If your fantasy team is struggling to get consistent goaltending this week, there are some available goaltenders that have a high likelihood of getting into a game this weekend due to back-to-back situations. The goaltending wire is often very slim this time of year but there are some streamer options that could provide some help in your goalie categories.
Semyon Varlamov – New York Islanders – 60% Rostered
He is right on the fringe in terms of roster percentage, but with teammate Ilya Sorokin dominating starts lately and playing so well, it’s possible he is available. Varlamov owns a poor 4-12-2 record this season but a respectable 2.85 goals-against average and .912 save percentage.
The islanders have not been good this season but their goaltending has been consistent for most of the season. The islanders play two games this weekend against the Dallas Stars who struggle to score and a middling Philadelphia Flyers team without much to play for.
Varlamov is very likely to get one start this weekend, so if you pick him up early, you will be able to beat the waiver wire before he is scooped up. There is also the possibility he could be moved at the trade deadline to a team in desperate need of goaltending help and could regain the role of a starter depending on where he ends up.
Jaroslav Halak – Vancouver Canucks – 6% Rostered
Although he is not having a great season, Halak is a proven goaltender in the league and showed he can perform at a high level. Like Varlamov, he is a candidate to be traded to a contender to add goaltending depth because of his previous playoff experience and could be worth stashing.
Aside from the value as a waiver wire stash, the Vancouver Canucks will be playing a back-to-back set this weekend against the Calgary Flames and Buffalo Sabres. Thatcher Demko will likely command the start in the first game against the Flames considering they are the tougher team and in the same division. That leaves Halak as the expected starter against a bad Buffalo Sabres team that is finishing off a three-game road trip. Halak’s 2-6-2 record, 3.43 GAA, and .883 save percentage are mediocre at best (to put it kindly) but has a solid opportunity to perform well if he gets the nod on Sunday against the Sabres.
James Reimer – San Jose Sharks – 39% Rostered
If you’re a team looking for a suitable starter for an extended period of time, then James Reimer is probably the best of all starters available from your free agent pool. It looked like the Sharks would have their goaltending tandem of Adin Hill and Reimer back, but almost as simultaneously as Reimer was activated from injured reserve, Hill suffered a setback after returning for one game.
The net now belongs to Reimer again who is actually putting up very solid numbers this season. His record stands at 15-13-6 in 36 games played with a .916 SV% and 2.82 GAA. The Sharks only play once on the weekend against the 30th place Arizona Coyotes who will be on their second night of a back-to-back. This is a prime matchup for Reimer but his volume alone on a half-decent team makes him worthy of an add if your team is desperate for a starting goaltender.
Roster percentages courtesy of Yahoo
