McKenna’s Matchup of the Day: Mar. 4 – Kaapo Kahkonen vs. Craig Anderson

Former NHL netminder Mike McKenna provides his Daily Faceoff Starting Goalie Matchup of the Day for Fri. Mar.4, 2022:
Why I like this matchup:
Kahkonen is young and hungry. Anderson is an ageless wonder. They are two very different goaltenders at opposite ends of their careers.
What to watch for:
The Minnesota Wild haven’t played well over the past few weeks, and I think the starting goaltender job is up for grabs between Kahkonen and Cam Talbot. Wild head coach Dean Evason has consistently tipped Talbot as his starting goalie, but Kahkonen has shown flashes of greatness this season. He still needs to iron out a few details to his game – namely, getting square to the shot earlier with his feet set. Kahkonen is 12-5-2 this season with a .917 save percentage.
Anderson and the Buffalo Sabres knocked off the Maple Leafs 5-1 just two nights ago in front of a capacity crowd at Scotiabank Arena. The 40-year old netminder from Chicago was excellent, making several key saves. The Sabres are 17-30-8 on the season, but Anderson has won seven of his 14 starts. Despite several nagging injuries, he’s been able to put up a .909 save percentage in his quest for 300 NHL wins. Anderson currently sits at 298 victories over his 19-year NHL career.
What fantasy owners should do:
Both goaltenders are risky for fantasy owners. The Wild have given up a lot of goals recently. And Buffalo is a wildcard. Anything can happen with the Sabres. Kahkonen hasn’t had many blowup games this season. I think it’s worth starting him. There’s always a chance Anderson steals a game for the Sabres, but the defense in front of him is questionable at best. I would only start him if necessary.
Bottom line for Kaapo Kahkonen:
Every game is a chance to pad his wallet – the Finnish goaltender is an RFA at the end of the year. He needs to consistently outplay Cam Talbot in order to earn the Wild crease.
Bottom line for Craig Anderson:
This season is a victory lap for the veteran netminder. Enjoy the ride and help foster a positive culture in the Buffalo dressing room.