March 18th – Fantasy Hockey Goalie Rankings

Welcome back to yet another edition Best Online Bookmakers of where I attempt to predict who will win each game, but also which goalies are going to post stellar GAA and SV%. The us friendly online casinos playoffs are in full swing so now more than ever it is so important to play the right goalies. With 12 games across the NHL tonight, there are loads of goaltending options. From must-starts, to good goalies with bad matchups, to sub-par goalies with great matchups you have a lot of choices, but you need to make the right ones. Below you will find my rankings from 1-24 based on who I think is the safest options to get you the important W’s while posting good splits. Good luck everyone enjoy!

***

1. Antti Niemi (vs. FLA) – Niemi is the hottest goalie in the NHL right now going up against a Panthers team who have a ton of call-ups in their lineup.
2. Henrik Lundqvist (@ OTT) – ‘King Henrik’ has only allowed eight goals in his last five starts and meets a Senators team who have lost five of their last six.
3. Sergei Bobrovsky (vs. CAR) – Bob was the NHL’s first star last week after going 2-0-1 with 1.58 GAA and .950 SV% and tonight faces a Hurricanes team who don’t score as much you would think. Only two goals in their last two games and rank 20th overall on the season.
4. Chad Johnson (@NJD) – Johnson has won three in a row while holding opponents to four goals.
5. Pekka Rinne (@ EDM) – Alright, Rinne is 2-4-0 with a 2.50 GAA and .913 SV% since getting back. However, his matchups have been brutal and the Preds have scored only 1.67 G/PG in front of him. That lack of offence is concerning, but the Oilers, despite all the young talent haven’t exactly been lighting up the score board.
6. Ilya Bryzgalov (@ NYI) – This one is gutty even if I do say so myself. Bryz is sketchy, but looked good in his Wild debut and draws a good matchup tonight.
7. Carey Price (vs. COL) – Price’s return was not great, but he got the W. Tonight, the matchup is ugly, but with Giguere in the other crease and not Varlamov, the door is open.
8. Antti Raanta (@ PHI) – If this was a home game, Raanta would be higher. His road stats are not great, but with the Flyers coming off of two huge wins against the Penguins on the weekend, this has the makings of a letdown game with the powerhouse Hawks in town.
9. Jonas Hiller (vs. WSH) – What has happened to the Ducks? Before the Olympics, Hiller was a sure-fire must-start at home, now they are in a pretty big slump. The one thing in favour of Hiller is that Adam Oates has Jay Beagle centring Ovechkin tonight, so I say the Ducks take home a two points.
10. James Reimer (@ DET) – Seriously, how big of a game is this? The Maple Leafs are so up-and-down, but the Red Wings’ lineup is such a mess because of injuries that it is a favourable matchup.
11. Viktor Fasth (vs. NSH) – Fasth has turned aside 40 of the 44 shots (.926 SV%) he has faced in his first two starts with the Oilers. Nashville ranks 24th in scoring, so don’t hesitate to get Fasth in your lineup as a spot-start.
12. Jeff Zatkoff (vs. DAL) – Zatkoff would be ranked higher if James Neal and Chris Kunitz were definitely in the lineup. The Penguins were awful over the weekend without them, so if they are not in the lineup be cautious here.
13. Jaroslav Halak (@ ANA) – Halak has won three of his first five starts with the Capitals, while posting a 2.42 GAA and .924 SV%. He faces a Ducks team who started out as one of the best home teams in the NHL, but have dropped six of their last eight at the Honda Center.
14. Anton Khudobin (@ CBJ) – Khudobin has stopped 152 of 165 shots (.921 SV%) in March, but that has only resulted in a 1-3-0 record. Khudobin is 1-1-0 with 2.50 GAA and .896 SV% vs. the Blue Jackets this season.
15. Kari Lehtonen (@ PIT) – This is not a great matchup for your first game back from a concussion. If Kunitz and Neal play, that will give Lehtonen even more headaches.
16. Joni Ortio (vs. BUF) – Ortio has a nice  3-4-0 record with a 2.33 GAA and .904 SV% in his first seven NHL games and I usually wouldn’t suggest starting a Flames’ goalie but with the improved play and the awesome matchup, there is a first time for everything!
17. Jimmy Howard (vs. TOR)  – Howard has dropped four of his last five starts while allowing three-plus goals in the four losses. The Red Wings need this win extremely bad, but against a Leafs offence that is one of the NHL’s most explosive, gambling with Howard is exactly that… Gambling.Roberto Luongo (@ SJ) – Lu has not played poorly in Florida, but the group in front of him is inexperienced and the Sharks are red-hot.
18. J.S Giguere (@ MTL) – Giguere is getting this start because it is in his hometown, so he will be looking for a great performance.
19. Robin Lehner (vs. NYR) – Lehner has lost each of his two starts since Craig Anderson was hurt, while posting a 4.01 GAA and .886 SV% in the process. Tonight, he takes on a loaded Rangers offence.
20. Martin Brodeur (vs. BOS) – Brodeur has enjoyed some success since not being traded at the deadline, but the Bruins are looking for their tenth win in a row. Brodeur looks like a SmartCar sitting in front of speeding 18-wheeler at this point.
21. Nathan Lieuwen (@ CAL) – His first NHL start comes with a great matchup. He has played very well in the AHL this season, but in the Fantasy Hockey playoffs, are you going to start a guy making his first start? Your call.
22. Anders Nilsson (vs. MIN) – Coming off of his best performance of the season, I feel bad ranking Nilsson this low, but his 3.26 GAA and .893 SV% on the year does not warrant a fantasy hockey playoff start.
23. Ray Emery (vs. CHI) – Emery was steamrolled in his first start vs. Chicago and fresh of an injury I am not betting that it won’t happen again.