Goalie Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em ft. Saros, Kuemper, Rittich and More

Happy New Year Hockey World! It’s time for Thursday’s Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em, which feels a little different with only 8 games scheduled on the slate. Still, I find that when multiple teams have scheduled back to backs (8 teams are scheduled for back to back games from Wednesday through Friday) my multitude of goalies are always playing on the SAME day, meaning - we likely still have many decisions to make on who to plug into the G and who to plop on the bench. So let’s dive in, but before we do, how about a couple of fantasy hockey goalie resolutions for the New Year?

Resolution 1: Don’t draft Frederik Andersen, and especially don’t pick him back up after dropping him - OK, so a couple of weeks back I moved on from the Great Dane, who lately more closely resembles the cartoon Scooby Doo version than a real life hunting dog, but wouldn’t you know it I picked him up for what looked like a juicy spot start against the Pittsburgh Penguins after hearing of the injury to Pyotr Kochetkov. Well, against my own better judgement, I started him for what turned out to be a Penguins onslaught. 5 goals against on just 28 shots. Never again, Freddie, never again. And I should stop betting on the Penguins to flop, while I’m at it.

Resolution 2: Net the Big Cat - Andrei Vasilevskiy has been the best goalie of the fantasy year (January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025) and it isn’t that close. Vasi compiled 37 wins (1st in NHL min. 20 GP), a 2.12 GAA (3rd), .922 SV% (2nd), 1471 Saves (5th) all with a quality start percentage of 71.2 (2nd), making him the most reliable fantasy goalie in the game right now. I like a good “Zero G” strategy, but having that kind of stability at the game’s most volatile position may be worth the price of acquisition. Be it through draft or trade, I’ll be aiming to catch the Big Cat in 2026!

Resolution 3: Remember to actually SET lineups - I can’t tell you how many times I have opened up fantasy hockey apps in the morning with the intention of setting a lineup, only to face a big decision that “I’ll have to come back to,” and then later forgetting that I never actually made the lineup decision! So the next time I have to decide between starting Jet Greaves versus the Devils or Casey DeSmith versus the Sabres, I will just put one in the starting position, hit submit, and THEN leave the “final” decision for later (which, of course, will never come). So no more will the “G pos” be left empty, waiting, only to be forgotten and left inactive for the day.

Happy New Year and Bonne Année! Now, let’s get to it!

(Please note that the goalies listed are considered “probable” to start. Keep refreshing your Goalie Post app to see which goalies are “confirmed” starting. Don’t have the app? Get it for Apple or Android.)

START ‘EM

Jake Oettinger, Dallas Stars - We whiffed on this matchup against the Blackhawks last week, but no way Dallas pulls that again. Oettinger has been incredibly trustworthy recently, as you have to go all the way back to November 8 (14 games) to find the last game he allowed more than 3 goals to get by him (Stars won that game 5-4, by the way!). Now I will reiterate that this matchup features the Blackhawks, the Bedard-less Blackhawks, which are now losers of 8 of their last 9 games and their offense has struggled mightily in their superstar’s absence. A projected USA Olympic team member, watch for Oettinger (16-6-3, 2.51 GAA, .910 SV%) to continue his solid play in the Windy City and get some revenge for Saturday’s 3-4 loss against the Blackhawks. Start ‘Em!

START ‘EM

Jusse Saros, Nashville Predators - It’s been some time since we could recommend starting a Nashville Predators goalie, but that day has arrived again. The Predators have been, believe it or not, one of the hottest teams in the NHL lately, going 9-4 through December and climbing their way back into the playoff picture. Saros, for his part, wen 8-3 in December and allowed more than 3 goals only once, back on December 6. Thursday night, the Preds are hosting the Seattle Kraken, winners of 4 of their last 5 games, but only 5 of 13 in December, as their offense dried up and brought them all the way to last in the NHL in goals scored (95). Maybe this isn’t a guarantee of victory, but this looks like a safe start for fantasy managers this Thursday night. Smashville Start ‘Em!

SIT ‘EM

Leevi Merilainen, Ottawa Senators - With starting goalie Linus Ullmark away from the team for personal reasons, the Senators have handed the reigns to 23 year old Leevi Merilainen. So far, the young Finnish twine tender has underwhelmed, going 4-7 on the season with an ugly 3.51 GAA and .869 SV%. On Thursday, the Sens are hosting the Olympic bound Tom Wilson and the Washington Capitals on the second game of a back to back; a winnable matchup on paper but not so much with the way Merilainen has been playing (4 goals against in his last two starts). Even on a day with only 16 goalies in action there are better starts and streamers to be found. Sit ‘Em!

SIT ‘EM

Darcy Kuemper, Los Angeles Kings - Let’s be wary of starting Kuemper in his first game back from injury, even though the meeper crom Canada, and Olympic representative, has proven himself to be a steady starter over his Kings tenure. For the year, Kuemper has an impressive stat line of 2.19 GAA and .917 SV% in 23 games, but after a 6 game absence, being asked to keep the goals out against a streaking Tampa team that has won 5 in a row, scoring 23 goals during that stretch (and no less than 4 in any single game), that may just be too much for the 35 year old, Kuemper. If you need the start, then by all means go for it, but we should avoid this matchup if possible. Sit ‘Em!

DESPERATION MODE START

David Rittich, New York Islanders - Rittich has done his part in the Islanders’ crease this year, going 10-4-2 alongside a 2.27 GAA and .918 SV% in 16 games. And with Ilya Sorokin currently recovering from a lower body injury, Rittich will be in the the starter’s net for New York when they host the Utah Mammoth Thursday afternoon. UBS Arena has been an advantage for the Islanders this year, as they have gone 12-7-2 at home this season and Rittich, himself, has won his last 3 home starts, allowing only 3 goals in those victories. The Utah Mammoth enter this matchup having dropped their last two games and 3 of their last 4. Let’s bank on Rittich to keep up his consistent play (SV% of .895 or better in 10 of his last 11 games) and plug him into a starting position. At just 35% rostered in Fantrax and Yahoo, this could be a solid streaming Start ‘Em!

That’s all for this week, thanks for reading! My name is Garrett Finlay and you can follow me on X @garrett_fi51284 and on Bluesky @garrettfinlay.bsky.social where I am often talking goalies and fantasy hockey. I’ll be back here next Thursday to breakdown another busy night of twine tending action! Happy Hockeying and good luck out there!