Zero G Roulette – Weeks 18 & 19

Alright my friends we are back for another round of our ZeroG Roulette series. So, we are still on the same page no matter the goalie strategy you practice, it continues to be the most volatile and frustrating position in all of fantasy sports.

Taking that into consideration this strategy to me is simple in drafts: it is ensuring that higher round draft capital is used for skaters, specifically positions of scarcity such as RW or D (PP1 QB) over goalies. Don’t pass on a higher caliber or upside players for the risk that is goalies. Win your league with your skaters not your goalies; it’s that simple, no goalies drafted before the 12^th ever!

In season if the draft strategy has been put in place or even if it hasn’t it allows you to stay fluid at the position. Even if you have drafted a “bonafide stud” who falters that given year, (which happens every year). This strategy allows you to get off that headache. It also is a strategy from a streaming perspective that gives you an opportunity to capitalize on schedule maximization, opportunity, and match ups.

As a ZeroG purist it is my duty to help you my fellow GMs identify those opportunistic goalie streams based on this strategy. As we continue this series, we will look at just that your most optimal ZeroG candidates, to get ahead of your opponents and crush your competition. Goalies continue to be that position that will make us all throw up a little bit in our mouths, but we must just force it back down and be brave.

So, join me once again as we ride that rollercoaster that is goalies together and let’s get into it!

*All stats are as of the morning of Sunday February 11^th.

Week 18

Week 18 is tough from a weeklong ZeroG options so if you are practicing this strategy this is a great week to be fluid. Look for that one game streaming options with premium match ups and or home games. This is a prime example of a week where this strategy can be very impactful and help you win your matchups, when streaming skaters is at a minimum due to limitations in the schedule.  

One in the Chamber

Alex Nedeljkovic (15% rostered) of the Pittsburgh Penguins, look only one start in the last 7 Pens games isn’t great. Looks like they have gone back to Jarry as their number one. However, they do have a B2B on Wednesday and Thursday of this week and Uncle Ned is likely to get the second game of that set against the lowly Blackhawks, that’s just juicy. Not to mention the Pens have been the best team in the League this year on second games of B2B, so I am banking on a solid game for Ned and an easy W for the Pens.

In his last five starts he has posted three Quality Starts (QS), 2 wins and has only given up more then 3 goals once in that stretch. In a week where streaming is going to be scarce, I am all in on Uncle Ned to bolster those stats from your goalie position in week 18.

Anthony Stolarz (13% rostered) of the Florida Panthers who has been great this season when called on for FLA. Has started four of the past 8 games for the Panthers. Posting three QS, two wins and only allowing more than 2 goals once in that span. He’s likely to get the second game of their B2B this week on Thursday against the leaky Sabres, that screams jackpot to bolster our goalie stats this week.

FLA remains one of the top teams in the league this season so keep Stolarz on your watch list whenever they have an advantageous schedule the rest of the way. Especially now that it seems they are trying to keep Goalie Bob fresh for playoffs this season by limiting his starts and running Stolarz more.

Honorable Mentions

If you truly are looking for long term volume starters heading into week 18 these two beauties are still regularly available and should help moving forward.

Sam Montembeault (26% rostered) of the Montreal Canadiens has been a QS beast this season on a rebuilding team. It’s hilarious to me that our fellow GMs are still sleeping on this guy. You can hold him long term if you still need to steady your goalie position but at the very least stream him whenever you need a lift, especially when the Habs and Monty are at home he’s been fantastic this season when starting at the Bell Center.

Mackenzie Blackwood (17% rostered) of the San Jose Sharks: look we all know the Sharks have been a bottom feeders this year as they are in the second year of their rebuild. Young Blackwood however with his flowing locks of gold has been borderline fantastic for them. In his last 10 starts he has posted 6 QS. Wins and GAA will be a pipe dream but if your league rewards saves and SV% as categories or point contributors, Sunshine should be in consideration as a ZeroG option in Week 18 at least as he is likely to get two of the three starts on the schedule.

Week 19

This is week is a true gem for ZeroG options. Nineteen teams play four times, seventeen of which have one or more B2Bs on the schedule. So, take your pick really if you want to engage in a similar one game streaming strategy as we employed in Week 18. If this is the case always lean to the strongest teams and weakest opponents if you can, keep an eye on those starter announcements throughout the week.

That said let’s look at this week and look for some volume-based options and we will sprinkle in some just go check long term options just to sweeten the pot.  

One the Chamber

Elvis Merzlikins (22% rostered) from the Columbus Blue Jackets, a team with absolutely no luck the last two years. Combined with under performance and loads of injuries it’s been ugly for CBJ again this season. The King has arguably been one of the few bright spots despite how the organization was treating him in the first half of the season and sticking him in the press box. This is a ZeroG option that shines brightly for anyone who rides this wave, as he has started six of the last ten games for the team. On the season he has 9 wins, 3.21 GAA and a 0.904 SV%, as we noted already with how awful the team has been in front of him those are respectable numbers. Not sure we should run out and grab him but he’s worth streaming on weeks where CBJ has an opportunistic schedule like week 19. Elvis should see three of the four games in this week that’s good enough for me if I am looking for volume at the position.

Petr Mrazek (33% rostered) from the Chicago Blackhawks, it literally scares me how good Mrazek has been this season. It might be a little criminal that he’s still that low rostered still with how insane the position has been this season. Despite the dreadful shortcomings of the team and loss of the sweetness of Connor Bedard he is a top twenty options at the position in most formats. I am at a loss for words even writing that, with his strong play he’s even earned a two-year contract extension with the Hawks. Look you need some real stones to ride this ride into the dreaded abyss that is ZeroG, but if you’re looking for volume you could do a lot worse. He’s started 34 of 52 games for the team positing 12 wins, 2.92 GAA, 0.910 GAA and 17 QS on the season. The SV% alone is tied for 13^th in the league overall, you’ll be riding the lightning, but the volume is there especially in week 19 with four games, all on off nights.

Honorable Mention

The Anahiem Ducks goalies John Gibson (39% rostered) and Lukas Dostal (6% rostered), when ANA has had four game weeks this season they have split them evenly for the most part. You most likely lean Gibson here but Dostal has been very good this season when called on. I wouldn’t shy away from either in week 19 if goalie streaming options in your league are becoming thin.

Sweet Salvation, Just Go Check

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (47% rostered) from the Buffalo Sabres, likely to get three of the four games in week 19 all on off nights. Appears to be the bonafide number one now and has been playing well. If you need depth and upside, if the Sabres can figure it out, grab him now before your fellow league mates wake up.

Marc Andre-Fleury (53% rostered) from the Minnesota Wild, will get two of the four starts in week 19 as Minny plays the double B2B schedule. Minny has been playing much better as of late and I would imagine will want to make a playoff push. If MAF is still strangely available in your league you want to scoop him up for at least week 19.

Well, that is round three of our ZeroG Roulette series and we are still standing. Remember ZeroG is a lifestyle choice, and you must remain fluid at the position to maximize the benefit of this strategy. Always remember this doesn’t guarantee positive outcomes as goalies will always be a dangerous and unforgiving. Let’s stay strong and know that I am right there with you walking that fine line between glorious success and complete disaster with this position. Always remember though history has always favored the bold, so let’s roll!

We will turn off the fares off for now and I look forward to taking you on another journey very soon, get it into it and its all love!

• Craig @craigerslife on Twitter/X
• A&G or FHFH Discord channels @Craiger (FIveHoleTaxiSquad & AG)
• Co-Host of the Five Hole Fantasy Hockey (FHFH) TaxiSquad Podcast available on any of your podcast providers.