Training camp is over, the Global Series kicked off the regular season last week, and now we settle in to NHL regular season games daily. Wednesday's schedule brings an uptick in contests from three to five as we ease our way into a full schedule. Keep on eye on the starting netminder in Calgary
On every game day this season, THN Fantasy be highlighting goalies for fantasy managers to stream or roster for the rest of the season. A separate article will be provided for players. The recommended players and goalies can be used in standard fantasy leagues or for daily fantasy games.
Games for Wednesday, Oct. 9
* = confirmed
Anthony Stolarz, TOR* at Samuel Montembeault, MON* (7 p.m. ET)
Igor Shesterkin, NYR at Tristan Jarry, PIT (7:30 p.m. ET)
Connor Hellebuyck, WPG* at Stuart Skinner, EDM* (10 p.m. ET)
Dan Vladar, CGY at Arturs Silovs, VAN (10 p.m. ET)
Alexandar Georgiev, COL at Adin Hill, VEG (10 p.m. ET)
Goalies
Dustin Wolf, CGY at VAN (24% rostered)
Sports can be a zero-sum game; one man's pleasure is another man's gain. In Wolf's case, the trade of Jakob Markstrom to New Jersey created a crater-sized hole in net for Calgary. Filling that breach, at least part of the time, will be Wolf.
Wolf, the two-time AHL goalie of the year and AHL MVP from 2022-23, will get every opportunity to be the Flames' No. 1 netminder as the team is in the midst of a rebuild. The defense in front of him needs work, which could also play in his favor. Dan Vladar is also in the mix, but Wolf has the pedigree, talent, and maybe more important, the youth, to take the job and run with it.
Justus Annunen, COL at VEG (20% rostered)
Ask most casual - and even some die-hard fans - who Annunen is and who he plays for and you likely will get several blank stares. But those in the know, know. Annunen shed the label of depth goalie last season, showing that he might have the capacity to be the Av's netminder of the future.
Annunen was especially brilliant the last five-plus weeks of the season. Starting February 29, Annunen made 10 appearances, going 7-2-0 with two shutouts while posting a .942 save percentage. Annunen will be behind Alexandar Georgiev to start the 2024-25 campaign, but if Georgiev struggles as he did last season and Annunen continues to post solid advanced metrics, a change in net could occur.
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