It's a short season when it comes to your fantasy picks for the playoffs, so the quickest way to rack up some points is to make sure you have the right guy between the pipes.
Sounds obvious, I know, but in order to maximize points in wins and shutouts, poolies need to look long and hard at how goalies performed during the regular season, what kind of team they have in front of them and just how deep that team is expected to go into the post-season.
It goes without saying you want to select a keeper that plans on playing right into June.
Once the dust has settled and only two are left to fight it out for hockey's biggest prize, your goalie had better be one of the two with twelve wins, or the odds of winning your pool take a serious hit.
This week's Fantasy Focus looks at the surest bets to roll up fantasy points this spring:
5. CHRIS OSGOOD
It would have been just as easy to slip Cam Ward, Marty Turco or Miikka Kiprusoff into the five-hole, but with Osgood destined to carry the load for the Red Wings this post-season, we'll take him. Osgood has four shutouts in just 39 starts as of Tuesday and may add a few more in the playoffs as the Wings are solid bets to lock down the first seed in a week or so.
4. HENRIK LUNDQVIST
Sharing the league high with nine shutouts, about the only thing surprising with this pick is that Lundqvist isn't rated higher. Combined with the style the Rangers tend to play, Lundqvist is a threat to post a zero every night. Only one problem: the Rangers are likely to draw a tough foe in the opening round, and that may be too much for even Lundqvist to overcome.
3. J.S. GIGUERE
You just have to know the defending Cup champions will be ready to go once the games start to count. Giguere, with four shutouts this season, has a habit of coming to play this time of year. In his first trip to the final, he won the Conn Smythe in a losing effort. One year ago, he got the ring. Oh, and his career playoff save percentage is .929.
2. EVGENI NABOKOV
Nabokov has been a horse for the Sharks, playing in 69 of 73 games before last night. Right now, the Sharks are running through everything in their path and, should they carry that momentum into the playoffs, you probably want Nabokov on your fantasy team. Not only could this be the Year of the Shark but, with six shutouts already, Nabokov could rack up a few more before summer.
1. MARTIN BRODEUR
Gee, is there really any surprise here? With his six shutouts, Brodeur is the main reason why the Devils are in the hunt for the Eastern Conference's #1 seed. Expect the Marty party to continue as the Devils look to ride his coattails all the way to the Stanley Cup final.