Week 15: Fantasy top 25 goalie rankings for 2017-18

Each week during the regular season, NHL.com has you covered with an overview of the fantasy goaltender landscape. With production trends, injury news and top 25 rankings based on performance and upside in standard Yahoo leagues, fantasy owners should use this information as a basis for roster decision-making.

MORE FANTASY COVERAGE:
Top 100 forwards
|
Top 50 defensemen
|
Daily projected lineups

TRENDING UP

Juuse Saros, NSH: The Nashville Predators backup had his third shutout of the season in a 1-0 win against the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday. It was Saros' second start in Nashville's past four games, and the timing was significant with the Predators coming off their schedule break (Jan. 10-15) and not having a back-to-back set. Since losing his first three games, Saros (9 percent owned) is 5-0-3 in his past nine with a .956 save percentage. Saros' peripherals (2.23 goals-against average, .930 SV%) are even better than his rookie season (2.35, .923), and he remains a viable fantasy option whenever starter Pekka Rinne gets a night off.
Mike Smith, CGY: The Calgary Flames goaltender is quietly tied for second in SV% (.924) behind Andrei Vasilevskiy (.930) of the Tampa Bay Lightning, and is finally getting more goal support during their seven-game winning streak. The Flames have scored 23 goals in Smith's six wins in the span, and he hasn't allowed more than three goals in any of his past 14 games (8-4-2, .938 SV%). Smith is tied for the League lead in starts (38) with Sergei Bobrovsky of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Frederik Andersen of the Toronto Maple Leafs and is having his best season since 2011-12 with the Arizona Coyotes.
Jonathan Bernier, COL: The Colorado Avalanche goaltender is beginning to jump some of the lower-tier starters in NHL.com's goalie rankings. Even beyond his six wins during Colorado's seven-game winning streak, Bernier (43 percent owned) is 9-3-1 in his past 13 games with a .930 SV% and two shutouts. This stretch is no fluke considering Bernier finished 11-0-2 with a .932 SV% and one shutout for the Anaheim Ducks when John Gibson was sidelined late last regular season. Bernier's long-term fantasy value still hinges on Semyon Varlamov's injury status, but fantasy owners need to take notice that Bernier is the top-ranked fantasy goalie based on standard-category performance over the past 30 days.

TRENDING DOWN

Carey Price, MTL: The Montreal Canadiens have relied heavily on Price over the years, as have fantasy owners. That's why his 13-15-4 record, 2.96 GAA and .908 SV% have been extremely disappointing. Price had a five-game winning streak after returning from a lower-body injury, but is 5-8-3 with a .911 SV% over his past 16 games. He has lost three straight (0-1-2) with 11 goals allowed in the span. There isn't much hope for a drastic turnaround with Montreal ranked 29th in goals per game (2.53), but Price's owners should still opt to trade him rather than drop him because of his pedigree and high average draft position (5.9).
Cory Schneider, NJD: The New Jersey Devils ended a six-game losing streak Tuesday, but Schneider missed the game because of an illness; backup Keith Kinkaid (3 percent owned) stopped 25 of 26 shots faced. Schneider has lost his past five starts, allowing at least four goals in each. Kinkaid is expected to start again for the Devils against the Washington Capitals on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; MSG+, NBCSWA, NHL.TV). New Jersey has a tough stretch before the NHL All-Star break, including road games against the Philadelphia Flyers and Boston Bruins and a home game against the Nashville Predators. Especially considering the Devils are fantasy-relevant again, Schneider's owners need to hope he'll be well-rested in time for the stretch run.
Cam Ward, CAR: The veteran goaltender has started two of the past four games for the Carolina Hurricanes, but has allowed nine goals in the span. Ward (28 percent) has outperformed Scott Darling (43 percent owned) for most of the season, but this appears to be a timeshare situation again. Darling allowed one goal on 28 shots faced in a 3-1 win against the Capitals on Thursday, but then allowed four goals in a 4-1 loss to the Flames on Sunday. Ward created some separation with a 10-0-2 stretch from Nov. 10 to Jan. 4, but has since come back down to earth with a heavier start volume. Fantasy owners should avoid this tandem, especially after the Hurricanes lost top forward Sebastian Aho (concussion, lower body) to injury.

TOP 25 GOALIE RANKINGS

Standard Yahoo categories include wins, goals-against average, save percentage and shutouts for goaltenders. ... Value has been quantified based on factors including but not limited to past production, team goaltender situations, anticipated start volume, projected goal support (or lack thereof), injury history, age, sleeper, bounce-back or breakout potential, potential regression, contract status and overall upside for this season.
1. Andrei Vasilevskiy, TBL (SAME)
2. Tuukka Rask, BOS (+1)
3. Pekka Rinne, NSH (+1)
4. Frederik Andersen, TOR (-2)
5. Marc-Andre Fleury, VGK (+2)
6. Jonathan Quick, LAK (-1)
7. Braden Holtby, WSH (+1)
8. Sergei Bobrovsky, CBJ (-2)
9. John Gibson, ANA (SAME)
10. Devan Dubnyk, MIN (SAME)
11. Connor Hellebuyck, WPG (SAME)
12. Henrik Lundqvist, NYR (SAME)
13. Ben Bishop, DAL (+3)
14. Martin Jones, SJS (SAME)
15. Mike Smith, CGY (+4)
16. Carey Price, MTL (-3)
17. Cory Schneider, NJD (-2)
18. Matt Murray, PIT (SAME)*
19. Jake Allen, STL (-2)
20. Carter Hutton, STL (SAME)
21. Jonathan Bernier, COL (+3)
22. Cam Talbot, EDM (-1)
23. Juuse Saros, NSH (NEW)
24. Jimmy Howard, DET (-2)
25. Tristan Jarry, PIT (NEW)
\
Murray leaves Penguins indefinitely
after death of father
Dropped out:Cam Ward, CAR; James Reimer, FLA
Key injuries: Corey Crawford, CHI; Roberto Luongo, FLA; Semyon Varlamov, COL; Oscar Dansk, VGK*
READ: Last Week's Top 25 goalie rankings