McKenna’s Matchup of the Day: Jan. 30 – Jordan Binnington vs. Connor Hellebuyck

Former NHL netminder Mike McKenna provides his Daily Faceoff Starting Goalie Matchup of the Day for Mon. Jan. 30, 2023:

Why I like this matchup:

Binnington went bananas against Colorado Saturday night and has lost three games in a row. Hellebuyck has also dropped three straight contests. Either the Blues or the Jets will go into the NHL All-Star break with a four-game losing streak.

What to watch for:

I don’t think Hellebuyck has played poorly. Lately, it’s just that he’s been one save off from his previous elite performances. He set the bar so high early in the season for the Jets that it’s hard to keep living up to it. And Hellebuyck hasn’t gotten much goal support lately from his teammates: in six of the last eight games, the Jets have scored two or fewer goals. That’s a challenging mountain to climb, even for a Vezina Trophy-caliber netminder like Hellebuyck.

Rating Binnington’s season is next to impossible given the coverage in front of him. He’s stolen games while allowing three or more goals against. But there have also been moments where I think he’s chasing the game. Both in the goal and out of it. I have no problem with Binnington mixing it up occasionally. It just can’t be a distraction. He tends to play his best after making several key saves early. Binnington still has a knack for pulling off big wins. It just hasn’t happened consistently this season.

What fantasy owners should do:

Hellebuyck is still a solid bet for fantasy owners. But at this point, with how poorly the Blues play defensively, Binnington is not an ideal starter.

Bottom line for Jordan Binnington:

He needs to control what he can control. St. Louis needs to enter the break on a high note with a win.

Bottom line for Connor Hellebuyck:

St. Louis is dangerous on the rush. He can’t get caught flat-footed.