McKenna’s Matchup of the Day: Mar. 16 – Andrei Vasilevskiy vs. Philipp Grubauer
Former NHL netminder Mike McKenna provides his Daily Faceoff Starting Goalie Matchup of the Day for Wed. Mar. 16, 2022:
Why I like this matchup:
Andrei Vasilevskiy might not be leading the NHL statistically this season, but I think he’s the best money goaltender in the game. At the other end of the ice, the Seattle Kraken’s Philipp Grubauer hasn’t allowed less than three goals against in almost a month. Trying to correct that trend against a potent Tampa Bay Lightning offense will be a challenge.
What to watch for:
Tampa Bay has never been the most defensive team in the NHL. The Lightning give up a lot of quality chances against. But Vasilevskiy has routinely been there to bail his team out. I love the mental creativity of his game. Vasilevskiy is strong technically, but he’s also able to come up with solutions on the fly. There are times where Vasilevskiy plays smaller than I’d like – especially on his posts. But his reach and flexibility often make up for it.
I was surprised to see the 2021-22 season start so poorly for Philipp Grubauer. I thought he was excellent for the Colorado Avalanche last season and expected it to continue with the expansion Kraken. It hasn’t. Grubauer spends far too much time in the white ice and ends up chasing the play. His feet aren’t getting set before the shot often enough, which leads to poor puck tracking. And by playing so far out of his net, Grubauer is not allowing himself enough reaction time to make saves. I haven’t seen any stylistic changes all season. And that’s very concerning considering Grubauer has five years left on his contract at a $5.9 million cap hit.
What fantasy owners should do:
Fantasy owners should always start Vasilevskiy. But do not play Grubauer. This game is ripe for an outburst from Tampa Bay’s Brayden Point.
Bottom line for Andrei Vasilevskiy:
Stay awake during 5-on-5 play. The Kraken score most of their goals through hard work in the offensive zone. Vasilevskiy will need to find sightline windows and stay active on rebounds.
Bottom line for Philipp Grubauer:
Beat the pass and get set before the shot is taken. Grubauer has excellent hands and feet – when he has time to use them. Tampa Bay is one of the NHL’s best at quickly moving the puck. Grubauer needs to be ahead of the play.