Fantasy : Goaltenders: Beasts of the East Part 1 : Five Minute Major

In a conference full of superstars, we’ll go over the best and worst netminders of the Eastern Conference. But if you don’t feel like going any further, I’ll let you in on a secret: if your goalie plays for any team in the Atlantic, Northeast or Southeast divisions, you’ll probably want to start them (shy away from Carolina, though).

Montreal Canadiens
During the 2007-08 season, Carey Price was the Habs goalie of the future. Three years later that title still stands. Price, a three year NHL vet, still has a lot of work ahead of him. Last year’s poor showing by number 31 (.915 SV% - 2.69 GAA with 11-16-3 record this season) and his fellow Canadiens put a black cloud over their Centennial celebrations, and this season looks no different. When Bob Gainey decided to revamp the team, adding Scott Gomez and Brian Gionta among others, he banked on Price stepping up and getting big wins. That hasn’t been the case so far and Montreal’s problems are deeper than goaltending. Once a vet gets brought in to mind the pipes, the Habs will stay on the playoff bubble (and most likely not on the positive side). On the other hand, Price’s backup Jaroslav Halak (.921 SV% - 2.64 GAA with 12-7-1 record) has been on the money this season, so if he’s on your bench he would be a great back-up. Play Halak, but let Price ride the pine until he decides to turn his game around.

Buffalo Sabres
If you were lucky enough to grab Ryan Miller in your draft, then congratulations- you should be in a comfortable lead in the world of fantasy hockey. Miller is one of the top three goaltenders in the NHL, leading the league with a .936 save percentage and sitting at the top in wins (27) and GAA (1.99). He has the ability to make huge saves, but his fundamentals are more impressive. No one has a better glove, no one dominates the shoot out like he does (and we all know Buffalo loves to head to OT and shoot out country), and while it is true that he tends to wander from the crease, he has the amazing ability to read the play and control the ice. Team USA has an excellent chance at grabbing a medal game at this year’s Winter Olympics, and Miller is a major reason. If you have Ryan Miller on your roster and you don’t start him, then you shouldn’t be playing fantasy hockey.

New Jersey Devils
The Brett Farve of the hockey world, Martin Brodeur simply won’t quit. And what’s scary is that, like Farve, as he continues to play and break record after epic record, his numbers actually get better. Top of the league in wins (30) this season, the longest tenured goalie in NJ history is backing an equally flashy team that is currently second overall in the East. There’s no aspect of his game that isn’t top notch, and while he has an unorthodox style (I always catch myself saying “there’s no way he can save this, he’s out of position,” and then the puck’s in his glove) he almost always keeps the puck out of the net, and that’s the most important thing about goaltending. He’ll be backed by Luongo for Team Canada in the Olympics, but don’t expect to see him get much rest before or after the Winter Games.

Washington Capitals
Despite being first in the East, the Caps have had goalie trouble for the past couple of seasons, and 2009-10 is no different. Veteran Jose Theodore and rookie Semyon Varlamov have been splitting time in the crease in Washington, with each having varying levels of success. Theodore, the voice of experience, has gotten more starts, going 14-7-4 with a .906 SV%; new-comer Varlamov has an impressive 12-1-2 posting, along with a 2.21 GAA and a .924 SV%. It looks like the rookie gets the softer games while Jose gets the big boys (see: Penguins), so check the schedule if you have either goaltender. Your best bet is to hang on to both netminders and play them as backups.

Pittsburgh Penguins
Stanley Cup Champion goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury has seen nearly every start for the Penguins this season, as he should. After a great showing last year that ended with a championship title, Fleury has been on a hot streak: 25-14-1 record with one of the best teams on ice in front of him. His size and speed are a major factor in his wins, and his ability to play the puck is, in my opinion, the best in the league safe for Henrik Lundqvist. He’s a definite starter and always comes up with the big saves when the game is on the line.

Ottawa Senators
A fifth place showing in the East was the surprise of the season so far, and if you look at the goaltenders in Ottawa’s arsenal, it should come as an even bigger surprise. Pascal Leclaire, the shut-out king of two seasons ago, has been so-so this year, posting an 11-10-1 record. The front man for the Sens, Brian Elliott, has been equally average, posting a 12-11-3 record. Ottawa’s high-caliber offense and shut-down D is what’s keeping the squad above .500 this season. I wouldn’t keep either netminder as a starter or back-up, but a trade in March for one of the two (my guess is Leclaire) might not be a bad idea as things will surely start to heat up in the Northeast division.