McKenna’s Matchup of the Day: Mar. 15 – Linus Ullmark vs. Marc-Andre Fleury
Former NHL netminder Mike McKenna provides his Daily Faceoff Starting Goalie Matchup of the Day for Tue. Mar. 15, 2022:
Why I like this matchup:
Linus Ullmark is in a weird spot. He’s got three years left on his contract at a $5-million cap hit. But his goalie partner Jeremy Swayman is ripping it up. Ullmark has only one win in his last five starts. I want to see how he responds. Marc-Andre Fleury is still the most exciting goalie in the NHL – and he’s the best netminder available leading up to the NHL trade deadline on March 21.
What to watch for:
Ullmark hasn’t played poorly, but it’s been a while since he had a real statement game. I think Ullmark does a great job of keeping his upper body alive; he’s not a blocking goaltender. The Bruins netminder has a tendency to attack the puck rather than protect the middle of the net when things get dicey around the crease. But Ullmark is solid positionally with good mechanics.
I don’t know what team will be paying Fleury after the NHL trade deadline. But what I do know is that the 37-year old future Hall of Famer still has plenty left to give. It was a miserable start to the season in Chicago, but Fleury persevered and led the Blackhawks out of the dark. They’ve won 22 games this year. Fleury lays claim to 19 of them, four of which are shutouts. He’s stolen a handful of wins this season.
What fantasy owners should do:
On paper, the Bruins should beat the Blackhawks. But Ullmark has stumbled of late. He doesn’t face many shots, and Chicago is capable of filling the net. I would actually be more comfortable starting Fleury than Ullmark in this game. ‘Flower’ will almost certainly see more than 30 shots, and he’s won three of his last four starts.
Bottom line for Linus Ullmark:
Play with a conservative depth and protect the middle of the net. Patrick Kane continues to be one of the best playmakers in the world. He can filter pucks through traffic that others can’t.
Bottom line for Marc-Andre Fleury:
Don’t get hurt.