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These rankings are based on expectations for the rest of the season. Value is quantified by projected starts, peripheral category coverage, time-share situations, team defenses, past performance and overall upside in standard leagues. It is important to note that our rankings reflect sheer fantasy value, not necessarily the most talented goalies in order.
Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford is in the midst of another fine season. He's 12-6-2 with a 2.27 goals-against average, a .927 save percentage and two shutouts, making him eighth among goalies in Yahoo's performance-based rankings.
But Crawford, who has won at least 30 games in each of the past five full NHL seasons, was placed on injured reserve this week after having an emergency appendectomy. He's expected to return to hockey activity in 2-3 weeks, meaning Scott Darling will receive most, if not all, of the starts in December.
Darling made 24 starts last season and was 12-8-4 with a 2.58 GAA, .915 SV% and one shutout, but has been more impressive this season. He's 5-2-1 with a 2.39 GAA, .919 SV%, and is fresh off a 22-save shutout against the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday.
In his NHL career, Darling is 26-14-5 with a 2.36 GAA, and .921 SV%. He also was 3-1 with a .936 SV% in five games (four starts) during the Blackhawks' run to the Stanley Cup title in 2015. He's one of the better backups League-wide and could make a case for more playing time even once Crawford returns.
Chicago is a high-scoring team (2.71 goals per game, 12th in NHL) and Darling, who has allowed an average of two goals per game in his past five starts, always has a strong chance to win whenever he starts. He's owned in 39 percent of Yahoo leagues, so take full advantage of this sure-fire option for as long as Crawford is sidelined.
TRENDING UP
Steve Mason's numbers this season are definitely not an indication of how he's played recently. The Philadelphia Flyers goalie is 10-8-3 with a 2.71 GAA and .908 save percentage, but hasn't allowed more than two goals in any of his past five starts, going 5-0-0 in that span with two outings of at least 42 saves. Mason (54 percent owned) was named the NHL's First Star for the week ending Dec. 4, and has stood in the way of rookie Anthony Stolarz, who has made one start during the 12-game injury absence of Michal Neuvirth (lower body). This is Mason's job to lose at this point, even once Neuvirth returns. The Flyers offense is averaging 3.11 goals per game, fourth in the NHL.
TRENDING DOWN
The Los Angeles Kings have started Peter Budaj in 21 of their past 22 games, and it may be catching up to him. Budaj is 12-7-2 with a 2.23 GAA and .909 SV%, but has struggled since his recent five-game win streak. Budaj allowed three goals on 23 shots in a 4-1 loss to the San Jose Sharks on Nov. 30, then was pulled after allowing two goals on six shots in the first period of an eventual 4-3 win against the Coyotes on Dec. 1. He followed that up by allowing four goals on 30 shots in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday. Jeff Zatkoff is 1-3-0 with a 3.04 GAA and .896 SV%, meaning Budaj (66 percent owned) likely remains the workhorse until Jonathan Quick returns from injury.
WORTH NOTING
- Mike Condon started for the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday, making 35 saves in a 4-2 road win against the Sharks. Condon (21 percent owned), filling in for Craig Anderson (personal leave), has two shutouts in six starts this season. He's a worthwhile pickup given how well he's playing and the fact that he could run a string of games depending on how much time Anderson misses.
- Chad Johnson of the Calgary Flames has won four straight and has started 16 of their 29 games. He's 11-4-1 with a 2.04 GAA, .931 SV% and three shutouts. Brian Elliott, acquired in a trade with the St. Louis Blues on June 25 to be the Flames starter, is 3-9-1 in 13 starts with a 3.31 GAA and .885 SV%. Johnson (66 percent owned) has overtaken Elliott in ownership (56 percent owned) and for the No. 1 job. At this point, there is little reason to hang on to Elliott if you own him in fantasy.
- Ben Bishop has started the past two games for the Tampa Bay Lightning, allowing one goal in each game. It's not a huge sample size, but it's finally a positive trend for the 2015 Vezina Trophy finalist, who struggled early. Bishop jumps a few spots ahead of Andrei Vasilevskiy in our rankings as a result.
- The Detroit Red Wings activated Jimmy Howard off injured reserve Wednesday, and he could start Friday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Howard (50 percent owned) hasn't played since Nov. 25 after sustaining a groin injury, but has fared better than Petr Mrazek this season. Howard has a .940 SV% in 12 games (11 starts) this season.
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TOP 25 FANTASY GOALIES
These rankings were last updated Dec. 8
1. Carey Price, MTL, (SAME)
2. Devan Dubnyk, MIN (+1)
3. Tuukka Rask, BOS (-1)
4. Matt Murray, PIT (SAME)
5. Braden Holtby, WSH (SAME)
6. Martin Jones, SJS (+1)
7. Jake Allen, STL (+1)
8. Sergei Bobrovsky, CBJ (+2)
9. Pekka Rinne, NSH (-3)
10. Henrik Lundqvist, NYR (-1)
11. Roberto Luongo, FLA (+1)
12. Cory Schneider, NJD (+1)
13. Chad Johnson, CGY (+1)
14. Steve Mason, PHI (NEW)
15. Jimmy Howard, DET (NEW)
16. Ben Bishop, TBL (+3)
17. Cam Talbot, EDM (+1)
18. John Gibson, ANA (-1)
19. Cam Ward, CAR (+1)
20. Andrei Vasilevskiy, TBL (-4)
21. Craig Anderson, OTT (DTD, personal)
22. Frederik Andersen, TOR (-1)
23. Petr Mrazek, DET (-1)
24. Marc-Andre Fleury, PIT (SAME)
25. Mike Condon, OTT (NEW)
Dropped out: Peter Budaj (LAK), Mike Smith (ARI)
Just missed: Scott Darling (CHI), Jaroslav Halak (NYI), Connor Hellebuyck (WPG), Budaj, Robin Lehner (BUF)
Key injuries: Jonathan Quick (LAK), Corey Crawford (CHI), Michal Neuvirth (PHI)
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