Ilya Sorokin, it makes sense for the Islanders to explore options on the trade market.
One thing for fantasy managers to keep in mind is that Varlamov has been plagued with poor offensive support, averaging only 1.80 goals per game with him in the crease. A trade to a stronger offensive team would boost his value significantly.
We’ll keep you updated as the trades come in. If you need waiver wire help, Brandon Altomonte has you covered. And don’t forget about the Fantrax Podcast Network. For now, though, here are my suggestions for Week 22 streaming goalies.
3 Streaming Goalie Options for Week 22
Anton Forsberg (OTT): ARI, CLS, PHI, @MON
Fantrax 41%; Yahoo 35%
If you’re not obsessed with goalies like some of us, you may be unaware that Anton Forsberg has not given up more than three goals in any game since February 1. In that time span, he has averaged 30.5 saves per game with a three-game stretch of 40+ saves. His home/road splits don’t warrant concern and with four games, I will happily be starting him in season long and DFS, assuming he remains affordable.
Cal Petersen (LAK): COL, SJ, @VGK
Fantrax 69%; Yahoo 43%
Petersen has been an odd model of consistency when healthy. His save percentage at home is .902 and on the road is .905. Goals allowed at home is 2.56 and on the road is 2.64. In his first three games of March, his save percentage sits at .936 and he is allowing 2.02 goals per game. More than anything else, his quality start percentage is .600 which puts him into the “good” category. These are winning numbers and streaming the 27-year-old makes sense this week. And yes, even at home against Colorado.
Mikko Koskinen (EDM): DET, BUF, NJ
Fantrax 66%; Yahoo 50%
As an Oilers fan, I have currently set up an alert to let me know if Varlamov inexplicably waves his limited no-trade clause and heads to Edmonton. It would be a welcome notice for those of us suffering from Oiler goalie fatigue. The good news is, though, that Koskinen is prime for a decent week with three teams coming into Rogers Centre from the East. His most recent outstanding performance came against Philadelphia when he saved all 39 shots he faced. He is allowing 3 goals per game with a .904 save percentage, but the Oilers are perfectly capable of scoring 4 in each of these contests this week. The 33-year-old is not someone to set and forget by any stretch, but I think you can trust him this week.
Week 22 Goalies to Avoid
Connor Hellbuyck (WPG): VGK, BOS, @CHI
If we take a walk down recent memory lane, we will see that in his last five starts, Hellbuyck has allowed four goals in each game. The game before that? He allowed six. Am I starting him against any one of these offenses? No.
Elvis Merzlikins (CLS): @OTT, WAS, STL
The Columbus Blue Jackets give up the most shots per game in the league, really committing to their ethos of just trying to outscore everyone. If you’re looking for save equity, Merzlikins certainly will have the opportunities. The problem arises when considering his quality start percentage is 0.432 which is well into the “bad” level. Add to that an Ottawa team that has been better of late, a Washington team in the top half of shots per game, and a potent St. Louis offense and I want nothing to do with him this week.
Phillip Grubauer (SEA): TB, DET
Grubauer has lost his last nine starts and only one of them came in OT. Add to that the fact that he only has two games on the docket and that one of those two is Tampa Bay? I’m out on the Kraken netminder this week.
Those are my Goalie Grabs for Week 22. Thoughts? Opinions? Hit me up on Twitter @thewonkypenguin. And, as always, good luck!