McKenna’s Matchup of the Day: Mar. 23 – Casey DeSmith vs. Craig Anderson

Former NHL netminder Mike McKenna provides his Daily Faceoff Starting Goalie Matchup of the Day for Wed. Mar. 23, 2022:

Why I like this matchup:

I’m curious to see how Casey DeSmith fares against the occasionally dangerous Buffalo Sabres. 

What to watch for:

The pressure is off DeSmith now that the NHL trade deadline has passed. Or is it? With Pittsburgh playing its second game in two nights, tonight’s matchup is ripe for chaos. DeSmith’s job is to get the Penguins through the first period in good enough shape to win. The 2021-22 NHL season started out rough for DeSmith but he’s improved lately. One thing to keep an eye on is if he pushes forward into shots. DeSmith has struggled this year when attacking pucks – his arms lock at his sides and it makes him vulnerable up high.

Any chance to watch Craig Anderson is a joy. At 40 years of age he’s still piling up wins. Anderson owns 302 victories over a 19-year NHL career. He is patient on his edges and prefers to stay upright as long as possible. Anderson will make saves standing up – a rarity in today’s game. But the Chicago native has also done a nice job of updating his style. He can use modern post-integrations when called for. But the greatest strength of Anderson is his game sense. He thinks the game at an elite level.

What fantasy owners should do:

DeSmith has been hard to predict for fantasy owners this season. He hasn’t faced many shots yet his record sits at 6-4-3. DeSmith hasn’t had a tough schedule. Even though the Penguins are a quality team, I would be hesitant starting him.

The same goes for Craig Anderson. The Sabres are unpredictable. If they win, Anderson is likely to be a star of the game. But he’s also allowed six goals against three times this season. Proceed with caution.

Bottom line for Casey DeSmith:

Get a win, even if it’s ugly. DeSmith hasn’t won since Feb. 27. He needs to control play early by taking whistles.

Bottom line for Craig Anderson:

The Penguins play fast. Anderson will need to be nimble on his edges without being impatient.