In this week’s Eastern Edge, we’ll focus on the goaltending situation in Boston. We’ll also highlight two players worth removing from the waiver feed this week.
Don’t let yourself be swayed, man
The Bruins have only played six games, but a gap has already grown between their two goaltenders. Linus Ullmark is 4-0 with a 2.23 GAA and .929 save percentage. In contrast, Jeremy Swayman was retired in one of his two starts and currently has a 5.40 GAA and .816 save percentage. A quick look at each goalkeeper’s opponents so far makes it seem like Swayman has had the easiest matchups. He faced the Coyotes and Senators (for two periods), while Ullmark faced the Senators (for one period), Capitals, Panthers, Ducks and Wild. None of Swayman’s opponents qualified for the playoffs last year, while three of Ullmark’s opponents did – but it’s not that simple. First, it’s a new season with new rosters, and our perception of some teams may be outdated. The Panthers had a powerful offense last year, but after losing a few big chunks this summer, their offense doesn’t seem as powerful as it once was. Yes, Ullmark had a great performance against Florida, but it might not be as impressive a feat as last year. The Sens weren’t a playoff team last season, but they made some big moves in the offseason and look dangerous right now. A bad start against them this season isn’t as damning as it would have been years ago.
Another thing to consider is that the season is still so young. We should not place too much stock in small samples. If a good goalkeeper has two bad games in the middle of a season, those poor stats get lost in a bigger volume of good stats. When two bad games happen at the start of the year, there is nothing to soften the blow. Let’s take a closer look at Swayman’s two starts to see if his early fights can be explained. His first game was against Arizona and he gave up three goals on 24 shots. The Coyotes have one of the worst rosters in the league and they get knocked out and knocked out every night. Such an opponent can be difficult for a goalkeeper to face, as seeing fewer shots makes it harder to pace. His second start was against the Senators and he gave up six goals on 25 shots in two periods. As I mentioned before, the Senators are no longer the same team they were last season. It’s still early days, but they’re averaging 4.17 goals per game, which currently puts them fourth in the league. Excitement in Ottawa is at its highest level in years and the city was in full swing for the Sens’ home opener against the Bruins. So it was a tough environment for Swayman. More importantly, it was the second half of a comeback for Boston and Swayman suffered a number of defensive breakdowns. I’d say he was at fault for two of the goals he allowed, but turnovers from the defensive zone led to shots from the crevice area for three of Ottawa’s goals, and the last one was scored on a two-on-one race.
With Ullmark set to get his third straight start on Tuesday against the Stars, some fantasy managers may worry that Swayman could become a replacement this year. Discussing his team’s goaltending situation ahead of the season, new coach Jim Montgomery offered the following quote:
“I think everyone would say that ideally you have a number 1 (goalie) by the time you enter the playoffs and after the trade deadline. And it’s up to one of those goalkeepers to emerge ahead of the other. But in today’s NHL, to be successful in the regular season, with as many three (games) in four (days) as you have, you need two goalies to do the job night after night. (Source: NESN).
Such a quote leads me to believe that one of Boston’s goaltenders will end the season with a few more starts than the other – say a 60/40 split rather than the perfectly even distribution of duties that Ullmark and Swayman have. seen last year. At this point, it looks like Ullmark could become Option 1A, but it’s way too early to count out Swayman. The Bruins have a back-to-back game this week on Thursday and Friday, so Swayman will be back in the net soon. If he can perform well, he will be rewarded with more starts in the future. Swayman was dropped in many leagues after his early fights. If you can pick it up for free, you get a good goalkeeper on a good team – an asset not usually available on the waiver wire.
Waiver thread adds
Kaapo Kakko –The Rangers are one of three teams — the others being Minnesota and Chicago — playing a league-high four games between Tuesday and Sunday. Two goals in six appearances isn’t anything out of the ordinary, but Kakko finds himself playing a leading role in New York’s top six and all reports indicate he looks like a better player this season than he. did so in previous years. It’s currently listed in only 10% of Yahoo formats, so chances are it’s available in your league.
Boone Jenner – The Blue Jackets have a favorable schedule for the rest of this fantastic week. They have a game against Arizona and a game against New Jersey, two teams that struggled to keep the puck out of their net to start the year. Additionally, Columbus is in action on Friday and Sunday, two lighter days when there aren’t as many teams playing, making it easier to fit Jenner into your fantasy roster. With Patrik Laine returning to the lineup on Tuesday, the team’s top line of Laine, Jenner and Johnny Gaudreau should be a solid force. If Jenner is unavailable in your league, Jakub Voracek has five points in his last four games and is another good option to consider.
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