The 2013-14 NHL season is finally upon us! The season kicks off Tuesday night with a slate of three games, highlighted by the banner-raising ceremony by the Chicago Blackhawks before they take on the Washington Capitals.
Hockey is back, so you need to make sure your fantasy team is ready. Goaltenders can prove to be some of the most valuable players for your fantasy team, as they can impact at least half of the scoring categories depending on how your league is set up.
Here are the top goaltending matchups for the first week of the 2013-14 NHL season.
1. Jonathan Quick vs. Minnesota Wild (Thursday October 3rd)
This one is pretty obvious. Quick may be the best goaltender in the world, and Minnesota’s offense is one of the worst in hockey. Despite adding some big pieces to the roster in the 2012 offseason, Minnesota stayed quiet in 2013.
Quick is amazing between the pipes, but the Los Angeles Kings defense is stellar as well. Minnesota may not take many shots, and they definitely will not have many quality scoring chances.
The Wild’s offense will struggle again this season, and it will be very tough for them to score opening the season up against Quick.
2. Sergei Bobrovsky vs. Calgary Flames (Friday October 4th)
Last year’s Vezina winner is out to prove that his miraculous 2013 season was not a fluke.
Bobrovsky has a pretty easy task on Friday night as his Columbus Blue Jackets are taking on a Flames team that may be the very worst in the NHL. Look for him to make some saves and allow no more than two goals.
3. Jimmy Howard vs. Buffalo Sabres (Wednesday October 2nd)
Howard and the Detroit Red Wings begin their first season as an Eastern Conference team at home against the dismal Buffalo Sabres.
Buffalo traded away Jason Pominville before last year’s trade deadline, and the team is left with very little offensive depth other than star winger Thomas Vanek.
Detroit had one of the NHL’s best defenses in 2013, and expect the young blueliners to mature and help bolster Howard’s numbers even more in 2013-14.
4. Craig Anderson vs. Buffalo Sabres (Friday October 4th)
The Sabres are on the list once again as they will take on one of the most underrated goalies in hockey.
Ottawa Senators keeper Craig Anderson was injured for a big chunk of last season, but he was dominant in the games he did play in.
Anderson does not surrender many goals, but he will get you a huge amount of saves since the Senators defense allows opponents to take a decent amount of shots.
5. Kari Lehtonen vs. Florida Panthers (Thursday October 3rd)
The Panthers may be better than they were last year, but they are still an inexperienced team that should have trouble against Lehtonen and the Dallas Stars.
Dallas went through a major makeover this offseason, and should be one of the most improved teams in the NHL.
Adding Sergei Gonchar gives the Stars some more experience and veteran leadership on the blue line and will help them be more effective in preventing goals this season.
Lehtonen may not be regarded as one of the NHL’s elite goaltenders, but he is solid between the pipes and gives the Stars a chance to be a playoff team.