Net Effect — Week 3
By, David Satriano
Let’s face it. It’s week three of the NHL season and all the starting goalies are taken and most of the backups are gone as well. Not to fear! David Satriano provides you with guys who are getting it done and are probably available in your league as well.
I’m in three leagues. One has five goalies (Michal Neuvirth, Mike Smith, Mikka Kiprusoff, Corey Crawford and Ryan Miller). Crawford is the only one in the group living up to expectations. Neuvirth and Kiprusoff only have one win each. Miller has been struggling, and Smith appears as if he may be turning it around.
In another league, I have Antti Niemi, Corey Schneider and Ryan Miller. Pretty solid, but Schenieder hardly even plays anymore. And in my last league I have Martin Brodeur, Jose Theodore and Brian Elliot, clearly the worst of the three since Theodore isn’t very good and Elliot hasn’t been starting much and Brodeur has been struggling. So I’m in the market for some replacements, and here’s five that I am looking at:
Tomas Vokoun, Penguins
He is owned in only 44% of Yahoo leagues, but expect that number to rise. Vokoun is 3-1 with a 2.09 goals against average and a .927 save percentage and has started in four of the Penguins’ nine games thus far- only one fewer than Marc-Andre Fleury. If you need goalie help, he is probably your best bet.
Johan Hedberg, Devils (owned in 10%)
There were questions as to how many starts Hedberg would get backing up Brodeur. He had 23 last year and already has two this season in eight games. Both starts have come in a four-game span and Hedberg has been spectacular. The first game, he stopped 27 shots in a 2-1 shootout loss to the Bruins, and in the other one, he pitched a 22-save shutout against the Islanders. With nine more sets of back-to-back games, Hedberg should see plenty of chances in the future.
Thomas Greiss, Sharks (owned in 6%)
In his two starts, he has a shutout and a 30-save effort in a 2-1 loss. Greiss has allowed two goals on 56 shots, therefore very impressive goals against average and save percentage numbers. If Niemi needs a rest, he’s shown he’s more than capable of a start.
Dan Ellis, Hurricanes (owned in 8%)
Ellis has been a starter before, but knew coming in he would be Cam Ward’s backup. Ward has played in 60 games or more in five of the past six seasons. Ellis has already started three games allowing one, none and five goals respectively. He also played 40 minutes in a game that Ward was pulled from. Right now, he has a .939 save percentage and a 1.99 goals against average. Those numbers will help anyone in need of goalie help.
Victor Fasth (owned in 11%)
His numbers are actually the best of any probable option out there. Three starts, three wins. Only four goals allowed on 74 shots. And it’s not like the wins were over bad teams- he’s beaten the Sharks, Wild and Predators, who all have pretty good offenses.
Deeper league finds: Matthieu Garon (owned in 6%)- could see more starts. Jonathan Bernier (owned in 6%)- if Quick struggles or gets hurt, his work load increases. Steve Mason (4%)- just 1-3 but has made four starts and the save percentage isn’t that bad.
