McKenna’s Matchup of the Day: Jan. 13 – Linus Ullmark vs. Martin Jones

Former NHL netminder Mike McKenna provides his Daily Faceoff Starting Goalie Matchup of the Day for Thu. Jan. 13, 2023:

Why I like this matchup:

It’s been eight games since Jones lost a game in regulation for the Kraken. That’s impressive, but Ullmark has gone 16 games since he was last defeated after 60 minutes.

What to watch for:

Two goalies at the top of their game. Ullmark, with his .938 save percentage, has stupid good numbers on the season. And Jones keeps on winning – even when he has an off night. To me, that means each netminder is making critical saves and giving their respective teams a chance to win.

What amazes me about Ullmark has been his ridiculous consistency. Sure, Boston is a very talented team that plays to a hard-working identity. But the Bruins goalkeeper has started 25 games this season and only once allowed more than three goals. Ullmark has won 22 of those games. Astounding.

With Jones, it’s all about the win column. And his .894 save percentage might be a little misleading, as Seattle was prone to catastrophic defensive lapses early on. The Kraken have been much better defensively lately and Jones continues to hold the fort with a 19-5-3 record.

Of the two, Ullmark is the more dynamic goaltender. But I think he’s developed an element of restraint to his game this season. He’s not pressing. Ullmark has strong mechanics and very good hands.

I like Jones best when he lets the game come to him. With over 400 NHL regular season games under his belt, Jones has plenty of internal scouting to draw from. When he uses it wisely, it results in patience. And a simple, positioning-centric approach to goaltending.

What fantasy owners should do:

Starting Jones feels like a risk but he keeps winning. The only problem is that he’s not facing many shots. So tonight might be the time to park him on the bench. Ullmark, on the other hand, should be starting every game for fantasy owners.

Bottom line for Linus Ullmark:

He’s been on an absolute tear with no signs of slowing down.

Bottom line for Martin Jones:

Winning is the best deodorant.