NHL All-Star - Lesson 01 - Starting Goalie Approach

It is the worst feeling in the world when you select a great goalie for your lineups, only to find out he is actually not starting. NHL teams often give goalies a night off here-and-there for rest purposes. It is important to stay on top of these announcements, as rostering a goalie who isn’t playing will lead to an unsuccessful fantasy night. Here are a few ways to stay on top of your goalie selections.

For up-to-the-minute news, analysis and lineups, download the DK Live app, as news, injury reports and betting lines can change throughout the day. Value also unexpectedly can open up due to late lineup changes and late injury news, making it important to stay up to the minute with the DK Live app or DK Live desktop until lineups lock.

The Warmups

This often depends on the day, but the time around warmups is the most nerve wracking time for DFS hockey players. Information is flying around various sources like a swarm of killer bees waiting to strike. Monday-Friday is a little easier on the stomach, as nearly every goalie is confirmed within a half hour of game time.

Having a back-up plan can be crucial when creating your lineups. Every so often you get the dreaded injury during warmups. Missing this information can crush your fantasy lineups for a given night. This is where having a back-up plan comes into play.

When creating your lineups, make sure you have room to adjust for potential starting goalie changes leading up to contest start time. Having options available to switch in at the last minute will relieve a lot of stress during a stressful situation. Being prepared with alternate options will ensure you have a goalie that is starting that night’s games.

What Else Can You Do?

Now, if all else does fail, every so often there is the old fashioned method of just asking around on social media. Beat writers or most DFS experts will either know someone or has the information that can help you track down who is starting. Yes, every so often, there are the dreaded pre-game injuries and unavoidable circumstances. However, 99% of the time, if you are persistent enough the information is out there.

If there is time, and your Plan A and Plan B have been exhausted, maybe that expert has a Plan C or D you may have not thought of. If you have Twitter, then just use the regular search bar to type in the goalies name. This can be a quick and easy way to find starting goalie information.

Barring the unforeseen, there is no excuse to not have a goalie on your team that will provide you fantasy points (unless they get shelled). All it takes is a little digging and preparation.