Crashing the Crease: Life in the Blue Paint

While this column is usually focused on short-term insight, looking at things from a broader perspective is also important in order to get the full picture. With the All-Star break now behind us, most teams have about 30 games left to play. Here are three potential risers and fallers to look for in the season's final stretch:

Risers:

Braden Holtby doesn't have much room for ascent, but he could end up rising all the way to the top of the goalie charts by season's end. He trails just Devan Dubnyk and the injured Jimmy Howard in both GAA and save percentage, and is within striking distance of league wins leader Sergei Bobrovsky. If the Capitals end up claiming their second consecutive President's Trophy over Bobrovsky's Blue Jackets, Holtby could well end up rising to the top of the heap among NHL netminders.

Thomas Greiss has been coming on for a while now, and his meteoric rise should continue for the rest of the campaign. He may even be able to dig the Islanders out of their early-season hole and into a playoff spot while continuing to receive a heavy workload with Jaroslav Halak toiling away at AHL Bridgeport. Even if Greiss fails to lead his team to a playoff berth, those who picked him up prior to or during his current stretch of allowing two or fewer goals in 12 of the past 14 games have a serious fantasy asset on their hands.

John Gibson faltered last week due to an upper-body injury, but his outlook for the rest of the season is still a positive one. The 23-year-old netminder has led Anaheim to points in 14 of his past 17 starts, and has now tied his career save percentage mark at .919 despite getting off to a slow start. Expect Gibson's 2.32 GAA to drop closer to his career 2.25 mark as he continues to rack up points for the surging Ducks.

Fallers:

Cam Ward has given all he can, but fatigue coupled with playing in the toughest division in hockey are likely to lead to a continued decline for the 32-year-old veteran. He's on pace to start 70 games, which shouldn't be surprising considering he started 21 consecutively at one point while backup Eddie Lack was dealing with concussions. Ward allowed 21 goals in a four-game stretch that included his final three appearances of that streak, and continued inflated numbers shouldn't come as a surprise considering the last time he played in more than 52 games was 2011-12.

Peter Budaj has been fantastic for the Kings, but it's fair to wonder whether the Slovakian veteran can keep it up after winning just 44 of 115 appearances between the 2009-10 and 2015-16 seasons. Fatigue could become an issue for the 34-year-old and push his GAA and save percentage closer to his career averages of 2.67 and .905, respectively. Plus, Jonathan Quick is supposed to return in early March -- just in time to cut into Budaj's workload in the fantasy playoffs.

Jared Coreau has done well to seize the majority of starts for the Red Wings with Petr Mrazek struggling, but the rookie's time in the limelight appears to be drawing to a close with Jimmy Howard (knee) back to practicing. Once Howard knocks off the rust with AHL Grand Rapids, he'll quickly be offered an opportunity to maintain the 1.96 GAA and .934 save percentage he had going through 17 appearances. Coreau may not even stick with the big club at that point.

Now for your more traditional top performers, three risers, and three fallers:

Top Performers

Frederik Andersen, TOR - Andersen posted shutouts in consecutive starts heading into the All-Star break, then quickly gave up three goals on eight shots against the Stars before being pulled. Still, three goals allowed in over six periods is a terrific stretch, and the shutouts helped provide extra value in many formats. Tending goal for the young Maple Leafs isn't always easy, but Andersen has largely done a terrific job in his first season with Toronto.

Mike Smith, ARI - If you only looked at Smith's final three appearances heading into the weekend, you would believe the veteran actually deserved his All-Star berth. Over that span, Smith beat the Lightning, Panthers and Canucks while allowing just five goals on 92 shots for a .946 save percentage. His winning streak was halted by the Kings on Tuesday, but Smith was once again excellent in allowing just three goals on 40 shots. While this recent run is encouraging, owners should remain wary given his 2.85 GAA for the defensively challenged Coyotes.

Cam Talbot, EDM - Talbot came into Tuesday's clash with the Wild with a 6-0-1 record, 1.37 GAA and .950 save percentage over his past seven games. He ended up getting pulled after surrendering four goals on 19 shots to the league's fourth best offense, but nonetheless remains one of the hottest goaltenders in the league. Don't let one poor performance betray your trust in Talbot as his career-best season continues.

Three Rising

Steve Mason, PHI - Mason stopped 70 of 72 shots to beat the Islanders and Rangers in his last two starts before the break, marking a major turnaround after failing to win any of his previous 10 appearances. While he got right back to his losing ways by allowing five goals to Carolina on Tuesday, it's tough to blame Mason for the loss given that the team in front of him managed to generate just 16 shots while giving up 28.

James Reimer, FLA - Reimer was a winner on two fronts over the past week, stopping 31 of 32 shots to beat the Lightning last Thursday before experiencing the birth of his first child Tuesday. He was in line to start a second consecutive game prior to leaving the team to be with his wife, as well. If he returns in similar form, the former Maple Leaf could cut further into Roberto Luongo's playing time.

Andrei Vasilevskiy, TAM - Vasilevskiy has won just one of four starts since Ben Bishop returned from a lower-body injury, but he has held opponents to exactly two goals in each contest while posting a .940 save percentage when you factor in a short relief appearance. The 16th-ranked Lightning offense is unlikely to keep letting its netminder down, so expect the wins to start pouring in before long. Even if they don't, just be happy Vasilevskiy is over the preceding stretch that saw him surrender 31 goals in his previous eight appearances.

Three Falling

Ben Bishop, TAM - Vasilevskiy's aforementioned improvement is bad news for Bishop, who has been struggling of late. While the veteran got the call Tuesday against the Bruins, he ended up allowing four goals en route to his third consecutive loss. After letting nine of 52 shots get by him over his past two starts, Bishop seems unlikely to improve on his 2.83 GAA and .904 save percentage any time soon.

John Gibson, ANA - An upper-body injury suffered on Jan. 21 really slowed Gibson's roll following a 7-1-1 stretch. He left after facing just five shots that night, then missed a start before allowing four goals on 23 shots to the Oilers heading into the All-Star break. While he did manage to hold Colorado's league-worst offense to one goal Tuesday, Gibson will have to deliver against stiffer competition before it's safe to proclaim him back to normal.

Cory Schneider, NJD - Schneider finally got his first win since Jan. 17 on Tuesday, but he shouldn't exactly be commended for surrendering three goals to the 25th-ranked Red Wings offense. While he was lucky to pull out this 4-3 victory thanks to the Devils scoring a week's worth of goals, Schneider has still allowed opponents to light the lamp six times on 42 shots in his past two starts. With the league's 28th-ranked offense in front of him, the American netminder is going to continue having trouble getting into the win column consistently.