We are three weeks into the NHL season and things are heating up. Let's do a quick recap before we get into the 2023=24 Fantasy Hockey week 3 goalie report.
The Bruins and Golden Knights remain the only teams who have not taken a loss in regulation. As a Bruins fan, it's great to see early success but I am still not sold on this team.
The powerhouse Avalanche were shut out in back-to-back games. It was starting to look like they weren't going to lose any games at all but they got blanked twice.
Let's now get into the topic at hand and check in on goalies across the league.
2023-24 Fantasy Hockey Week 3 Goalie Report
Stock Up
Lukas Dostal, Anaheim Ducks (5-1, .920 SV%, 2.80 GAA)
Embed from Getty Images
Lukas Dostal had an incredible week, picking up three more wins. The Ducks have been surprisingly good so far this season and a big reason is goaltending.
Dostal has allowed two or fewer goals in three of his last five appearances and has been a very solid backup to John Gibson. Most impressive was his role in the win over the Penguins. Gibson got injured at the end of the first period and Dostal had to step in. The Penguins had multiple 5v3 power plays in this game and Dostal was able to hang on and close out the game.
Gibson's injury shouldn't keep him out much longer, but Dostal is a fine replacement. He's only rostered in 27% of leagues right now and can definitely help some struggling fantasy teams. It's difficult to say if the Ducks will continue to hold a winning record, but Dostal has some really solid numbers right now.
Ukko-Pekka Luukhonen, Buffalo Sabres (3-1, .926 SV%, 2.60 GAA)
Embed from Getty Images
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was solid in net last year and he's looked great so far this season. He's only made four starts but one of them was a very impressive shutout over Colorado.
He will serve as the backup to Devon Levi but it is possible they split starts for the whole season. Luukhonen made 32 starts for the Sabres last season and we can probably expect a similar amount this year.
He's only 23% rostered across leagues right now and should definitely be considered for a pickup. I still don't think the Sabres have displayed what they are capable of offensively. Rest assured, when they get things going, the goalies will benefit.
Stock Down
Filip Gustavsson, Minnesota Wild (2-2-1, ,885 SV%, 4.36 GAA)
Embed from Getty Images
Filip Gustavsson has looked pretty bad for a guy who is 91% rostered across leagues. Obviously, no one is going to drop him this early in the year but his stats are not very helpful.
The Wild are allowing the most goals per game in the league. In his last four starts, he has allowed a total of 22 goals. No, that is not a typo. He was able to grab a win over Edmonton despite allowing four goals but that will be difficult to replicate often.
Kirill Kaprisov has had a relatively slow start to his season with two goals across nine games. If he starts picking it up it could take some pressure off Gustavsson and hopefully right the ship.
Jacob Markstrom, Calgary Flames (1-6-1, .897 SV%, 3.03 GAA)
Embed from Getty Images
As another week of the season goes by, Jacob Markstrom only seems to get worse. The Flames in their entirety do not seem to be clicking in any facet of the game. The only team worse than the Flames right now is the Sharks.
Markstrom has now lost seven straight games and there is no end in sight. Fantasy managers are already cutting their losses as he is only 71% rostered across leagues.
Granted he has had some difficult games lately with the Stars and Oilers, but he feels like a lost cause. I would not feel comfortable starting him in any matchup until he can string some solid outings together.
Check out more Fantasy Hockey content
