Jake Allen News
Allen allowed one goal on 32 shots in the Canadiens 2-0 loss to the Flames on Saturday. It was another terrific outing from Allen but Jacob Markstrom was perfect at the other end of the ice. Through three starts with Montreal, Allen has a 1.68 GAA and .933 SV%, proving he is one of the best backup options in the NHL and an outstanding handcuff or standalone fantasy netminder.
Allen allowed three goals on 17 shots in the Canadiens win in Vancouver on January 21st. It wasn't as solid as his debut with Montreal but it was enough to move Allen to 2-0-0 to start the season. With a back-to-back coming up on Monday and Tuesday, it's surprising that Allen will get this start. He'll face a Flames team that has lost three in a row while being outscored 11-to-7.
Allen served as Carey Price’s backup in the first two games of the season but will make his Canadiens debut Monday in Edmonton. There are easier matchups than facing Connor McDavid in your debut but he is 5-2-0 vs. Edmonton in the last three seasons. The 30-year-old is coming off of a 12-6-3, 2.15 GAA and .927 SV% in 2020, so he is one of the most reliable backup options in the NHL.
Allen is a 30-year-old netminder who is heading into the final year of a four-year contract that carries a $4.35 million cap hit. Allen is likely the first of a few cap causalities in St. Louis, who have very few contracts coming off of the books this offseason and both Alex Pietrangelo (UFA) and Vince Dunn (RFA) looking for new deals. As for Allen, he will backup Carey Price in 2021 and is coming off of a year in which he was 12-6-3 with a 2.15 GAA and .927 SV% in 21 starts and three relief appearances.
Allen stopped all 29 shots that he faced in the Blues shutout win in Chicago on Sunday. Allen has won three in a row while posting a 1.30 GAA, .949 SV% and one shutout. Allen has gone 8-4-3 with a 2.12 GAA, .930 SV% and two shutouts on the road this year.