McKenna’s Matchup of the Day: Mar. 30 – Logan Thompson vs. Chris Driedger

Former NHL netminder Mike McKenna provides his Daily Faceoff Starting Goalie Matchup of the Day for Wed. Mar. 30, 2022:

Why I like this matchup:

Logan Thompson has won two games in a row for the Vegas Golden Knights as they try to claw their way back into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. In his last start, Chris Driedger stopped 36 of 37 shots against the L.A. Kings and earned his sixth win as a member of the Seattle Kraken. Vegas desperately needs a victory, while the Kraken look to play the spoiler.

What to watch for:

It’s the first time Vegas rolls into Seattle: expect both teams to have some energy off the start. Despite a depleted lineup in front of him, Thompson has an impressive .914 save percentage in his rookie season to go with a 5-4-0 record. The next step in Thompson’s evolution is slowing the game down at the NHL level. He’s very explosive – almost to a fault. Thompson spends a lot of time in motion but he has fantastic instincts and athleticism.

For Driedger, the rest of the 2021-22 season is about building his own game back to the level he displayed previously with the Florida Panthers. It’s been a challenging year in Seattle. The Kraken aren’t very skilled, and they’ve been outworked on numerous occasions. That’s a bad combination, especially for the team’s goaltenders. Driedger is 2-2-1 in his last five starts.

What fantasy owners should do:

Vegas should be desperate. Thompson has been a good pickup for fantasy owners and tonight should be a good chance at a win. But I wouldn’t expect a high shot volume when facing the Kraken. I would leave Driedger on the bench.

Bottom line for Logan Thompson:

Less is more. Try to minimize movements and make the game simple.

Bottom line for Chris Driedger:

Battle. And be prepared for the Vegas rush. The Golden Knights are dangerous in transition.