Coffee in the Crease: Shesterkin's Struggles

Welcome back everyone! This week is all about winning your matchups. To be fair, that’s the goal here every week but with around two weeks left in most fantasy leagues it’s now or never for those owners out there that find their team either just outside the playoff teams or right on the fringe inside the top group.

Also like to mention here that if any trades happen in the coming days with significant fantasy implications, we’ll make sure that you are as informed as you can be with helpful projections and recommendations. Think say the Marc-Andre Fleury trade from last season. While right now I can’t see too much movement, there’s almost always that goaltender that gets injured for a week-or-two or the club that looks to solidify their goaltending depth.

Shesterkin's struggles

If you’re like me, you’ve noticed that Igor Shesterkin has not had a great week-or-so. If you’re also like me, you didn’t start Shesterkin last Saturday and it actually worked out. Is this a trend of things to come?

Prior to Sunday, in Sheskerkin’s previous four starts he has allowed four or more goals in each. He still won two of them which is great, but if you’re in a league that takes away points for allowed goals than these previous starts have not been your best friend. Shesterkin did win his last game on Sunday against the Los Angeles Kings stopping 26 of 28 shots and that’s encouraging against a club that’s middle of the road in goals per game at 11th, while also starting on a back-to-back.

In looking at Shesterkin’s play since January first he has been average in high danger saves above average but I think the issues here are more with what New York has out in front of him in net. Shesterkin has seen 50 rush attempts against since January 1st and that’s the second most in the entire NHL. Acquiring Vladimir Tarasenko is terrific offensively, but the defense he brings is almost non-existent and spoilers out there, neither is Patrick Kane’s when that deal eventually comes to pass. I think Shesterkin is talented enough and fundamentally sound in his mechanics to still be a well above average goaltender throughout the rest of the regular season but I would not be surprised if another one of these spells were to happen again before season’s end.

Goalies to target this week

Joonas Korpisalo, Columbus Blue Jackets (Rostered in 3% of ESPN leagues, 31% Fantrax, 15% Yahoo) 26 starts, 11 wins, 3 OTL, 3.17 GA/G, .913 Sv%, 0 SO

I don’t care if I’m drinking the Joonas Korpisalo Kool-Aid again, I think he’s alright on a club that plays a good 46 minutes a night before everything goes haywire. Korpisalo allowed five goals against Edmonton but somehow got the win which is the most Edmonton/Columbus outcome we could possibly have here. He’ll likely get starts tomorrow against Buffalo and then Friday against Seattle and if you need someone lower rostered, I think he makes an interesting addition and then for DFS he’s going to be a perfect lower rostered and lower priced goaltender to load up an expensive stack with.

Magnus Hellberg, Detroit Red Wings (Rostered in 1% of ESPN leagues, 7% Fantrax, 2% Yahoo) 1 starts, 1 wins, 0 OTL, 2.00 GA/G, .935 Sv%, 0 SO

Anyone else out there ever had it happen to them where they go to write about a Detroit goaltender for a fantasy hockey website but then get two back-to-back alerts that you’re going to be without two fantasy players due to injury? Just me? Where was I, oh yeah Magnus Hellberg. He’s a goaltender and plays for the Red Wings. Detroit plays five games this week which is great if now all of a sudden you have to fill more injury spots on your already decimated yet somehow in playoffs roster. All seriousness here, Hellberg will likely get two starts this week, tonight versus the Ottawa Senators and possibly Saturday on the road against the New York Islanders. We like starts, we like lower rostered goaltenders, we think Hellberg could be a win/win for this week.

Juuse Saros, Nashville Predators (Rostered in 96% of ESPN leagues, 98% Fantrax, 98% Yahoo) 44 starts, 23 wins, 5 OTL, 2.80 GA/G, .916 Sv%, 1 SO

Our DFS darling of the week is Juuse Saros. I think this week everyone is going to be off of Nasvhille, giving us an opportunity to roster Saros and pair him with a defenseman, namely Roman Josi. Nashville will host Pittsburgh on Tuesday and then go on the road Thursday to face off against the Florida Panthers and I’m looking at these spots to be unique for DFS lineups this week. Saros has won his last three starts and will be looking to carry a teetering Predators club here this week.

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