McKenna’s Matchup of the Day: Dec. 17 – Carter Hart vs. Jaroslav Halak

Former NHL netminder Mike McKenna provides his Daily Faceoff Starting Goalie Matchup of the Day for Sat. Dec. 17, 2022:

Why I like this matchup:

Hart is coming off one of the best performances of his career, a 48-save, 2-1 victory Friday over the New Jersey Devils. And while the New York Rangers have won five straight, Halak hasn’t found the win column since Nov. 30.

What to watch for:

I’ve been really impressed with Hart this season. Not just in his performance, but also his demeanor. The Flyers are a lowly 27th in the NHL, but I’ve seen Hart smiling more this season on and off the ice than I can remember. And I think it shows in his play. Hart’s .914 is strong, but it’s his 14.2 goals saved above expected rating from moneypuck.com that’s eye-catching. I think Hart has managed to free up his hands while staying true to his technical identity.

Can Halak ratchet up the intensity? His 1-6-1 record has been a drag on the Rangers, who occupy the first wild card slot in this years’ Stanley Cup playoffs race. Two more wins from Halak would have New York second in the Metropolitan division. As the clear No.2 Rangers goaltender, Halak’s numbers are secondary. What’s important is giving his team a chance to win on nights that they may not have their best. Halak’s best game of the season was a 35- save performance against the Ottawa Senators – his only win of the season. The Rangers need that version of Halak.

What fantasy owners should do:

Hart isn’t your goalie if you need a win. But he is if your team needs saves. I would leave Halak on the bench: he’s struggled to find wins and hasn’t faced many shots.

Bottom line for Carter Hart:

New York’s power play is the heartbeat of the team. Be ready for Mika Zibanejad’s one-timer. And for Adam Fox to move the puck quickly.

Bottom line for Jaroslav Halak:

He’s got to find some urgency: he only has five wins in his last 22 starts.