McKenna’s Matchup of the Day: Apr. 5 – Marc-Andre Fleury vs. Juuse Saros
Former NHL netminder Mike McKenna provides his Daily Faceoff Starting Goalie Matchup of the Day for Tue. Apr 5., 2022:
Why I like this matchup:
Marc-Andre Fleury is undefeated as a member of the Minnesota Wild, winning three times since coming over from the Chicago Blackhawks at the NHL trade deadline. The reigning Vezina trophy winner goes head-to-head with Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros, whose 33 wins on the season rank second in the NHL.
What to watch for:
A mix of pure skill and technicality. I love watching Fleury and Saros for different reasons. Fleury is known for being acrobatic. He’s entertaining and makes saves with a smile. But the core of Fleury’s game is that he reads the play incredibly well and has the explosiveness to make saves others can’t.
The three-time Stanley Cup winner has 18 years of NHL experience to draw upon. And it lets Fleury be more patient on his edges than most goaltenders. His hands are active and he makes a lot of saves with one knee in the air. That’s rare in today’s game.
Fleury has stopped 92 of 96 shots in his three games with the Wild. If he keeps up his exemplary play, expect Fleury to be the starting goaltender for Minnesota when the Stanley Cup playoffs begin.
I can’t help but wonder if Saros’ heavy workload has caught up with him. He started the season on fire. Through the holiday break in December, I thought he was the frontrunner for the Vezina trophy. But his last 10 games have told a different tale. Saros is 6-4-0 over that span, but his .904 save percentage and 3.33 goals against average are far below his career totals.
That said, I don’t see any glaring deficiencies to his game. I think Saros is one of the premier goalie skaters in the world. He tracks the puck well. And he plays much better than his 5-foot-11 frame should allow. Right now I think the Predators are simply in a defensive funk. But Saros might have to pull his team out of it singlehandedly. I wouldn’t bet against him. Saros has done it before.
What fantasy owners should do:
Start Fleury if your team owns him. He’s winning games facing a decent shot volume, and is capable of producing a shutout at any time. I would also start Saros despite having some reservations. He’s had a few blowout games lately but also managed to earn wins.
Bottom line for Marc-Andre Fleury:
Every game is about building towards the Stanley Cup playoffs. Communicate with teammates and continue learning their preferences and tendencies.
Bottom line for Juuse Saros:
Get back on track: allow two goals against or fewer. Saros could use a couple solid outings in a row. He might as well start tonight against one of the best teams in the NHL.