Week 3: Fantasy goalie top 25 rankings for 2018-19

NHL.com's fantasy hockey goalie top 25 rankings are based on past production and expectations for the rest of the season in standard Yahoo leagues. For more fantasy hockey coverage, visit For more fantasy coverage, visit NHL.com/Fantasy.

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Injury updates

Cory Schneider, NJD -- The New Jersey Devils goalie started for Albany of the American Hockey League this week and is closing in on a return. Schneider has yet to play this season because of offseason hip surgery but will at worst be in a timeshare situation with Keith Kinkaid when he returns. Kinkaid has started all seven games for the Devils this season and has two shutouts but has allowed 11 goals in his past three starts, all losses.
Michal Neuvirth, PHI -- He will make his season debut against the New York Islanders on Saturday after missing the first 10 games with a lower-body injury. With the Philadelphia Flyers struggling and Brian Elliott having two wins in eight starts with a 3.39 GAA and .886 SV%, fantasy owners in deep leagues should add Neuvirth ahead of time in the hope he wins the starting job.

Trending up

Jaroslav Halak, BOS -- The Boston Bruins backup has turned back the clock this season; he's 3-0-2 with a 1.43 GAA, .945 save percentage and two shutouts (tied for NHL lead with Kinkaid) and available in 64 percent of Yahoo leagues. Tuukka Rask has struggled to start the season, which also happened last season before he turned it around. Halak was a starter earlier in his career and is capable of handling the load; he should be a top waiver wire target right now.
Semyon Varlamov and Philipp Grubauer, COL -- The Colorado Avalanche have allowed the fewest goals per game (2.00) and have the best team save percentage (.942) in the NHL. Varlamov (potential 2019 unrestricted free agent) appears to be the starter if he remains healthy, but Grubauer (46 percent owned) is readily available in fantasy and a good option for those in need of a third goalie option with a high ceiling

Trending down

Jake Allen, STL -- It's hard to have confidence in the St. Louis Blues goalie with the team allowing four goals per game and a League-high 18 goals in the third period. Although it hasn't all been his fault, Allen has a 3.93 GAA and .876 SV%. He is not worth dropping just yet in case the Blues make a coaching change but should be benched in fantasy for the time being.
Mike Smith, CGY --Smith has allowed at least four goals in three of his past four starts and has a GAA above 4.00 and a save percentage nearing .850. The Calgary Flames have fared better this season with backup David Rittich in net compared to the veteran Smith; Rittich has a 2.37 GAA and .933 SV% in three starts and is only owned in 14 percent of leagues.

FANTASY TOP 25 GOALIE RANKINGS

Standard Yahoo goalie categories include wins, goals-against average, save percentage and shutouts. Value has been quantified based on factors including but not limited to past production, team goalie situations, anticipated start volume, projected goal support (or lack thereof), injury history, sleeper, bounce-back or breakout potential, anticipated regression, age and contract status (potential 2019 UFA: \; RFA: \\). DTD indicates player with day-to-day injury.
1. Andrei Vasilevskiy, G, TBL (SAME)
2. Braden Holtby, G, WSH (+1)
3. Connor Hellebuyck, G, WPG (+1)
4. John Gibson, G, ANA (+1)
5. Frederik Andersen, G, TOR (+1)
6. Semyon Varlamov, G, COL\ (+4)
7. Marc-Andre Fleury, G, VGK (+6)
8. Tuukka Rask, G, BOS (SAME)
9. Sergei Bobrovsky, CBJ* (-2)
10. Ben Bishop, G, DAL (+2)
11. Devan Dubnyk, G, MIN (+4)
12. Martin Jones, G, SJS (-1)
13. Matt Murray, G, PIT (+4)
14. Corey Crawford, G, CHI (+4)
15. Antti Raanta, G, ARI (-1)
16. Jonathan Quick, G, LAK (-7)
17. Carey Price, G, MTL (-1)
18. Henrik Lundqvist, G, NYR (+1)
19. Cam Talbot, G, EDM* (+1)
20. Juuse Saros, NSH (NEW)
21. Carter Hutton, G, BUF (+3)
22. Jaroslav Halak, BOS (NEW)
23. Keith Kinkaid, G, NJD* (-2)
24. Philipp Grubauer, COL (NEW)
25. Petr Mrazek, CAR* (SAME)
Key injuries: Pekka Rinne, NSH\ (dropped out); Roberto Luongo, FLA; Cory Schneider, NJD
Dropped out: Jake Allen, STL, Mike Smith, G, CGY\
Just missed:* Craig Anderson, OTT; Aaron Dell, SJS, Michal Neuvirth, PHI\; Scott Darling, CAR, Jacob Markstrom, VAN; Joonas Korpisalo, CBJ\\
READ: Last week's Top 25 goalie rankings**