McKenna’s Matchup of the Day: Nov. 22 – Craig Anderson vs. Jake Allen

Former NHL netminder Mike McKenna provides his Daily Faceoff Starting Goalie Matchup of the Day for Tue. Nov. 22, 2022:

Why I like this matchup:

Craig and Jake are two of my favorite teammates of all-time. Nights like this are special when I get two amazing friends and goaltenders facing off against one another.

What to watch for:

Modern techniques mixed with old school flair. Anderson, at 41 years of age, is one of the few goaltenders left in the NHL that knows how to make a proper skate save. He’ll toss out a two-pad stack every now and then. But don’t underestimate the technical side of Anderson’s game. He’s quietly reinvented himself over the years to stay current with goaltending trends. The fact that he has a .910 save percentage isn’t a fluke.

I think Allen is one of the more cerebral goaltenders in history. He thinks the game at a high level. Because he’s a strong and precise skater, Allen is rarely out of position. But it’s hard to overcome the young, inexperienced Canadiens team in front of him. In the past five games, Allen has faced 38 or more shots three times. His biggest challenge is during even strength play: Montreal has allowed 42 goals in 18 games during 5-on-5 action. 

What fantasy owners should do:

I love these guys but I wouldn’t encourage any fantasy owner to play either of them. Montreal is 25th in goals against and Buffalo is 29th.

Bottom line for Craig Anderson:

The Sabres have lost eight straight games and Anderson was the starting goalie in three of them. Keep the Canadiens to two goals or fewer and things look good for Buffalo.

Bottom line for Jake Allen:

Montreal is so loose defensively that it’s all about keeping the game within reach. Get to the third period leading or within a goal.