Tonight's starting goalies - Nov 9, 2008

I remember when Kari Lehtonen was the next great Finish goaltender. With the emergence of Miika Kiprusoff in the 2004 playoffs and Vesa Toskala in San Jose and Antero Niittymaki winning the Calder Cup MVP, the Finnish goaltender had replaced the Quebec goaltender as the next fad.

When Lehtonen was drafted 2nd overall in 2002 they hype had him projected as the next superstar goaltender, being Finnish just intensified the hype. When he made his 4 game debut in 2004 those in the know rushed to the waiver wire to acquire his rights.
A chance to acquire the next great goaltender for nothing? In a keeper league this was a golden opportunity. 4 games, 5 goals against and a shutout and the hype had intensified.

Lehtonen followed that debut with an outstanding performance during the 2005 AHL season with the Wolves. With the return of NHL hockey he was handed the Thrashers number one job and immediately injured his groin in the first game of the season. Upon his return his performance was not as dynamic as his debut but a solid rookie performance was once again undermined by a late season ankle injury. At this point the injuries were overlooked and Lehtonen looked to be a fixture in goal on a rising Thrashers squad. In a keeper league he remained a hot commodity.

For all the patient owners Lehtonen rewarded them with 34 wins and a .912 SV%. His goals against average was in the high two's, but he had finally begun to scratch the surface on his TUP (tremendous upside potential).

Well, the next season the injury bug raised it's ugly head again and the disastrous move of trading Braydon Coburn for Alexei Zhitnik and the loss of Marian Hossa wiped the lustre of the potential powerhouse in Atlanta. So now Lehtonen owners were left with a charter member of the Marian Havorik All-Stars on a team that was closer to the lottery than the playoffs, a far cry from the potential All-Star on the Cup contender.

Now 14 games into the 2009 season Lehtonen has already hit the IL and has Ondrej Pavelec nipping on his heels. So the big question is, can Lehtonen ever reach that untapped potential or was he the product of Justin Pogge type hype?

My guess would be a change of scenery is the most likely scenario to recessitate his career, and your only option if you are a Lehtonen owner is to hold onto him until he can regain some of his previous lofty ranking. Anything outside trading him to a Thrashers fan will most likely result in you getting burnt.

With thanks to the Goalie Post, on to tonight's starters.

Atlanta Thrashers @ Carolina Hurricanes

K. Lehtonen (vs Hurricanes, 3-9-1, 3.87 GAA, .880 SV%) probable

C. Ward (vs Thrashers, 10-4-2, 3.33 GAA, .887 SV%) probable

Following the 2006 season these two goalies could have returned you a boatload in trade. Today? Essentially nothing.

Calgary Flames @ Chicago Blackhawks

M. Kiprusoff (vs Hawks, 8-4-3, 2.23 GAA, .923 SV%) likely

C. Huet (vs Flames, 1-4-1, 2.96 GAA, .890 SV%)) firm

You think this is what Cristobal Huet had in mind when he left Washington? You have to love professional sports. The Capitals are happy as hell with Huet after his strong stretch run last season, Huet is happy with being the undisputed starter in DC, and the Caps lowball him, Huet goes looking for the money and now they are both unhappy.

Edmonton Oilers @ New Jersey Devils

D. Roloson (vs Devils, 0-6-2, 2.97 GAA, .889 SV%) probable

K. Weekes (vs Oilers, 1-2-0, 3.62 GAA, .880 SV%) probable

The battle of the journeymen, how exciting.

San Jose Sharks @ Phoenix Coyotes

B. Boucher (vs Coyotes, 1-2-2, 3.95 GAA, .870 SV%) probable

I. Bryzgalov (vs Shark, 5-4-1, 2.35 GAA, .922 SV%)) firm

Boucher seems to have caught fire again, ride him while he is hot, because when he cools down, he cools all the way down to Worcester.

Florida Panthers @ Anaheim Ducks

C. Anderson (vs Ducks, 0-2-0, 3.55 GAA, .863 SV%) probable

JS Giguere (vs Panthers, 4-3-1, 2.73 GAA, .911 SV%) probable

Tonight's starting goalies - Nov 7, 2008

Justin Pogge, Jeff Glass, Stephane Fiset, Trevor Kidd, Manny Legace, Jamie Storr, Marc Denis and Steve Mason.

Jimmy Waite, Jose Theodore, Roberto Luongo and Carey Price.

After watching 20 years of World Junior tournaments those are the goalies who either backstopped a Gold medal squad, or were so outstanding that their performances left a permanent mark on my brain, there is a possibility the mark may have been caused by alcohol abuse, but I am not a doctor.

With the debut of one World Junior stiff replacing another, I thought I would caution all you keeper league junkies "Don't Believe the Hype". For 20 years Canada has trumpeted the Team Canada starter as a future star and rarely if every does this occur. From the TSN coverage you would have believed that Justin Pogge, Marc Denis and Stephane Fiset were the next Patrick Roy, when nothing could have been further from the truth. One longs for the days when CBC used to cover the tournament and misidentify Dale Craigwell for Tony McKegney.

It is easy to see greatness in goaltenders playing behind defenses made up of players like Dion Phaneuf, Chris Pronger, Braydon Coburn etc. With the amount of TV revenue on the line TSN has turned this tournament into a personal showcase for whoever Pierre Maguire has a hard on for at that moment. His man love for these teenage boys would be considered illegal in 49 US states (California excluded). But the bubble that exists during the last two weeks of December is not reality.

How many of the first list of goaltenders have actually become NHL stars? Zero. Steve Mason will be no different.

This brings me to the second list. The four goalies listed in the second group put on four of the greatest performances I have ever witnessed in that tournament. I do not know wether Jimmy Waite caught lightning in a bottle but he was unbelievable in 1988 and was the player most responsible for that victory. He is the only player on the list who never became the star that I though he would be. Waite enjoyed a great start to his pro career going 34-14-4 for the IHL's Indianapolis Ice, but was never able to replicate that success in the NHL. He never won more than 6 games in the NHL and never realized the potential he showed for those 2 weeks in 1987-88.

Jose Theodore was also spectacular between the pipes during the 1996 tournament but was overshadowed by Jarome Iginla. The 1996 team was a team short on star power, but those two put the team on their shoulders and carried Canada to it's 4th straight gold medal. You can tell in the World Junior tournament when a goalie is playing on a level above the competition and Theo was the first one to reach that level since Waite. His star rose to supernova but burnt out just as quickly after the 2002 MVP campaign.

In 1999 Roberto Luongo put on the greatest performance by a Canadian goalie that I have ever seen. Luongo dragged Canada to the finals and was unbelievable in the final game as Canada was outshot 40-18. The Russians needed OT to capture the Gold medal. That performance screamed future star. Unfortunately Mike Milbury was wining and dining Rick Dipietro's mom and preparing to give Luongo away for 25 cents on the dollar. How does this guy have a job again? But I digress. Luongo struggled initially in his first stint in the NHL, but eventually developed into the dominant goaltender he had shown during that 99 tournament.

The 2007 tournament was dominated by Carey Price. In 6 games Price finished 6-0 with a 1.14 GAA while registering 2 shutouts. A phenomenal 5 on 3 kill against the US in the 3rd period and the legendary Canada/US shootout helped Price (with help from Toews) capture the Tourney MVP. His individual performance was only outdone by Luongo. From there Price won the CHL goaltender of the year, the Jack Butterfield trophy (Calder Cup MVP) and made the jump to the NHL at the age of 20.

Steve Mason is a solid goaltender who played on the powerhouse London Knights, and a Kitchener Ranger team that didn't even need him to get the Memorial Cup Final in 2008. The glow of the World Junior experience has yet to fade, but once it does, Mason will likely be exposed for the average NHL goalie he is. A Trevor Kidd, Manny Legace career is nothing to sneeze at, but for fantasy purposes, the hype will never match the performance.

updated @ 5:15pm

On to tonight's starters

Ottawa Senators @ Carolina Hurricanes

M. Gerber (vs Hurricanes, 6-3-0, 1.92 GAA, .936 SV%) firm

M. Leighton (vs Senators, 0-1-0, 6.00 GAA, .813 SV%) probable

Barburner in Carolina tonight. Two career backups, lots of redneck fans, gasoline prices declining....Hey Ma....BOOM!

Montreal Canadiens @ Columbus Blue Jackets

J. Halak (vs Jackets, 1-0-0, 2.01 GAA, .939 SV%) firm

S. Mason (vs Canadiens, 0-0-0) firm

After dissing Steve Mason this game is shaping up as Mason standing on his head and a general fuck you in my direction. Who am I kidding, nobody reads this.

Atlanta Thrashers @ Buffalo Sabres

J. Hedberg (vs Sabres, 8-2-1, 2.44 GAA, .922 SV%) firm

R. Miller (vs Thrashers, 6-2-2, 2.31 GAA, .921 SV%) probable

Keeper league alert, add Onedrej Pavelec, you may thank me later.

Dallas Stars @ Anaheim Ducks

M. Turco (vs Ducks, 17-8-6, 2.12 GAA, .919 SV%) probable

JS Giguere (vs Stars, 12-17-3, 2.76 GAA. .896 SV%) likely

Right about now Marty Turco is very happy with the Avery/Ott show as it is taking all the attention away from his shitty play. That being said, Turco can be had for a bargain basement price right now, seek out the impatient owners and steal away.

Tonight's starting goalies - Nov 5, 2008

With thanks to the Goalie Post.

I have been reading plenty of fantasy insight on the web that Chris Mason is a legit fantasy pickup because of Manny Legace's injury and his previous success in Nashville.

My advice. Why waste a move? Don't bother. It is wonderful to wax poetic about the fantastic season he enjoyed as a 31 year old nobody in 2007, but do not fall into the trap that the Nashville Predators did.

The 2007 Preds were a powerful team and Mason rode that to redemption, all the while playing with the knowledge that he was a backup.

Twice in his career he was handed the reigns by the Predators and both times he fell flat on his face.

Opportunity one came in 2006 when the Predators were a darkhorse candidate to win a Cup, Mason was less than spectacular in a 4-1 loss to the San Jose Sharks. The San Jose Sharks!! You can't register more than one win playing a team lead by the Tin Man Joe Thornton? Red Flag number one.

Opportunity two came in 2008 when incumbent netminder Tomas Vokoun was dealt to the Florida Panthers and Mason was handed the starting job. Well 18 wins in 45 starts and a sub .900 SV% followed and he lost his starting job to career backup Dan Ellis. Red Flag number two.

Now Manny Legace trips over the red carpet trying to look up Sarah Palin's skirt and people are expecting Mason to run with the ball again? I doubt it. The Blues are a team who are making positive strides towards respectability, but they are not good enough to carry this journeyman.

On to tonight's starters

Tampa Bay Lightning @ New Jersey Devils

M. Smith (vs Devils, 0-0-0) firm

K. Weekes (vs Lightning, 3-3-2, 2.35 GAA, .918 SV%) probable

I honestly never believed I would live to see a black president (kudos to the USA), and I never thought I would see Kevin Weekes as the starter of the New Jersey Devils in 2009. Putting those two longshots together equals GUARANTEED WIN NIGHT in Newark tonight.

Edmonton Oilers @ Columbus Blue Jackets

M. Garon (vs Jackets, 6-1-2, 2.31 GAA, .926 SV%) probable

F. Norrena (vs Oilers, 1-2-0, 1.96 GAA, .914 SV%) probable

One wonders when the ugly bastard is going to be back? I guess the lesson learned is never choose ugly players in your fantasy draft. I know, you wouldn't have Evgeni Malkin or Pavel Datsyuk, but I can live with that if you can.

St. Louis Blues @ Anaheim Ducks

C. Mason (vs Ducks, 1-3-0, 2.60 GAA, .899 SV%) firm

J. Hiller (vs Blues, 0-0-0) probable

Giguere is a possibility after posting a shutout last night.

Tonight's starting goalies - Nov 3, 2008

The Devils have to help Kevin Weekes up from the shock that he is getting the start tonight.

With Fatso's elbow injury the Devils required Kevin Weekes to comeback from his 12 month vacation. Nothing is confirmed about Brodeur's injury status, but their is a possibility that Brodeur sits a couple.

With thanks to the Goalie Post.

Buffalo Sabres @ New Jersey Devils

R. Miller (vs Devils, 3-6-3, 2.52 GAA, .912 SV%) probable

K. Weekes (vs Sabres, 5-10-2, 3.37 GAA, .883SV%) firm

Scott Clemmensen has been recalled to backup Weekes. Is it just me or do all New Jersey backups know something other NHL goalies don't? Corey Schwab goes to Tampa, Vancouver and Toronto trying to become a starting goaltender and then says screw it and goes back to the cushy vacation known as the New Jersey Devils backup. Then Clemmensen leaves the swamp for Toronto where they have the audacity to play him 40+ times and he heads straight back to Jersey where he knows there is no playing time. Why? Because it is one of the greatest jobs in professional sports. Clemmensen is probably happy to battle Weekes for his front row seat in the NHL and regrets leaving for Toronto two seasons ago.

Columbus Blue Jackets @ NY Islanders

F. Norrena (vs Islanders, 0-1-0, 4.00 GAA, .826 SV%) probable

J. MacDonald (vs Blue Jackets, 0-0-0) probable

Joey MacDonald is back in as the starter as Yann Danis flamed out in his first NHL start in three years. Watching the Isles hang out Danis to dry in the the third, I had to feel for the kid.

The Garth Snow 15 year rebuilding plan is right on pace, just as Dipietro's contract comes off the books the Isles will be ready to compete for a Stanley Cup again.

Colorado Avalanche @ Chicago Blackhawks

P. Budaj (vs Blackhawks, 3-0-1, 2.05 GAA, .926 SV%) firm

N. Khabibulin (vs Avalanche, 10-16-1, 3.05 GAA, .899 SV%) firm

Wow, that Cristobal Huet was a great signing. Nice work Dale Tallon. Not often in a cap era do we get to witness a $12M goaltending tandem.