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Any starting goalie worth anything in fantasy hockey has long been owned in any sort of competitive league. Many others may be routinely streamed, but they are rarely used in consecutive appearances by the same owner, leaving them available to be scooped up at any moment by a competing owner.

When it comes to maximizing statistical value, goaltender requires more research and preparation than any other fantasy position. Fantasy hockey leagues will vary depending on the customization preferences of the commissioner but the standard format sees the playoffs take place over a three-week stretch commencing Monday, March 13 and concluding Sunday, April 2.

Here is a breakdown of when owners can expect teams to turn to their backups during the fantasy playoffs and a look at which valuable goaltenders may be worth an immediate stash. Even if these goalies are never used, it's better to have the option in the event of needing one final win or a shutout to win either category.

All but four NHL teams will play at least one back-to-back during the three-week stretch of the fantasy playoffs. Fourteen teams will play two back-to-backs and one club, the New York Rangers, will play three. Thirteen teams will play at least one back-to-back during the championship week, with only the Carolina Hurricanes twice playing on consecutive days in the final week.

The following chart looks at the each team's second opponent, where the backup goalie would be most likely to play. xGF60 is the team's expected goals for rate per 60 minutes. All three stats are considered at 5v5 and all stats are courtesy of Corsica.Hockey:

The most ideal opponents for streaming against will be on the road, have a moderately high SOG/G and low GF/60 and xGF/60. Favor a xGF60 lower than a GF60.

With this in mind, we can focus in on ANA, DET, MIN, NJ and SJ for our streaming goaltenders.

Of the five backups, all but Bernier should be expected to play twice during the fantasy playoffs - at minimum - due to back-to-backs. Dell's meeting with the Calgary Flames, while on the road, offers the highest likely save total. Dell will have two other back-to-back opportunities, also playing the Minnesota Wild and Nashville Predators - both on the road - in the semi-final week.

Dell is owned in under 10 percent of leagues. He has an all-situation save percentage of .935, a goals against average of 1.88 and a record of 8-3-1 in 11 starts and 13 appearances this season. The Sharks failed to upgrade at backup goaltender at the NHL trade deadline, but Dell will serve them, and fantasy owners, just fine.

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Guy Boucher had a message for the haters after Alex Burrows' memorable debut with the Ottawa Senators.

"I wonder what people think of the trade now," the Senators head coach quipped to TSN 1200 after Burrows provided all of Ottawa's offense in a 2-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night.

Watch: Burrows snipes 2nd of the game

The new acquisition's impact on his teammates was apparently immediate.

"What I like about Alex is already on the bench, he was already starting to do his thing," Boucher said.

"He blocks shots, he had some huge hits, he's just a relentless guy and everything he does he does with everything he's got and that's contagious. That's exactly what we needed, that's what we wanted to have with our top-end players ... so we're more than excited to have him here."

The Senators took a beating on social media after giving up talented prospect Jonathan Dahlen in the trade that landed them Burrows from the Vancouver Canucks on Monday, then took even more heat for signing the 35-year-old forward to a two-year contract extension shortly thereafter.

It's only one game, and it shouldn't silence the scrutiny, but Burrows certainly made a statement in his first time playing for a different team in his 12-year career.

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LOS ANGELES - Kings captain Anze Kopitar snapped a 13-game goal drought in regulation and scored again in the shootout, leading Los Angeles back from a two-goal deficit in the third period for a 3-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday night.

Kopitar and Tanner Pearson scored early in the third to tie it for the Kings, who opened a seven-game homestand with a key win for their playoff hopes.

Jonathan Quick stopped 29 shots and denied all three Maple Leafs players in the shootout, propelling Los Angeles to its first shootout victory in four tries since Oct. 22.

Tyler Bozak and Nikita Zaitsev scored early goals for the Maple Leafs, losers of four straight. Toronto also fell to 1-8 in shootouts this season.

Jarome Iginla played nearly 16 minutes in his debut with the Kings, who acquired the 39-year-old veteran from Colorado at the trade deadline on Wednesday. Wearing a black No. 88 jersey, Iginla got a warm reception from the sellout crowd at Staples Center.

Frederik Andersen made 33 saves in his first trip back to Southern California since the Anaheim Ducks traded him to Toronto in the offseason.

The Kings opened a seven-game homestand that could determine whether they miss the postseason for the second time in three seasons since winning their second Stanley Cup title in 2014. Los Angeles began the night one point behind St. Louis for the second wild card in the Western Conference.

Bozak put the Maple Leafs ahead early in the first period, capitalizing on a fortunate rebound for his 15th goal. He has five 15-goal seasons during his eight-year career in Toronto.

Zaitsev then scored on a long shot through traffic in the second period after Brian Boyle won a faceoff. The Russian defenseman might have received a fortunate deflection to beat Quick, who appeared to be badly screened.

After 93 minutes of play without a goal, the Kings' scoring struggles ended when Kopitar's shot hit Zaitsev in the helmet and bounced past Andersen during a power play. Almost incredibly, Kopitar didn't score a goal in February.

Pearson tied it 90 seconds later with his 22nd goal, nimbly keeping the puck away from Andersen's poke-check and sliding it under the Danish goalie.

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Sorry Nikita Zaitsev, but stuck in the midst of a down year, Anze Kopitar will take 'em any way he can get 'em.

On a third period power play Thursday night, the Los Angeles Kings captain let a one-timer loose that was tracking well wide, until a deflection off Zaitsev's head pushed it right into the open goal.

The bizarre marker was Kopitar's seventh of the season.

(Video Courtesy: NHL.com)

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It wasn't just an ordinary game for P.K. Subban.

The charismatic blue-liner, playing in the Bell Centre for the first time in Nashville Predators colors, was the story all night long, and was put front and center prior to Thursday's puck drop with a touching video tribute.

In the months since the Montreal Canadiens shipped him of town, speculation's swirled as to why Subban, clearly a fan favorite, didn't fit in the their future plans. Still, despite his shocking exit, Subban was moved by his so-called homecoming.

"It's a first-class organization, so I'd expect nothing less," Subban told reporters postgame.

He was visibly overcome with emotion after the tribute, shedding tears while saluting his former home crowd.

"All those memories come back, whether it's stuff to do with the hospital or kids, family, teammates, whatever it is," Subban said. "I felt that I shared that with all the fans and the community here, I guess that's how it all came out."

Subban managed an assist on the Predators' lone goal in the 2-1 loss.

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Sergei Bobrovsky hit a new personal best with a perfect game against the Minnesota Wild on Thursday.

The Columbus Blue Jackets netminder turned away all 38 shots thrown his way to pick up his fourth shutout and 33rd win of the season, beating his previous mark of 32, set during the 2013-14 season.

He also tied Braden Holtby to move within one win of Devan Dubnyk - who occupied the opposing net Thursday - for the league lead in wins.

With 33 down and another 20 games left, he appears well on his way to obliterating his previous record.

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Bruce Boudreau was not terribly pleased with the officiating in the Minnesota Wild's narrow 1-0 defeat to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night.

The Wild bench boss was still livid postgame over an Erik Haula goal that was overturned after Haula was deemed to have kicked the puck in.

Boudreau also sounded off on Martin Hanzal's elbowing penalty on Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, which came with just under 1:30 left in regulation.

Boudreau might have a case:

"In a game where two teams worked their butts off that are two of the top teams in the league and you end up losing on bad calls," Boudreau said, according to Michael Russo of the Star Tribune.

Luckily for Boudreau and his Wild, the team has still gone 6-3-1 in its last 10 games and remains in first place in the Western Conference.

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BOSTON - Henrik Lundqvist made 32 saves on his 35th birthday and the New York Rangers got third period goals from Pavel Buchnevich and Oscar Lindberg to beat the Boston Bruins 2-1 on Thursday night.

New York, which has beaten Boston five straight times, outscored the Bruins 12-5 while sweeping the three-game season series.

Lundqvist stymied the Bruins on several outstanding chances and improved to 25-12-2 against Boston with a 1.93 goals-against average. He earned his 403rd NHL win, tying Grant Fuhr for 10th on the career list.

Brad Marchand scored his team-leading 29th goal for the Bruins to cut it to 2-1 at 12:56 of the third. David Backes just about extinguished any final hopes for Boston when he was whistled for goaltender interference with 2:22 remaining.

Buchnevich, called up from the minors earlier in the day, wristed a shot over goalie Tuukka Rask's left shoulder to put the Rangers ahead. Lindberg scored 4:25 later to make it 2-0 at 9:35 of the third.

Marchand tipped in a pass from David Pastrnak.

Rask made 19 saves for Boston, which lost for the second time in nine games.

NOTES: New York has won 11 of 13 on the road and leads the NHL with 22 road wins. ... The Rangers are 1 for 33 on the power play over the last 12 games. ... New York swept the season series from Boston for the first time since 2006-07. ... Marchand has 24 points over the last 15 games. ... Rangers forward Derek Stepan hasn't scored in 19 games. . Boston was held under two goals for the first time in 14 games.

UP NEXT

Rangers: Host the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.

Bruins: Host the New Jersey Devils on Saturday.

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