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Welcome to the NHL Week 2 edition of RotoBaller's fantasy hockey goalie start/sit advice! In this article, you'll find our NHL goalie starts/sits for fantasy hockey for Week 2 - from Monday, October 23 through through Sunday, October 29. It's going to be a pleasure providing in-depth goalie analysis throughout the campaign!
Of course, you are going to roster the star goaltenders each and every time they are between the pipes. However, this advice is tailored more to the bubble netminders who are in either an excellent or poor spot for the week.
Also, be sure to check out our awesome NHL tools, including our Lineup Optimizer, Research Station, Projections, and DFS Cheat Sheets. Make sure to monitor the NHL news feeds for the latest player status and injury news. Feel free to follow me on Twitter @BKemp17 as I will be here dishing out goalie start/sit advice throughout the 2023-24 NHL regular season. Good luck, RotoBallers!
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Fantasy Hockey Starts - Goalies
Elvis Merzlikins, Blue Jackets - 15.7% ESPN rostered
Elvis Merzlikins endured a horrid 2022-23 season but, so far, he has done well in bouncing back this time around.
The 29-year-old was torched for a 4.23 goals-against average and a .876 save percentage across 30 games last season but has turned in a 2.61 GAA and a .920 Sv% through three games this season. He did allow four goals to the Minnesota Wild his last time out but managed to escape with the win thanks to a five-goal effort from his offense.
Admittedly, wins will be tough to come by behind a young Blue Jackets team widely expected to miss the postseason. However, backup Spencer Martin doesn't prevent a challenge for the No. 1 job in Columbus.
This week's schedule is fantastic for Merzlikins as he has the Coyotes, Canadiens, and Islanders on tap. Those are three low-scoring offenses while it's feasible he could get all three starts without a back-to-back scenario on the schedule. If you're in need of some goaltending help this week, Merzlikins is the guy.
Jordan Binnington, Blues - 56.9% ESPN rostered
Jordan Binnington has three solid matchups ahead of him this week, although we will note that he should likely start just two of the three.
He'll take on the Jets to kick off his week on Tuesday before a back-to-back versus the Flames and Canucks on Thursday and Friday. Of course, we don't know which matchup he will get in the back-to-back but that's irrelevant for a guy who has been sensational to begin the season.
He has battled inconsistency over the last couple of seasons but Binnington has worked to a hefty 1.26 GAA and .959 Sv% while going 2-0-1 across three games on the young season. His 5.30 goals saved above average is the best mark among all NHL goaltenders, as per Hockey Reference.
For a guy who stumbled to a 3.31 GAA and .894 Sv% in 61 appearances last season, it's a good start. For your fantasy roster, he makes all kinds of sense this week, even if he's making just a pair of starts.
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Fantasy Hockey Sits - Goalies
Iyla Samsonov, Maple Leafs - 88% ESPN rostered
Iyla Samsonov might not be a bubble fantasy hockey goaltender right now but he could be soon.
After yielding three goals on four shots Saturday night in Tampa Bay, he was pulled in favor of Joseph Woll who turned aside all 29 shots he faced while the Leafs rallied for a 4-3 win. Woll is already the confirmed starter for Tuesday's matchup with the Washington Capitals, Samsonov's former team.
Despite turning in a 2.33 GAA and .919 Sv% in 42 games last season, it wasn't difficult to prognosticate regression for the Russian netminder this season. He and the Leafs ended up in arbitration this summer, which is never ideal, and he is playing on another one-year deal this season. His -6.12 goals saved above average is the worst mark among 61 qualified goaltenders this season and he is only 2-1-0 due to an elite offense in front of him.
Even if he gets back into the crease for the Leafs' second game this week it's a wildly difficult matchup on the road in Dallas. The Leafs are in Nashville to cap their week on Saturday but it's far from certain he will be between the pipes for that one. If Woll goes on a run, Samsonov is in extreme danger of losing the starting job in Toronto.
His fantasy stock is plummeting by the minute and he should be stapled to your bench for this week, if not longer.
Karel Vejmelka, Coyotes - 15.9% ESPN rostered
What a difference a week can make.
Last week, Vejmelka was on the 'start' side of our first start/sit piece of the season and he did well in allowing just two goals in two games. In typical Cotyotes fashion, he only earned one win due to a shutout loss to the Islanders but we took his .969 Sv% with great pleasure. However, he's on the other side of the ledger this time around.
For one, he only has two games on his schedule this week. While he could start both contests, both are against a Los Angeles Kings team tied for third with 4.20 goals per game on the season through five games. No bueno.
Largely available across all fantasy hockey formats, Vejmelka is a fine-looking option more often than not. That said, this is a week where he can be sent to the pine due to a lack of action and a tough couple of games on the docket.
NHL DFS News and Injury Alerts
