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. DEC. 17
Potential win: Tampa Bay Lightning (vs. CBJ)
The Tampa Bay Lightning have won four of their five games this month, three coming on their Western Conference road trip (3-1-0, outscored opponents 18-8 in span). Goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy has been outstanding in December; he ranks sixth in save percentage (.925) and goals-against average (2.02) among those with at least four starts this month. He has been much better at home (8-4-1, .924 save percentage in 13 games) this season compared to road games (5-5-0, .888 save percentage in 10 games). The Lightning could have extra motivation after losing 7-6 in overtime to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Nov. 21. Per NHL EDGE stats, the Lightning have outscored their opponents by 28 goals when Vasilevskiy is in net, the third-largest differential in front of any goalie this season behind Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets (plus-35) and Logan Thompson of the Washington Capitals (plus-29). The Blue Jackets are winless in seven of their past eight games (1-5-2) and 12 of 16 road games (4-10-2) this season. -- Troy Perlowitz
Chance at fewest goals allowed: Nashville Predators (vs. NYR)
Since Oct. 28, the Nashville Predators are 5-12-6 in 23 games but only allowing 3.04 goals per game (tied for 15th-most in NHL) over that span. That's a testament to goalie Juuse Saros, who has remained a quality workhorse option with a .908 save percentage in 25 games this season, a slightly better rate than he had last season (.906 in 64), when Nashville made the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Two of Saros' six wins this season have been shutouts (both came at home). Per NHL EDGE stats, Saros has had 13 games with better than a .900 save percentage (tied for sixth most in League). The Predators have bounce-back appeal against another struggling team in the New York Rangers; since Nov. 21, the Rangers have the fewest standings points (six; 3-10-0 in past 13 games) and are averaging the third-fewest goals per game (2.38). -- Pete Jensen
Chance at most saves: Pittsburgh Penguins (vs. LAK)
The Pittsburgh Penguins have allowed the third-most shots on goal per game (32.0) this season, and the Los Angeles Kings rank fifth in shot attempts percentage (52.7) at 5-on-5. Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry has made four straight starts and has been competitive since being recalled from the American Hockey League on Nov. 9 (2.97 goals-against average, .901 save percentage). Jarry has faced at least 29 shots in seven of his 10 games over that span (30-plus four times; save totals of 37, 33, 32, 30 saves). Over the past 14 days (since Dec. 3), Jarry ranks seventh in saves (132) and shots faced (148). Per NHL EDGE stats, the Kings rank eighth in long-range shots on goal. -- Chris Meaney
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