(The weekly contest will allow fans to showcase their knowledge by choosing team goalies for three different categories (win, fewest goals against, most saves) with bonus points awarded for any shutouts from your team goalie picks.
NOTE: Fans can create their own leagues or join the “NHL Fantasy on Ice” podcast group (league code: BT219R).
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TUE. JAN. 28
Potential win: Tampa Bay Lightning (vs. CHI)
Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy had consecutive road losses to the Montreal Canadiens and Detroit Red Wings last week despite allowing a combined four goals on 52 shots faced (.923 save percentage) over those games; Tampa Bay returns home, where Vasilevskiy is 15-5-1 with a .931 save percentage and two shutouts this season, to host the Chicago Blackhawks. The Lightning and Blackhawks played last week, and Tampa Bay won 4-3 in overtime with backup Jonas Johansson (11 saves on 14 shots faced) in net. Chicago has the second-worst goal differential (minus-42) this season ahead of only the San Jose Sharks (minus-57). Per NHL EDGE stats, Vasilevskiy is among the best in high-danger save percentage (.843; 95th percentile) and goal differential per 60 minutes (0.99; 93rd percentile). -- Pete Jensen
Chance at fewest goals allowed: Washington Capitals (at CGY)
The Capitals have allowed the fewest goals per game (2.37) this season and fewest per game on the road (2.32). They have the second-best penalty kill percentage (84.8) and best on the road (86.3). Among goalies with at least eight games played, Logan Thompson ranks second in goals-against average (2.09), third in save percentage (.925) and third in wins (22). Thompson is 9-1-0 with a 1.88 goals-against average and .935 save percentage on the road (compared to 13-1-3 with a 2.21 GAA and .919 SV% at home). He’s having his best month of the season, allowing only 12 goals in eight games (1.55 GAA) with two shutouts and a .943 SV%. Thompson has helped the Capitals earn at least one point in 25 of his 27 games this season (22-2-3). Per NHL EDGE stats, Thompson is first in midrange save percentage (.948) and goal differential per 60 minutes (1.79). He ranks second in percentage of games with greater than a .900 SV% (73.1) and is 10th in high-danger save percentage (.834). The Calgary Flames rank 28th in goals per game (2.69). -- Chris Meaney
Chance at most saves: New York Islanders (vs. COL)
The Islanders seek to extend their season-long winning streak to five games as they conclude a seven-game homestand. New York is 7-3-0 in January and has allowed two goals or fewer in eight of those games, including a 3-2 overtime win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday -- improving to 21-20-7 this season (.510 points percentage). The Islanders have scored as many shorthanded goals (two) as they have allowed power-play goals this month, which could translate to this game against the Colorado Avalanche -- who now boast three players among the top 10 in power-play points: newly acquired Martin Necas (23; tied for fourth), Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar (22 each; tied for seventh). Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin has stopped 55 of 57 shots faced (.965 save percentage) over his past three games, and his first appearance this season was a win at Colorado (32 saves on 34 shots faced, including 16 in third period). Per NHL EDGE stats, Sorokin’s 20 games with a save percentage greater than .900 is the seventh-most in the League. -- Troy Perlowitz
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