McKenna’s Matchup of the Day: Feb. 22 – Cam Talbot vs. Anton Forsberg

Former NHL netminder Mike McKenna provides his Daily Faceoff Starting Goalie Matchup of the Day for Tue. Feb. 22, 2022:

Potential trade target Anton Forsberg goes against 2022 NHL All-Star Cam Talbot tonight in Ottawa when the Senators face off against the Minnesota Wild for the second – and final – time this season.

The two teams last faced each other on Nov. 2, 2021, with the Wild coming out on top 5-4 in overtime. Talbot stopped 24 of 28 shots to earn the victory. Forsberg did not play.

The past two starts for Talbot have not gone well. He allowed five goals against the Winnipeg Jets on Feb.16, and four against the Florida Panthers two nights later. The Wild lost both games. He’s 19-10-1 on the season.

Talbot needs a run of quality games because goaltending partner Kappo Kahkonen is pushing hard for starts. The 25-year old native of Helsinki, Finland is 12-3-2 on the season.

Forsberg is having a renaissance season in Canada’s capital. His .916 Sv% is impressive. And his 4.56 goals saved above average (GSAA) ranks just inside the top-20 league-wide.

The 29-year old former AHL Calder Cup-winning goaltender is 3-0-1 in his last four starts. And as a pending UFA with a cap hit of just $900k, Forsberg would be an attractive trade chip at the NHL trade deadline should Senators GM Pierre Dorian elect not to re-sign the Swedish netminder.

Minnesota has been porous defensively of late. However, fantasy owners should be comfortable playing Talbot. The Senators have only scored 12 times in their past seven games. If saves are an important category, Forsberg will likely be of value tonight. But a win isn’t as realistic. Start Forsberg with caution.