Ahead of Week 3 of the NHL, some goalies are already impressing and others are faltering. Teams have begun establishing the expected pecking order in net for the foreseeable future while other goalies are getting better opportunities with injuries and struggles. Having said that, we are going to dive into three solid goalie options to stream this week in fantasy hockey.
More great fantasy hockey analysis: Slappers and Bangers | Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire | Goalie Streams | Weekly Wrap-Up | NHL Injury Report
Fantasy Hockey Week 3 Goalie Streams
David Rittich, Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings goalie situation just continues to be a mess. Darcy Kuemper had a good first couple of games and then got lit up for eight goals. Not long after that, he landed on the IR, and David Rittich, the backup, has the starting role for the moment. He went 13-6-3 with a .921 SV% and three shutouts last season but is only 1-1-0 with a .878 SV% so far. It is a very small sample size and the Kings are a fringe playoff team at worst this season.
Rittich will be defending the crease for the majority of games while Kuemper is out. The Kings play three games this week, so expect at least two starts. Their opponents are the Vegas Golden Knights, San Jose Sharks, and Utah Hockey Club. We have to hope Rittich gets the start against the winless Sharks to really add value to his addition this week.
Samuel Ersson, Philadelphia Flyers
Samuel Ersson was put into a tough spot last season, but he stepped up to the occasion. It was a big ask for him to become the starter of the Philadelphia Flyers after just 12 career games in the NHL prior to the season. He ended up starting 49 games and playing 53, going 23-19-7 with an .890 SV% and four shutouts. He has a .894 SV% this season through three games. The Flyers outperformed expectations last season and only have one win this season, but he has the potential to be a goalie you hang onto for longer than this week if he does alright.
Ersson has the clear leverage on backup Ivan Fedotov in the net and the Flyers match up against the Washington Capitals in a home and home before playing the Minnesota Wild and Ottawa Senators back-to-back later in the week. None of these teams are powerhouses and the Flyers have a chance to win each of the games that Ersson will start.
Joel Hofer, St. Louis Blues
Joel Hofer has continued his rise in the NHL this season already, starting three games and winning all of them. He is 3-0-0 on the season with a 2.32 GAA and .932 SV% with a shutout. While he came into the season as the backup and Jordan Binnington as the starter, Binnington is 1-2-0 with a .895 SV%. The Blues are trying to win and will do what they need to in order to achieve that.
The Blues face the undefeated Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs, and the Montreal Canadiens this week. It’s not the easiest schedule, but Hofer is more likely to start two of the games than just one. If this trend continues with him and Binnington, Hofer will be starting at least 40 games this season and be a great long-term addition to your fantasy hockey lineup.
Related: Slappers and Bangers: Emerging NHL Players
Goalies streams each week don’t just have to benefit you for the next seven days. Oftentimes goalies and players alike surprise and are worth holding onto for longer. Whichever it is for your fantasy hockey team this week, these goalies should help.