McKenna’s Matchup of the Day: Jan. 18 – Casey DeSmith vs. Cam Talbot

Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports

Former NHL netminder Mike McKenna provides his Daily Faceoff Starting Goalie Matchup of the Day for Wed. Jan. 18, 2023:

Why I like this matchup:

Both goalies have something to prove. DeSmith has been adequate in place of Penguins No.1 Tristan Jarry, who remains sidelined due to injury. And Talbot has lost four in a row for the Senators, despite playing well in his past two outings.

What to watch for:

DeSmith is a quality No.2 goaltender. He’s shown signs of being able to play a bulk of games previously in his career for Pittsburgh. But his .906 save percentage this season is far off his .914 career mark. DeSmith plays a tight game and is a strong skater. But I think he uses that mobility to a fault, especially considering how NHL teams increasingly use lateral puck movement in the offensive zone. DeSmith will attack shots, moving forward as the puck is coming toward him. In my eyes, it hurts his rebound control. And it also makes it harder for DeSmith to find the proper angle.

I think Talbot has mirrored his team’s performance so far this year. The Senators have been hit or miss and lacked consistency. Talbot has had a few blow-up games where he’s been pulled or allowed over five goals. For the most part, Talbot has been steady in the Ottawa crease. But he does have a nagging tendency to allow befuddling goals. Talbot is 10-12-1 on the season with a .906 save percentage.

What fantasy owners should do:

I wouldn’t feel comfortable starting either goalie in this game. Ottawa needs a bounce-back performance. Pittsburgh needs wins. And both teams have been unpredictable. Of the two, Talbot will likely face more rubber. And DeSmith is favored to win. So choose wisely in relation to those categories.

Bottom line for Casey DeSmith:

Ignore Senators forward Brady Tkachuk parked in front of the net – focus on the puck.

Bottom line for Cam Talbot:

He has yet to earn a win in 2023. And it’ll take a big performance on the penalty kill to do so tonight against the Penguins.