It is another very important week for goalies in fantasy hockey as the right pickup could change your whole week. You never know when a coach is going to decide to play which goalie, but injuries, back-to-backs, and a bit of rest going into the playoffs all help predict what may happen. Here’s a look at three of the top picks to stream this week in net.
Fantasy Hockey Week 24 Goalie Streams
Calvin Pickard, Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers’ starter, Stuart Skinner, was injured last week in a game against the Dallas Stars after having his head run into. It isn’t the first time he’s been run into and had to be taken out of the game this season. This time, he’s out for at least a few games. In his place is Calvin Pickard who had already been getting more starts than a regular backup would.
Pickard has won three of his last four games he’s appeared in where he’s seen more than four shots. Despite a strong showing from third-string goalie Olivier Rodrigue, Pickard just put up a strong performance in the Battle of Alberta on Saturday night that will likely allow the veteran to start again in the team’s next game. The Oilers face off against the Vegas Golden Knights, San Jose Sharks, and LA Kings this week as they chase the ladder in hopes of home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
Vitek Vanecek, Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers have two back-to-backs this week and four games in total, so there’s a very good chance that Vitek Vanecek, the backup in Florida, gets the easier start in each matchup. The Panthers play the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs on consecutive nights earlier in the week and then go back-to-back against the Ottawa Senators and Detroit Red Wings later in the week. Florida is fighting with Toronto for playoff positioning, so Sergei Bobrovsky is most likely to start the second game of the week.
As for the back half of the week, Vanecek will probably get the second game against Detroit, the easier matchup to Ottawa. The Panthers are in safe playoff positioning, but fighting for the actual positioning. Vanecek hasn’t been bad since coming over to the team, and it’s hard to find backups that will play multiple games in a week without a sudden injury. He is a decent option and has recorded a shutout since joining the Panthers. His numbers could be better overall, but that’s what the majority of a season with the worst team in the league will do.
Scott Wedgewood, Colorado Avalanche
Scott Wedgewood has strong numbers this season, especially since joining the Colorado Avalanche. He has won five starts in a row and has posted a save percentage of at least .917 in four of those games. Despite Mackenzie Blackwood starting four games in a row, Wedgewood was given consecutive starts two weeks ago.
The Avalanche are almost locked into third place in their division with the Stars playing so well and the Winnipeg Jets being elite since the first game of the season. Colorado plays four times against the Calgary Flames, Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, and St. Louis Blues. Wedgewood will start one of the back-to-back games in the middle of the week and I can see him playing against the Flames as the Blues game is a little too important for the Avalanche if there isn’t enough separation yet.
Related: Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire: Week 23 Defensemen Streams
Goalie adds are never easy in fantasy hockey, but one or two may make a difference. These should be the best looks to begin this important week unless things change, so make sure to also keep watch.
