DFS: Basic NHL Strategy - Choosing the Right Goaltender

From a scoring perspective, fantasy hockey is the simplest of the four major daily fantasy sports - rack up goals, assists, shots on goal and saves and you’ll do just fine.

But putting together a winning roster will prove far more difficult given the plethora of options at the forward and defense positions, not to mention the unpredictability of scoring and a steady decline in offense over the past 10 years.

So whether you’re just starting out, or have been playing DFS hockey for a while, the first rule of success is the most obvious.

Goaltending is king.

Landing one of the top netminders of the night is the surest way to secure a cash game win, or to compete for big cash in guaranteed prize pools. Conversely, if you misfire on your goalie, you can pretty much forget about seeing your DFS account rise that night.

So how do you go about choosing the right goalie? Here are some tips to help you out:

Seek out consistency: The league’s best netminders will have shaky games now and then, but they’re the most consistently strong performers on a game-by-game basis. Cash game players, in particular, should consider a high-salary goaltender every chance they get.

Monitor the matchup: While offense does fluctuate, you should still be wary when it comes to goalies facing high-scoring clubs. On the other side, goaltenders squaring off against low-scoring teams should be bumped up in your rankings, especially in GPP formats.

Home/road splits matter: Some goaltenders just can’t seem to win away from their home arena. Others dominate no matter where they play. Study how netminders perform both at home and on the road, and use that information to make informed choices on game night.

The schedule does, too: Is the opposing team coming to the end of a long road trip? Is it that team’s second game in as many nights? Certain scheduling situations can provide significant advantages for goalies, so be sure to keep those in mind when making your choice.

Study the special teams: Power plays are down significantly since the last lockout, but they still alter the DFS landscape. Be careful when choosing netminders who face teams with strong power plays; a little lack of discipline from the goalie’s team could mean a very long night.

Save pucks and salary: Backup netminders aren’t the sexiest choices, but in the right matchup they could be just what you need to field a well-balanced lineup. Monitor the starting lineup, and consider the possibility of riding a No. 2 goalie for cheaper than a starter.

Busy nights are good nights: Goaltenders earn points primarily for saves, so don’t be afraid to opt for one that is expected to face a lot of shots. Again, you do so at your peril - more shots can invariably lead to more goals - but it’s a gutsy option for GPP players seeking max points.

Always consider value: Carey Price may be the best netminder on a given night, but the chances of him producing the most value will be remote since he carries the highest salary. You’re looking for quality goaltending, but you must also seek out value.

The last point may be the most important of all. It works on the same premise as the baseball pitcher or the football quarterback; successful teams don’t necessarily have to roster the No. 1 scorer, but should employ the player that returns the best value relative to salary.