McKenna’s Matchup of the Day: Nov. 16 – Jordan Binnington vs. Arvid Soderblom

Former NHL netminder Mike McKenna provides his Daily Faceoff Starting Goalie Matchup of the Day for Wed. Nov. 16, 2022:

Why I like this matchup:

Binnington has been red hot in goal for the St. Louis Blues. And Chicago Blackhawks rookie backstop Arvid Soderblom – despite a limited sample size – has looked every bit the part of an NHL goaltender.

What to watch for:

Binnington has been in full battle mode for the Blues. The 2019 Stanley Cup winning netminder has won his last three starts and posted a .938 save percentage over that span. And that’s while facing a ton of rubber: 113 shots during 180 minutes of game action.

I think Binnington has been solid recently with his reads and movements. But at his core, Binnington will always be a goalie whose focus is paramount. When he’s locked in and tracking the puck well, Binnington can be one of the best.

Last year I spoke with someone that had seen a lot of Soderblom. “Watch out,” is what I was told. And that was meant in a good way. Soderblom went undrafted but has blossomed in the Blackhawks organization. In his first year of North American hockey, he was outstanding for the AHL’s Rockford Icehogs, posting a .919 save percentage on a team that finished 18th league-wide.

Soderblom is very active thanks to his explosive footwork. And he’ll occasionally venture outside the blue paint. I’m curious to see if that stylistic tendency remains as his career progresses. The NHL is a faster league than the AHL and it’s not easy to keep up with the pace of play.

What fantasy owners should do:

St. Louis has been hot and Binnington has played a huge role. Start him. And I like Soderblom against St. Louis. Even though the Blues have been winning, goals have been hard to come by.

Bottom line for Jordan Binnington:

Keep the swagger – and know when Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews are on the ice. The Blackhawks mainstays have been excellent this year.

Bottom line for Arvid Soderblom:

Every game provides experience and a stepping stone to bigger things in the NHL. Be ready for St. Louis to attack on the rush.