McKenna’s Matchup of the Day: Mar. 28 – Jaroslav Halak vs. Ville Husso
Former NHL netminder Mike McKenna provides his Daily Faceoff Starting Goalie Matchup of the Day for Mon. Mar. 28, 2022:
Why I like this matchup:
The Vancouver Canucks might be a longshot for the Stanley Cup playoffs but they keep finding ways to beat quality teams. On the other side of the ledger, the St. Louis Blues have allowed 25 goals against in their last six games and only won once. The Canucks have looked hungry while the Blues have been lost.
What to watch for:
Turnovers. When the Blues don’t manage the puck well, it ends up in the back of their net. For a large portion of this season, Ville Husso was able to cover up for his team’s lack of defensive acumen. But in his last 10 games, the Finnish netminder has allowed 3.31 goals against on average. Husso still sports a .922 save percentage, but it has fallen precipitously since the NHL All-Star break.
It’s been a strange season for Halak. He played well early but couldn’t buy a win. Then a disastrous series of games in February tanked his numbers. I don’t think Halak has gotten a chance to find a rhythm in Vancouver. Most of that is due to goalie partner Thatcher Demko’s outstanding play. But Halak has also looked uninspired at times. This is a big start for him against his former team.
What fantasy owners should do:
Starting either goaltender would make me nervous as a fantasy owner. The Blues have been brutal defensively and Husso has been in something of a funk. Halak was good in his last game, stopping 32 of 33 shots to beat the NHL-leading Colorado Avalanche. But can he find that magic again? Vancouver has been better defensively, so Halak might be the safer bet. But if your fantasy team has better options in goal tonight, I would explore them.
Bottom line for Jaroslav Halak:
Be a rock on the penalty kill and patient against the rush. St. Louis has a deadly power play and the ability to strike quickly in transition.
Bottom line for Ville Husso:
Do the homework necessary to be successful. The Canucks rely heavily on a small cast of offensive players. Know their tendencies in advance.