McKenna’s Matchup of the Day: Mar. 5 – Jeremy Swayman vs. Elvis Merzlikins

Former NHL netminder Mike McKenna provides his Daily Faceoff Starting Goalie Matchup of the Day for Sat. March 5, 2022:

Why I like this matchup:

Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins is starting back-to-back games. Jeremy Swayman has been red hot for the Boston Bruins. I think it’s an intriguing matchup because Merzlikins is very much the underdog.

What to watch for:

Keep an eye on the energy level of Merzlikins early in the game. He was busy last night against the L.A. Kings, making 39 saves despite losing 4-3 in overtime. The Blue Jackets give up the most shots against in the NHL – a whopping 35.9 per game on average. Despite the heavy workload and 3.41 goals against average, Merzlikins has maintained a .904 save percentage in 34 starts. Credit due: it’s not easy playing for a defensively challenged team. But Merzlikins has shown resilience and maturity. He’s 19-14-2 on the season.

Ever since the Tuukka Rask experiment concluded in early February, Jeremy Swayman has taken over the net in Boston. His numbers are staggering: since Feb. 1, Swayman is 6-1-1 with a .957 save percentage. There’s a level of curiosity about him that drives his studious approach to goaltending. Swayman is big on watching video and not afraid to think outside the box when it comes to off-ice training. From a technical perspective, occasionally his stance gets too low and wide, which limits his ability to rotate. But it’s something Swayman is aware of and working to improve upon.

What fantasy owners should do:

Start Swayman and leave Merzlikins on the bench – unless your team is desperate for saves.

Bottom line for Jeremy Swayman:

Don’t get complacent: Treat every game as a chance to learn the tendencies of NHL players and teams.

Bottom line for Elvis Merzlikins:

Do whatever is necessary to bring the energy tonight – both physically and mentally.