Five goalie rules that will save your season

Goalies are the most volatile players in fantasy hockey, and the managers who do well with them tend to follow a few plain rules. First, buy workload before you buy talent. A good goalie who starts most nights will outscore a great one sharing the net.

Second, check the schedule before you set your lineup. Back-to-back games are the most common reason a starter sits, and a little planning can spare you a wasted slot. Third, keep an eye on the team in front of him. Connor Hellebuyck, Jake Oettinger and Andrei Vasilevskiy all earn trust through their own play, but a strong defensive structure makes that trust easier to keep.

Finally, do not panic over one bad week, and do not fall in love with one great one. The position runs hot and cold more than any other. Patience usually wins, and the best deals often come from managers who lose theirs first.