Coffee in the Crease: Oettinger's injury and the week ahead

This was a busy weekend in the NHL, and I feel like they knew that coming into today with just a tiny three gamer to start the week. I suppose we can call it a palate cleanser to start the week? There’s a lot to cover so let’s dive in!

Oettinger’s injury

Jake Oettinger exited Saturday’s game versus the Rangers with what is being called a lower-body injury. That sentence was not fun to write, just as a fan of his game and the goalie who I not only wish I had in all three of my leagues, but my pre-season Vezina pick.

Oettinger has been fantastic so far this season and in his past three starts has one win with a .938 SV%, 1.65 GAA, and one shutout. Missing him in the lineup for any extended period of time would be unfavorable for the Stars to say the least. So far the Stars have not placed him on IR but that doesn’t mean that this apparent injury isn’t serious enough to warrant himself time there. What we know so far is that he is day-to-day and will be looked at by team doctors with an update to come either today or tomorrow on his status. Stars head coach Pete DeBoer also did not have any input regarding Oettinger’s status when asked about it, but just from being in fantasy for a while and trying to read him on injuries I can say he’s one of the more tight-lipped coaches in the NHL. Two seasons ago I couldn’t tell you if Max Pacioretty was playing on a given night or on his way to IL.

My feel for this is that they are going to be more cautious than anything here with just how important Oettinger will be this season if this Stars club is going to make any sort of run. Dallas is currently sitting atop the Central with Winnipeg, as both club’s are sporting a 5-3-1 record so far this season. The Stars next game will be tomorrow versus Los Angeles but the good news here for anyone with Oettinger on their fantasy roster is that the game is in Dallas, so it will be an earlier lock to likely know on his status for that game. If he’s listed as “Out”, then Scott Wedgewood will take the net for the Stars. Wedgewood has been shaky in his two starts this season allowing two goals in each, but he does make an interesting play for those looking for goalie help this week or a very cheap option in DFS.

What I would do here early this week, is keep an eye on any news regarding Oettinger’s health and if you have room on your IR great, stash him for the time being and hope for a speedy recovery. Even if your IR is filled, this is no brainer move to keep Oettinger on your roster unless this injury is something that could threaten his season. To this point we haven’t even seen a timetable for a possible return, and any news that is of significance will be listed here along with the Dallas starter confirmation before tomorrow’s game versus the Kings.

This week's schedule

When I’m not writing about fantasy hockey or taking more than a reasonable amount of time mulling over my lineups, I’m probably much like you. Sending emails, on calls, refreshing GoaliePost, more emails, scanning the waiver wire, etc. I was once on a call way back and the account I was speaking with kept calling a schedule a, let’s see if I can get this right, a..sked-ju? What made me think of this? Simple, this week’s NHL sked-ju and how it looks like more of a “normal” weekly slate and that means we have to be smart with who we put in net for the week.

Typically, we refer to Tuesday’s and Thursdays in fantasy or DFS as “On” days and that usually includes Saturday as well. “Off” days would be Monday’s and Wednesday’s but so far this season we’ve had two massive Monday slates to start the week and an opening week with no Sunday slate at all. This week however, we’re going to see a slate today with only three games, 12 tomorrow, two on Wednesday, a 13 gamer on Thursday, and then a lowly two on Friday. We hit a stride with this type of schedule last season in November where things seemingly rotated small slate/large slate and it’s important to set up your lineups, especially in net, looking ahead at the week. Odds are two or more of your goaltenders will have games on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday this week and that’s good to note with the day off in-between that you’ll likely get three starts in net.

Having to pick between two starters in net can be tricky and I wanted to make sure the schedule this week is called out so that you have time to make the best decisions possible to help your matchup. Believe me, there’s nothing worse than leaving points on the bench, especially when things are close, so being able to navigate the…sked-ju, on week’s like this when you can’t necessarily plug and play a goaltender is key.

Goalies to target this week

Eric Comrie, Buffalo Sabres (Rostered in 13% of ESPN leagues, 55% Fantrax, 32% Yahoo) 5 starts, 2 wins, 0 OTL, 3.41 GA/G, .909 SV%, 0 SO

I wrote about Comrie two weeks ago coming off wins in both Edmonton and Calgary, and although his stats since then have dipped slightly, I still think he makes a great lower rostered option for this week. What makes him a goalie to target isn’t necessarily the amount of starts he could potentially get, but when those starts will occur with Buffalo in action tonight, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.

Comrie has already been confirmed as the starter today when the Sabres take on the Red Wings and if he is to start Wednesday versus Pittsburgh as well, he will stand out as an option to have in net on days where your fantasy opponent might have nobody going in net at all. Comrie is winless in his last two starts but this is a Buffalo team that has looked alright to start the season at 5-3-0, there could be points to be had here this week.

Scott Wedgewood, Dallas Stars (Rostered in 1% of ESPN leagues, 15% Fantrax, 4% Yahoo) 1 start, 0 wins, 1 OTL, 2.85 GA/G, .923 SV%, 0 SO.

As stated above, we have to call Wedgewood out here for this week, especially if Oettinger is to miss any significant amount of time. If that’s the case, it’s likely that Dallas would call up Anton Khudobin to be Wedgewood’s backup in net, but I think Wedgewood would be the Star’s primary starter for the time being. It’s not a flashy pick by any means, but sometimes when injuries occur, we have to look at the replacement player as a potential filler.

Wedgewood was 10-12-2 last season with Arizona with a 3.16 GA/G and .911 SV% but those are mostly Arizona numbers, we have to take those with a grain of salt given how poorly that club was defensively and how often they were on the penalty kill. If you’re going to make any add/drop or claim for Wedgewood, I would wait until tomorrow to make that move once we are given more clarification to Oettinger’s status.

Jacob Markstrom, Calgary Flames (Rostered in 97% of ESPN leagues, 99% Fantrax, 99% Yahoo) 6 start, 4 wins, 0 OTL, 2.60 GA/G, .903 SV%, 0 SO)

This is more of a DFS callout here because, well odds are Markstrom is not on your league’s waiver wire, if he is than I assume something has gone very wrong in that league. The Flames will see Seattle, Nashville, and New Jersey this week all on home ice and so far this season that means that they are going to see volume, with New Jersey having the most shots to start the season and Seattle the 5th most. Both team’s I don’t think I’d have on my shots for BINGO card one month in, but so far each of these clubs are shooting the puck often and that can lead to a great opportunity here for Markstrom to get points and potential wins here this week.

For continued fantasy news and notes throughout the season, follow me on Twitter @ndySanz