How-to guide
How to pick goalies in an NHL hockey pool
In short
Pick goalies who play most of their team’s games first, then weigh the team in front of them and its schedule. Recent form and injuries help you choose between two close options. These rules work for every pool, only their weight changes with your scoring.
A goalie can bring in as many points as several skaters together, but only when he plays. Here is how to compare goalies before a draft, a trade or a lineup change, with WebPuck pages updated after every game.
Step by step
Find the number one goalies
A goalie only scores when he plays. Look for goalies who play the largest share of their team’s games, and be careful with tandems that split the work almost evenly.
Look at the team in front of him
Wins count in nearly every goalie scoring system. A team that controls the puck and allows few dangerous shots helps its goalie win and keep a good save percentage.
Check the schedule
Count his team’s games in the period your pool scores. On back to back nights, teams often give one of the two games to the other goalie.
Follow form and health
Save percentage over recent games, an injury or a return from one change the workload. A few bad games are no reason to panic, a lost job is.
Spread the risk
Avoid relying on goalies from the same team. Keep an eye on the second goalie behind a fragile number one: he can become a valuable pickup.
Match the pick to your rules
Check what your pool gives for a win, a shutout or an overtime loss. With a salary cap, compare expected points with the salary. In a keeper pool, age and contract matter too.
These steps work for every type of pool: points only, draft, salary cap, playoff, box, head-to-head or keeper. Only the weight of each signal changes with your scoring system and your pool’s rules.
The signals to compare
| Signal | What it tells you | Where to see it on WebPuck |
|---|---|---|
| Share of games played | Whether he is the number one or shares the work | Player page, goalie rankings |
| Wins | What most often brings a goalie points | Goalie rankings of the guide |
| Save percentage | The quality of his own work, less tied to his team | Player page, goalies on a roll |
| Goals against average | The goalie and his defense together | Player page |
| Schedule | How many games he can play in the period | Pooler’s Guide, this week |
| Injuries and news | A change of role on the way | Injuries, news and rumors |
Checklist
- He plays most of his team’s games.
- His team wins often and allows few dangerous shots.
- His team plays enough games in the period that counts.
- No recent injury or news threatens his role.
- Your goalies do not all come from the same team.
- His cost (draft round, salary or box) matches what he brings.
- You know what a win, a shutout and an overtime loss are worth in your pool.
Pages to check
Goalie rankingsAll playersNHL injuriesNHL newsNHL rumorsHow to run an NHL poolHow to spot hot playersResources for poolers
Frequently asked questions
How many goalies do I need in an NHL pool?
It depends on your pool’s rules. Aim for at least one solid number one, then another reliable option to cover an injury, a lost job or a slump.
When should I draft a goalie?
There is no perfect round. True number ones are rare and go early. Compare goalies’ projected points with the skaters still available in our rankings, and take a goalie when the gap to the next one is large.
Wins or save percentage, which matters more?
It depends on your scoring system. Wins count in nearly every pool, but they depend a lot on the team. Save percentage shows the goalie’s own work better and helps predict whether he keeps his job.
Should I drop a goalie after a few bad games?
Not necessarily. Every goalie has bad nights. Watch whether his role changes instead: is the other goalie playing more often, is an injury or a trade coming? Our news and rumors help you see it early.
Does this advice work for every type of pool?
Yes. Points only, draft, salary cap, playoff, box, head-to-head or keeper pools: the same signals matter. Only their weight changes, like salary with a cap or age in a keeper pool.