McKenna’s Matchup of the Day: Jan. 7 – Marc-Andre Fleury vs. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Former NHL netminder Mike McKenna provides his Daily Faceoff Starting Goalie Matchup of the Day for Sat. Jan. 7, 2023:
Why I like this matchup:
Fleury and Luukkonen have been rock solid over the past month of NHL action.
What to watch for:
Tage Thompson isn’t the only reason why the Sabres are trending towards contention for a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs: Luukkonen has a 6-1-0 record in his past seven starts. While his .913 save percentage over that time frame isn’t gaudy, it’s a major improvement on his past experience in the NHL. Which shouldn’t be surprising. Luukkonen has taken some time to develop, and injuries have delayed his progress. But his skill set has always been top end, and now it’s starting to show. I like Luukkonen’s lateral movement. And I think he’s at the point of his career where he’s reading the play at an NHL level.
Fleury’s year started off slow but he’s come on strong of late. The Wild netminder is 4-1-0 in his past five starts and hasn’t had a game where his save percentage was less than .900 since Dec. 12. Part of Fleury’s success can be attributed to the Wild playing better in front of him. But I also think he’s found a comfortable place mentally. With his goalie partner Filip Gustavsson also playing extremely well, Fleury doesn’t have to do it all by himself. And it shows. The future Hall of Famer has looked relaxed in the crease. And don’t underestimate the value of his puckhandling. Fleury’s stick skills will be called upon to stymie Buffalo’s forecheck.
What fantasy owners should do:
Start both. Fleury was a disappointment for fantasy owners in the early going of the season. But he’s been strong of late. And Luukkonen has been a tremendous free agent pickup for many teams.
Bottom line for Marc-Andre Fleury:
Be ready for Buffalo sniper Tage Thompson. And be ready for quick transitions created by the Sabres defensive core.
Bottom line for Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen:
Minnesota will have a different look without Mats Zuccarello in the lineup. But that doesn’t mean Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov will be any less dangerous. Be ready for net drives and battles in and around the crease.