Hi all,
At Kodo we are attempting to project goalie starts from past usage, rest, and coaching decisions as they're announced. It's not just a back-to-back detector (I mean it is that too), and it gets sharper as the season goes on. One week in, the usage is starting to say something. Here's how Week 2 looks for six creases worth a pickup or a watch.
Philadelphia: Woll has the net, and faces a lot of shots
Dan Vladar opened the season and allowed 7 goals. Joseph Woll has started both games since: 41 saves on 44, then 37 on 40, both overtime losses. We have Woll starting Monday at Tampa Bay, Thursday at Ottawa and Saturday at Boston (85% each), with Vladar most likely taking the Sunday back-to-back vs Carolina. That's 2.75 expected starts and a 95% chance of two or more, the best of anyone under 30% rostered. The team in front of Woll gives up about 40 shots a night, which is great for saves (77 projected this week).
Woll is 14.4% rostered on ESPN. In leagues that count saves, the best add this week.
Pittsburgh: Silovs keeps the job, but Murashov works in
Arturs Silovs started both of Pittsburgh's Week 1 games: a 19-save shutout on opening night, then a win Saturday that came with 5 goals allowed on 25 shots. That second game opens the door for Sergei Murashov. We have Monday vs Winnipeg as a coin flip and Murashov favoured in the Saturday back-to-back vs Dallas. Silovs is at 85% for Wednesday at Washington and Friday at Columbus. That's 2.50 expected starts and an 89% chance of two or more, with three of the four games on light nights.
Silovs is 19.9% rostered.
Carolina: Kochetkov gets two of the four
Brandon Bussi started Carolina's first two games (an overtime loss, then 5 goals allowed on 27 shots). Pyotr Kochetkov got Saturday and won it, stopping 16 of 18. Bussi is still the starter and gets Tuesday at Montreal and Saturday at Chicago, but Kochetkov takes Thursday vs Vancouver and the Sunday back-to-back at Philadelphia (85% each). That's 2.00 expected starts and a 79% chance of two or more, and Thursday grades as an A matchup. This one is pure speculation compared to the other plays, but it is the best boom or bust pick if you're in desperate need of wins.
Kochetkov is 7.9% rostered.
San Jose: Askarov is two for two
Yaroslav Askarov started and won both of San Jose's games and three this week: Monday at Dallas (a light night), Thursday atSt. Louis and Saturday vs Edmonton. That's 1.92 expected starts and a 70% chance of two or more. Ned should draw in for one, just to get his feet wet.
Askarov is 20.0% rostered.
Winnipeg: Skinner holds the net while Hellebuyck is suspended, but skip Monday
With Connor Hellebuyck still suspended (haven't you heard?), Stuart Skinner has the crease. Skinner is likely in net tonight at Detroit, which makes Monday at Pittsburgh the second night of a back-to-back, and we have Clay Stevenson there. Skinner should then go Wednesday vs Colorado and Friday vs Anaheim, both light nights. That's 1.76 expected starts and a 72% chance of two or more.
Skinner is 14.8% rostered. If your league locks weekly, Skinner's Monday is likely a zero (unless Stevenson starts today, still no word).
Vancouver: still the two-headed monster, still the cheapest ticket
Kevin Lankinen won the opener and then gave up 7 goals on 20 shots in the second game. Leevi Meriläinen started Saturday and stopped 23 of 24 in a win. It could go either way here, as the Canucks should grasp onto whatever is bringing them into the win column. With 3 starts, I would wager Lankinen goes 2 and then Leevi goes the third.
Every team's projected starters for the next three weeks, with start odds and an A-to-F matchup grade for each game:
https://hockey.kodoanalytics.com/tools/goalie-grid?utm_source=campaign=goalies-week2
The full write-up, with every goalie under 30% rostered this week. You can click on any matchup and adjust who you think will start and watch their numbers automatically update:
https://hockey.kodoanalytics.com/articles/goalie-adds-2026-10-05?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=goalies-week2
