Goaltending Dilemmas Heading To The Playoffs
With the trading deadline having passed, some teams traded for goalies, hoping to help their playoff push. Now, more than ever, goalies are crucial, as you are either in your final regular season week, or the fantasy playoffs right now.
Columbus Blue Jackets- The playoffs aren’t just a joke anymore as Columbus has been playing well and made the biggest splash at the deadline acquiring Marian Gaborik from the Rangers. They also shipped Steve Mason to the Flyers for Michael Leighton, which gives them a proven backup. Despite only playing in one game this season, Leighton proved three years ago how valuable he can be, backstopping the Flyers to the Stanley Cup Finals. However, Bobrovsky is still the man in Columbus.
Ottawa Senators- Craig Anderson was the Vezina favorite before an ankle injury sidelined him in February, and he hasn’t played since. But he backed up Robin Lehner on Friday and should be starting very soon. He’s owned in almost all leagues, so if you have him, be sure to activate him, especially if you’re in a weekly league. Lehner is the backup with Ben Bishop having been traded, and probably won’t serve much purpose the rest of the way, although his goals against average (2.34) and save percentage (.934) are very good
Philadelphia Flyers- Mason is the new backup in town, and definitely could benefit from a change of scenery. Since winning the Calder trophy in 2009, he’s had four awful seasons. Only one time did he have a winning record and his goals against average was over 3.00 each of the last three seasons. He’s had nine shutouts in four seasons after he had 10 his rookie year. Any way you slice it a 3-6-1 record, 2.95 goals against average and .899 save percentage won’t cut it. While you can expect his numbers to be better in Philadelphia, this season is a lost cause for Mason and he isn’t worth a waiver wire pickup.
Tampa Bay Lightning- After starting half of the Senators games with Anderson on the shelf, Bishop was having a fine season before his trade to the Lightning. His first start was an excellent one, stopping all 45 shots in a 5-0 shutout over the Hurricanes. Tampa Bay isn’t out of the playoff picture with the eighth seed and Southeast Division in reach. He will probably start majority of their ga
