McKenna’s Matchup of the Day: Dec. 27 – Darcy Kuemper vs. Igor Shesterkin

Former NHL netminder Mike McKenna provides his Daily Faceoff Starting Goalie Matchup of the Day for Tue. Dec. 27, 2022:

Why I like this matchup:

Kuemper and Shesterkin have identical .916 save percentages. Yet the Rangers netminder has a much higher winning percentage than the Capitals’ backstop. Despite winning the Stanley Cup in 2022 with the Colorado Avalanche, it still feels like Kuemper has to prove himself. Which is crazy, because he’s rock solid.

What to watch for:

Shesterkin is four inches shorter than Kuemper, which explains why they play a little differently. Shesterkin is incredibly agile on his skates: he moves efficiently and arrives early for shots. And I like when the Russian-born goaltender plays with an edge. Early in his career, Shesterkin had to learn what it takes to handle NHL traffic and battle for position. A certain level of aggression is good for him. I find that when Shesterkin is at his best, he’s patient on his edges.

The same can be said about Kuemper’s patience. But the 6-foot-5 goalie from Saskatoon isn’t quite as strong of a skater as Shesterkin, so he sometimes has to rely on his size to bail him out of situations. I think Kuemper reads the play well, which lets him cheat a little bit on his angles. He may not always be perfectly square when the shot is released. But Kuemper usually ends up at the proper destination. He missed several weeks in early December due to injury.

What fantasy owners should do:

Play them both. The Capitals – even with a spate of injuries – have been resurgent. And Shesterkin has been carrying the Rangers.

Bottom line for Darcy Kuemper:

He’s only played once since Dec. 3, so it’s important for him to find his rhythm early in the game.

Bottom line for Igor Shesterkin:

The Rangers have star power. But Shesterkin still has to be their best player on most nights for New York to win.