As we enter the final weeks of the 2024–25 fantasy season, plenty of leagues are heading into the finals or semifinals. It’s officially crunch time, with every day a crucial milestone towards a fantasy title. One of the best areas to optimize your lineup to win your matchup is between the pipes. Streaming the right goaltender can make or break a week. Below are three goalies worth considering this coming week.
Teams on a back-to-back
The below teams play back-to-back games this coming week, meaning their backup goaltenders are almost certainly getting at least one start:
- Boston Bruins – vs. Carolina, @Buffalo
- Calgary Flames – @Colorado, @Utah
- Columbus Blue Jackets – @Toronto, @Ottawa
- Dallas Stars – vs. Pittsburgh, @Minnesota
- Florida Panthers – @Ottawa, @Detroit
- Montreal Canadiens – vs. Philadelphia, @Nashville
- Ottawa Senators – vs. Florida, vs. Columbus
- Vegas Golden Knights – @Calgary, @Vancouver
- Buffalo Sabres – vs. Tampa Bay, vs. Boston
- Pittsburgh Penguins – @Dallas, @Chicago
- Vancouver Canucks – vs. Anaheim, vs, Vegas
Calgary Flames – Dan Vladar
Dan Vladar hasn’t had the best season, but he’s been solid in the month of March. Since March 1, he’s started four times, posting a 2–1–1 record along with a 0.904 save percentage and 2.46 goals against average. In all four starts, he’s allowed three or fewer goals, including a huge 42-save win against the Florida Panthers.
With the Flames on a back-to-back to start the week, Vladar will likely get the nod for game two of the trip against the Utah Hockey Club. Utah is currently the 24th highest scoring team in the league and has scored just two goals in their last three games.
Colorado Avalanche – Scott Wedgewood
Scott Wedgewood continues to be one of the very best backup goalies in the NHL. The veteran has been superb this season and, in particular, looks unstoppable recently. Wedgewood hasn’t lost a start since February 22. Since that loss, he’s won five straight games, posting a ridiculous 0.939 save percentage and 1.40 GAA. He’s also allowed more than two goals in a game just once since February 22.
With the Colorado Avalanche slated to play a back-to-back against the lowly Chicago Blackhawks and Columbus Blue Jackets, Wedgewood is about as good of a spot start as you can possibly wish for in fantasy.
Dallas Stars – Casey DeSmith
Like Wedgewood, Casey DeSmith is one of the league’s premier backup goalies. He’s had a tremendous first season in Dallas and has been continually relied on, with 20 starts this season. He has an impressive 20–13–6 record and a 0.919 save percentage.
He’s also been a near guarantee to get a win since the middle of January. Over his last eight starts dating back to January 18, he hasn’t lost a single game in regulation, with a 7–0–1 record.
Over that stretch, he hasn’t allowed more than three goals in a single game and posted a save percentage above 0.900 in six out of eight starts. With the Dallas Stars set to play the Pittsburgh Penguins and Minnesota Wild in a back-to-back to close out the week, DeSmith is a great streaming option.
