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NHL Starting Goalies: Friday, March 17

St Louis Blues at Washington Capitals
2023-03-17T23:00:00.000Z
Joel Hofer
Joel Hofer
Confirmed
2023-03-17T16:38:51.909Z
Charlie Lindgren
Charlie Lindgren
Unconfirmed
 
Carolina Hurricanes at Toronto Maple Leafs
2023-03-17T23:00:00.000Z
Pyotr Kochetkov
Pyotr Kochetkov
Confirmed
2023-03-17T21:00:38.083Z
Joseph Woll
Joseph Woll
Unconfirmed
 
Columbus Blue Jackets at Anaheim Ducks
2023-03-18T02:00:00.000Z
Elvis Merzlikins
Elvis Merzlikins
Unconfirmed
 
Lukas Dostal
Lukas Dostal
Confirmed
2023-03-16T19:29:34.180Z

Starting Goalies & NHL Betting Strategy

Knowing who the starting goalies are tonight can make or break the success of your NHL bets. The goalie is a vital position, and how they play often dictates which team will emerge victorious. Before you bet, you should know who the top goalie is for each squad. The output of a true number-one goalie will differ significantly from a second or third-string netminder. By staying up to date on each team’s starting goalie, including their strengths, weaknesses, and team fit, you can formulate winning wagers for your bet slip.

All of the information on this page is updated live, bringing you up-to-the-minute news so you know who’s set to play between the pipes in all of today’s games. Our expert team stays on top of the latest projected starting goalie news so you can use this information to develop your bets and/or fantasy hockey moves this evening. Check out the latest projected starters tonight and get a winning edge in tonight’s action.

Starting Goalies Influence On NHL Betting Odds

The NHL starting goalies tonight for both teams heading into an NHL matchup can majorly impact the betting odds offered by bookmakers. There can be a pretty sizeable talent gap between an elite starting goaltender and a backup, meaning the players set to strap on the pads can easily sway the opening lines. That’s not to say that a second-string goaltender can’t steal a game or two for his team over the course of the season (just ask Scott Foster), but it’s far more unlikely.

Oddsmakers take the NHL starting goalies today into account when building out their starting lines because they understand that this position can shake up the end result of a contest, both in who wins and how many goals are scored.

Expert NHL bettors can sometimes take advantage of the lines before official goalies playing tonight are announced. By relying on the NHL probable goalies rather than the confirmed starters, bettors can potentially land a bigger payout if they wager on a team before the odds shift out of, or into, their favour.

Defensive Strength & Performance of Starting Goalies

The defensive strength of a team, no matter who the starting goalie is, is a major factor bettors should account for when analyzing their play. While some standout goaltenders are skilled enough to make up for a poor defense, less elite netminders could be left hanging out to dry on a nightly basis.

Conversely, if a team’s goaltender is the weak point, but they have a strong defensive team built around it, this can help even an average netminder find success as it makes their lives easier.

When it comes to laying down dollars, be sure to consider a starting goalie’s recent performances when evaluating a team’s potential success in tonight’s games. The goalie position can often rely on cold or hot streaks, with these trends lasting multiple games before a change occurs. Once you’ve factored in the team’s defensive strength and the starting NHL goalies’ recent performances, you’ll be in a better position to make an informed decision about your next NHL bet.

Team Confidence & Play Style

A hot goalie can be one of the hardest things for an opposing team to go up against. With every shot on goal resulting in a save, the team’s confidence behind a strong starting goalie can boost their play from top to bottom and change a squad’s play style.

On the other hand, opposing teams may need to rethink their game plan prior to a matchup if they’re set for a collision course with one of the top trending netminders in the NHL. This may mean trying to target a goaltender’s weaknesses rather than the defense in front of him, or throwing a new strategy at the unsuspecting goaltender to catch them off guard and out of rhythm.

Streaking or slumping starting NHL goalies can drastically alter your betting strategy as you may need to adapt to the current play of each team’s top netminder. Stay up-to-date with the latest trends and play of each club’s starting goalie (we recommend checking out DFO’s shows) and format your NHL bets accordingly around them.

Back-to-Back Games & Starting Goalies

While they don’t come about often, every NHL team will face back-to-back games sometime over the course of their schedule. With the heavy workload of scheduling an 82-game season, teams will rarely send out the same starting goalie in back-to-back games. Gone are the days of Glenn Hall and his unbreakable record of 502 consecutive regular-season goalie starts. The typical NHL starting goalies play around 50-60 games per year.

With that being said, all bettors should understand the goalie rotations of each squad so they can prepare their bets accordingly. If a team’s top goalie takes centre stage on the first game of their back-to-back, then in all likelihood, their backup will appear in the cage in their second game.

Check in here to stay informed on each team’s goalie rotation and learn how to place bets when a team is enduring a back-to-back situation.

Recent Performance & Starting Goalie Trends

Ahead of tonight’s matchups, be sure to look into the recent performance and starting goalie trends before the puck drop. Looking at the statistical output of the starting goalies and their recent game trends can help you determine how well they might play in an upcoming clash. The starting NHL goalies tonight all experience varying successes and difficulties over the course of the season, with slumps and streaks challenging to break.

For bettors, the recent stats and averages of NHL projected goalies participating in tonight’s action can be advantageous. Digging deep into the numbers around a goalie’s play, such as save percentage and goals-against average, as well as a team’s stats, such as shots allowed per game, can help determine what you can expect in their next tilt.

By combining these stats with their opponents’ recent offensive numbers, bettors can positively influence their wagers and formulate their next bets on a matchup.

Starting Goalie Matchups & Team Strategies

Just like in any other sport, some players perform better in certain situations or against particular teams. This can definitely be said about starting NHL goalies, as they tend to find repeated success or failures against the same teams or play styles. While no two goalies are precisely alike, it’s important to identify each starting goalie’s strengths and weaknesses.

Some goaltenders may thrive in up-close and personal situations, while others prefer tracking the puck from a range. Stay in the know about each goaltender’s abilities, and you can predict how the play style of their upcoming opponents may impact performance, and subsequently, your bets.

Taking this into account can give bettors a massive leg up over the oddsmakers as you can identify winning opportunities that don’t show up in the stat sheet.

Over/Under Bets & Goal Predictions

One of the biggest factors that play into the results of all Over/Under goal total bets is the play of the starting goalies for each team. The average NHL goal total line is set around 5.5-6.5 goals, which means bettors need to understand how each goaltender will fair heading into a contest before throwing down their wagers.

For example, if two standout defensive teams with strong goaltending are set to go head-to-head, the smart money is to bet the Under, as it’s unlikely that either team will find offensive success. On the other hand, if two high-scoring offences with subpar goalies are squaring off, the Over is a safe bet.

Knowing how each team’s play style counteracts against its opponents and the production of its respective starting goalies can strongly influence your bet slips. Use this information to help develop your predictions about the total number of goals in a game.

Live NHL Betting & Real-Time Decisions

Allowing NHL bettors to get off the bench and into the game in real-time via live betting can be a great way to capitalize on a momentum swing within a matchup. Live NHL betting allows bettors to place wagers on the outcome of a matchup, goal totals, and select prop bets as the action unfolds. The odds value of these bets will continuously change as they reflect the plays in real-time.

Knowing the goalies in each matchup or understanding how a goalie substitution may affect the outcome of the game can help you land your next winning wager while betting live. Bettors should also monitor line changes and injuries for both teams, as these can drastically change the game plan of both teams as they adjust on the fly.

Don’t miss out on a second of the action as it unfolds in tonight’s NHL slate with the live betting options available at all of the top hockey betting sites.

NHL Starting Goalies FAQ

What Features Does The Daily Faceoff Starting Goalie Page Provide?

Daily Faceoff’s starting goalie page offers real-time projections for each NHL game, showing the likelihood of each goalie starting and their save percentages. This information is essential for bettors tracking goalies for daily bets and future matchups.

What Are Some Popular NHL Goalie Prop Bets?

Popular prop bets for goalies include predicting the number of saves they will make in a game. These bets depend on the goalie’s skill level and the offensive capabilities of the opposing team.

Who Are the Leading NHL Goalies Right Now?

Currently, the leading NHL goalies include Andrei Vasilevskiy, Connor Hellebuyck, Igor Shesterkin, Jake Oettinger, and Juuse Saros. They are recognized for their exceptional skills and consistent performance.

What Stats Define a Top NHL Goalie?

The main stats that define a top NHL goalie are goals-against average (GAA), save percentage (SV%), and wins. Additionally, their impact on the team’s overall performance and their ability to excel in playoff situations are critical indicators.

What Responsibilities Does an NHL Starting Goalie Have?

An NHL starting goalie is the key player in defending against scoring attempts. Their responsibilities include stopping shots, maintaining situational awareness, directing defenders, and managing penalties and game time effectively.

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