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.

Tonight's starting goalies - Nov 1, 2008

With thanks to the Goalie Post.

Tonight in Long Island is a real revenge game.

Yann Danis gets a chance to show his first professional team that they made a mistake in pushing him down the depth chart.

It was only three seasons ago that Danis was tabbed as Jose Theodore's backup in Montreal. Danis started his career with a 2-0 shutout over the Atlanta Thrashers and won 3 of his first 4 starts.

His respectable numbers in his initial NHL foray were virtually forgotten in Montreal with the rapid ascension of Cristobal Huet. With Huet in the fold Danis was sent down to Hamilton and with the acquisition and resigning of David Aebischer was limited to being the number one starter in Steel town.

After a relatively strong campaign in Hamilton, he had been slightly overshadowed by the emergence of Jaroslav Halak. With Halak's recall to Montreal and for a failed playoff run Danis assumed he was to be the starter again. But that was not in Bob Gainey's plan. Upon the elimination of the Tri City Americans, Carey Price was flown in and handed the starter's role and subsequently lead the Bulldogs to a Calder Cup Championship.

As Price flew to the top of the depth chart Danis saw himself passed again by Cedric Desjardins and saw the writing on the wall. Danis left this season for greener pastures in Long Island and the Islanders are going to give him a chance to show the Canadiens what they passed on tonight at Nassau Coliseum. It will be interesting to see if he can raise his level to show up the Habs tonight.

On to tonight's games

Edmonton Oilers @ Carolina Hurricanes

M. Garon (vs Hurricanes, 1-2-0, 3.14 GAA, .898 SV%) probable

C. Ward (vs Oilers, 1-1-0, 2.53 GAA, .881 SV%) likely

Dallas Stars @ Boston Bruins

M. Turco (vs Bruins, 4-1-0, 0.79 GAA, .968 SV%) firm

T. Thomas (vs Stars, 0-0-1, 0.94 GAA, .974 SV%) firm

Washington Capitals @ Buffalo Sabres

J. Theodore (vs Sabres, 7-11-1, 2.82 GAA, .898 SV%) likely

R. Miller (vs Capitals, 7-2-0, 2.76 GAA, .900 SV%) probable

NY Rangers @ Toronto Maple Leafs

S. Valiquette (vs Maple Leafs, 3-0-0, 1.29 GAA, .950 SV%) firm

V. Toskala (vs NY Rangers, 2-0-3, 1.34 GAA, .953 SV%) probable

Atlanta Thrasher @ New Jersey Devils

K. Lehtonen (vs Devils, 4-3-0, 3.23 GAA, .911 SV%) probable

M. Brodeur (vs Thrashers, 17-6-8, 2.06 GAA, .913 SV%) likely

Montreal Canadiens @ NY Islanders

C. Price (vs Islanders, 0-0-0) firm

Y. Danis (vs Canadiens, 0-0-0) likely

Chicago Blackhawks @ Columbus Blue Jackets

C. Huet (vs Jackets, 1-1-0, 1.97 GAA, .907 SV%) probable

F. Norrena (vs Hawks, 4-5-1, 3.69 GAA, .865 SV%) probable

Ottawa Senators @ Tampa Bay Lightning

A. Auld (vs Lightning, 2-1-0, 3.34 GAA, .881 SV%) firm

M. Smith (vs Senators, 0-1-0, 3.10 GAA, .842 SV%) likely

Florida Panthers @ Nashville Predators

C. Anderson (vs Predators, 2-2-1, 2.83 GAA, .896 SV%) firm

D. Ellis (vs Panthers, 1-0-0, 3.01 GAA, .889 SV%) probable

Pittsburgh Penguins @ St. Louis Blues

M. Fleury (vs Blues, 0-2-0, 3.52 GAA, .906 SV%) probable

C. Mason (vs Penguins, 0-1-0, 3.03 GAA, .880 SV%) firm

Minnesota Wild @ Phoenix Coyotes

N. Backstrom (vs Coyotes, 6-0-0, 1.17 GAA, .963 SV%) probable

I. Bryzgalov (vs Wild, 0-4-0, 3.33 GAA, .890 SV%) likely

Calgary Flames @ LA Kings

M. Kiprusoff (vs Kings, 9-5-1, 2.59 GAA, .907 SV%) probable

J. Labarbera (vs Flames, 2-3-0, 3.19 GAA, .908 SV%) firm

Tonight's starting goalies - Oct 31, 2008

With thanks to the Goalie Post.

Yesterday I thought it would be a good idea to upgrade the Fantasy Starters post with some relevant info. Adding career performances like win/loss record and goals against average and save percentage would surely provide an edge for starting decisions right?

Well Ryan Miller and his 11-1 career record against the Lightning was on the bench before the second period was completed, Evgeni Nabokov and his 5-13-1 record against Detroit was also quashed in a 4-2 San Jose victory.

Maybe I will start posting goalie W/L records on Thursday nights, facing a team with a goaltender whose name starts with O. That might be the edge you need.

I will continue to provide you with information, sooner or later it will pan out. If it doesn't, I am wasting endless hours writing stupid hockey information to myself. Surely there are other things I can be doing.

On to tonight's starters

Dallas Stars @ Chicago Blackhawks

M. Turco (vs Blackhawks, 14-2-1, 1.78 GAA, .925 SV%) probable

N. Khabibulin (vs Stars, 13-14-2, 2.80 GAA, .902 SV%) probable

Once again the stats say go with Turco. But the stats have also said that Roman Cechmanek was one of the greatest goalies in the NHL in the early 2000s. Anybody who has seen him play understands that this is like saying the Maple Leafs must be a great organization because they have the second most Stanley Cups. Notice how the picture is in black and white and the parade route was drawn up on parchment. See this picture here. This was two years away!

Vancouver Canucks @ Anaheim Ducks

R. Luongo (vs Ducks, 6-6-0, 2.20 GAA, .925 SV%) probable

JS. Giguere (vs Canucks, 9-9-3, 2.69 GAA, .906 SV%) probable

I own Luongo in my pool and this guy has been so inconsistent that I am afraid to start him. That is not a sign of an elite fantasy goalie, is it? I am positive that he will rebound and finish with a strong season, but as of today he is not a top 5 fantasy goalie delivering the goods.

Happy Halloween! And for those who don't know, that is Gary Bromley. One of the shitiest goalies in NHL history, but what a great mask!! You can't be that good when Rob Lowe can ankleburn his way to owning you in a shootout!

Tonight's starting goalies - Oct 30, 2008

With thanks to the Goalie Post.

Updated @ 4:24pm

Tampa Bay Lightning @ Buffalo Sabres

O. Kolzig (vs Sabres 15-15-2, 2.55 GAA, .907 SV%) firm

R. Miller (vs Lightning 11-1-0, 2.47 GAA, .914 SV%) firm

The renaissance in Buffalo continues. Miller has returned to his form of 2005-2007 and with the youth of the Sabres stepping up to replace the void of Drury and Briere, Miller is a good bet to continue to be a Top Ten goaltending option. Looking at his career stats vs. the Bolts, Miller screams start tonight.

Atlanta Thrashers @ NY Rangers

K. Lehtonen (vs Rangers 4-2-0, 2.83 GAA, .913 SV%) probable

H. Lundqvist (vs Atlanta 4-2-4, 2.18 GAA, .916 SV%) firm

Lundqvist against Lehtonen in the big apple tonight. Three years ago Lehtonen looked like the future superstar and the player with the Tremendous Upside Potential (TUP), Lundqvist was an afterthought. Three years later and when people mention King Henrik the discussion turns to Vezina nominations, when people refer to Lehtonen the discussion turns to groins. Megan Fox's groin area is an acceptable conversation, Keri Lehtonen's....not so much.

NY Islanders @ Philadelphia Flyers

J. MacDonald (vs Flyers 0-3-0, 4.36 GAA, .851 SV%) likely

M. Biron (vs Islanders 14-4-1, 1.92 GAA, .932 SV%) probable

You think Charles Wang has nightmares of the 2000 Draft? Mike Milbury with the option to keep Luongo and Jokinen and draft Dany Heatley, decided to draft Dipietro and acquire Oleg Kvasha and Mark Parrish for them instead? Personally I think when Charles Wang watches Hockey Night in Canada and sees Mike Milbury talking, he thinks, "who is that guy? He would probably make a great general manager, unfortunately I just hired my backup goaltender and we don't need one". I am still waiting for Garth Snow and his "Mike Bossy is not coming through that door, Denis Potvin is not coming through that door, Billy Smith etc etc speech"

Now that is enterntainment!

Ottawa Senators @ Florida Panthers

A. Auld (vs Panthers 1-0-1, 1.20 GAA, .961 SV%) Firm

T. Vokoun (vs Senators 2-5-0, 3.68 GAA, .897 SV%) Firm

Does this game count as a revenge game? It is Auld's former team. I guess you would have a busy schedule of revenge games if you were a journeyman backup who seems to have played for everyone. Let's call it a revenge game that ranks extremely low on the Vengeance Scale.

Edmonton Oilers @ Nashville Predators

M. Garon (vs Predators 2-5-1, 4.20 GAA, .839 SV%) firm

P. Rinne (vs Oilers 0-0-0) likely

You have to figure that NHL GMs are exactly like any other walk of life. Some are smart, some are dumb. Some have earned it, some have politicked their way to it. Some are hardworking, some are lazy. Actually, I believe Mike Milbury is the proof of this theory. Anyways, I still think the Kings GM acquired Garon after ONE unbelievable performance by Garon against the Kings when he was with the Canadiens. Months later the Kings traded Huet and Radek Bonk for Garon and had little patience for him when he did not pull a Hasek out of his ass every night.

I will go to my grave believing this.

Montreal Canadiens @ Minnesota Wild

C. Price (vs Wild, 0-0-0) firm

J. Harding (vs Habs, 0-0-0) likely

In regards to my article on Backstrom yesterday....nevermind. That is one good thing about writing a blog nobody reads.

Carolina Hurricanes @ St. Louis Blues

C. Ward (vs Blues, 1-0-0, 2.00 GAA, .939 SV%) probable

C. Mason (vs Hurricanes, 1-0-0, 0.00 GAA, 1.000 SV%) firm

If Cam Ward played every single game against the Canadiens in his career this guy would be a first ballot Hall of Famer. I am convinced of this, otherwise. Meh

Columbus Blue Jackets @ Colorado Avalanche

F. Norrena (vs Avalanche, 3-2-0, 1.86 GAA, .933 SV%) firm

A. Raycroft (vs Blue Jackets, 1-0-0, 2.00 GAA, .920 SV%) firm

It must be a shock to hockey fans in Colorado to watch Raycroft and Budaj man the pipes on a nightly basis. I mean Colorado hockey is about great goaltending, Hardy Astrom, Doug Favell, Chico Resch, David Aebsicher, Marc Denis, Stephane Fiset, Tommy Salo, Jose Theodre and Patrick Roy. Let me rethink this one.

Boston Bruins @ Calgary Flames

T. Thomas (vs Flames, 0-0-0) likely

M. Kiprusoff (vs Bruins, 2-1-0, 1.67 GAA, .938 SV%) likely

Tim Thomas is on fire to start the season and has posted back to back shutouts, but I am far from sold. When a goalie is 34 years old and has never faced a 30+ year old franchise once in his career, I am a tad skeptical. Let's just say he is more Roman Cechmanek than Dominik Hasek.

Pittsburgh Penguins @ Phoenix Coyotes

M. Fleury (vs Coyotes, 1-0-0, 1.00 GAA, .944 SV%) likely

I. Bryzgalov (vs Penguins, 0-1-0, 3.09 GAA, .909 SV%) firm

Could this be the year that Fleury justifies his number one selection? I hope not. I am not a fan, maybe it stems from him scoring on his own net in the World Juniors, or his big teeth.

Vancouver Canucks @ LA Kings

R. Luongo (vs Kings, 5-5-0. 2.56 GAA, .913 SV%) probable

J. Labarbera (vs Canucks, 2-0-0, 2.51, .932 SV%) firm

This a big season for Luongo, we all know that he can stop the puck and put up big numbers, but when is he going to show that he is a winner on the level that he has been placed? Anything but 40+ wins this year will tarnish his image for me. He has been tossed into the conversation with names like Brodeur, Roy and Hasek with nowhere near the same track record. Time to get rid of the gino locks and play some hockey big guy. Can you tell I have him in the pool?

Detroit Red Wings @ San Jose Sharks

T. Conklin (vs Sharks, 1-1-2, 1.68 GAA, .936 SV%) firm

E. Nabokov (vs Wings, 5-13-1, 3.56 GAA, .885 SV%) probable

The hanging jersey against Nabokov tonight in San Jose. If you are starting Nabokov, you might want to go away, this one is not good for you!

Tonight's starting goalies - Oct 29, 2008

With thanks to the Goalie Post.

When the talk of elite fantasy goaltenders come to mind the names Luongo, Brodeur, Kiprusoff, Lundqvist. Nabokov, Turco and Fleury roll off the tongue.

But a 30 year old Finnish goaltender may be poised to make the leap.

Niklas Backstrom seems to always be in the second tier of goaltenders. Zero elite level seasons under his belt and the anonimity of playing in Finland until he was 28 has caused the fantasy faithful to ignore his exploits.

Well with Backstrom the undisputed starter on the undefeated Minnesota Wild things could change very quickly. Backstrom exploded on the scene in 2007 and lead the league in GAA and SV%. Backstrom enjoyed another strong season in 2008, but was a notch below his debut. His lack of Wins has probably been the cause of him being overlooked, but if given 70 starts in 2008 he would have been pushing 40 wins.

Last season's franchise record 33 wins will likely be surpassed with good health and the continued faith that Jacques Lemaire has shown in him this year. Backstrom is poised and plays a strong positional game. His economy of movement when combined with his quickness make like difficult for the Wild's opposition. With Lemaire's commitment to defense and Backstrom providing a strong last line of defense, a breakout season is likely.

On to today's starters

Toronto Maple Leafs @ New Jersey Devils

Curtis Joseph against always probable Martin Brodeur. Does Kevin Weekes have the greatest job or what? Playing shinny every day then travelling with an NHL team while sitting rinkside sounds like something I could get into.

Minnesota Wild @ Dallas Stars

Looks like Backstrom will face off against Turco. No confirmations.

Backstrom is 2-3-2 against the Stars in his career with a 2.26 GAA and a .916 SV%. Turco brings an 11-4-1 record against the Wild and has not lost to them since 2005-06. So the optimist says he is due for a loss and the pessimist believes Turco owns the Wild.

So with the optimist tonight.

Detroit Red Wings @ Anaheim Mighty Ducks

Osgood to face Giguere in the duck pond tonight. Osgood is 12-3-2 in his career against the Ducks, but so is Sam St-Laurent's practice jersey. St-Laurent is famous for being the last goalie to where the ghost mask in the NHL, he had to be famous for something and a career 3.50 GAA was not going to do it.

Tonight's starting goalies - Oct 28, 2008

I am back from my 3 day hiatus. As I get older a three day trip to Montreal gets harder to digest. I brought my laptop with me to Montreal fully intending to update the site, but let's just say that it was a tad optimistic.

I also have been distracted by my new job which began yesterday.

OK, no more excuses, I am back.

Once again with thanks to the Goalie Post.

Nashville Predators @ Washington Capitals

Dan Ellis is the probable against Brent Johnson. Wow, ten days into my blog and I have used all my good Theo material. I wish I could remember all the Theo jokes I was making when I was in the Montreal casino on Friday. It was a great Theo impersonation though, I got up big early and then crashed and burned.

Philadelphia Flyers @ Atlanta Thrashers

Anterro Niittymaki against probable Keri Lehtonen. Niittymaki gets the start tonight because he is 9-0 during his career against the Thrashers, he should be getting the start because he is the better goalie. There is a reason Biron was a backup for the first 10 years of his career.

Tampa Bay Lightning @ Toronto Maple Leafs

Mike Smith is the probable against Vesa Toskala in Toronto tonight. Is everybody still on "the Lightning are this years Flyers bandwagon"? I love how the media tries to identify the team from left field every summer, yet the reason the team comes from left field is because nobody could see them coming. Once again a team loads up on NAME players but did nothing to actually address their weaknesses. This was supposed to work how? and 1967!!!! I could not resist.

Carolina Hurricanes @ Montreal Canadiens

Cam Ward gets the nod against Carey Price. Pretty much a guarantee that Price would get the start after Halak's 4 goals on 12 shot performance on Saturday night.

Colorado Avalanche @ Calgary Flames

Probable's Peter Budaj against Miikka Kiprusoff. The Kipper has turned it around with three straight wins to ease the panic of his owners, but he was very up and down last season and I expect nothing different in 2009. If you own him, when he gets hot look to deal him.

Boston Bruins @ Vancouver Canucks

Manny Fernandez is the probable against Roberto Luongo. Luongo has been a disappointment to start the year. 3+ goals in every start except the season opener. But he is to good to give up on this early, a hot streak is probably right around the corner.

Pittsburgh Penguins @ San Jose Sharks

Danny Sabourin gets the nod against Mr. 82 games Evgeni Nabokov. Sabourin is very underrated and is great injury insurance for Fleury.

Tonight's starting goalies - Oct 24, 2008

With thanks to the Goalie Post.

I come to you this morning via Via rail Wi-Fi. It 8:00 AM and I have a scotch in one hand and a laptop in the other. On route to Montreal to take in the Ducks and Habs tomorrow night.

Apparently all you have to do to get served at 8:00 AM is ask for a drink, the steward then says he can't and proceeds to bring you your drink in a coffee cup. I LOVE VIA RAIL!!

Be kind if my thought process wanders, I am feeling pretty good. I'm about as useful as a pair of Britney Spears underwear right now.

Back to hockey.

Can somebody explain to me why the Senators still have no goaltending? Even fantasy sports have realized that you need elite goaltending to win a championship. There is a reason that roto leagues have 40% of their categories dedicated to goaltending and shutouts are worth 2-5 pts each. But for some reason John Muckler and Bryan Murray have decided that 200M wrapped up on their top line is more prudent then investing in an elite goaltender, or Zdeno Chara and Wade Redden.

The Maple Leafs overachieved in the Pat Quinn era mainly due to unbelievable goaltending. Curtis Joseph and Ed Belfour help to mask plenty of the Leafs deficincies in the early millenium. Yet year after year the Sens would trot out Tom Barrasso and Patrick Lalime and lose series after series to an inferior team. Well this humiliation would certainly get the point across right? Uh, not exactly.

The Sens spent their entire Stanley Cup window trying to win the Stanley Cup with suspect goaltending. A scouting staff that stocked it's team with great players like Marian Hossa, Daniel Alfreddson, Jason Spezza, Zdeno Chara, Pavol Demitra and Wade Reddon, yet was totally incompetent in providing a reliable goaltender.

Immortals Damian Rhodes, Ron Tugnutt, Peter Sidorkiewicz, Patrick Lalime, Jani Hurme, Don Beaupre, Ray Emery, Mike Bales, Martin Prusek and Darrin Madeley have all patrolled the crease of the Sens at one time or another. Even John Ferguson Jr realized the importance of goaltending, unfortunately he also though Andrew Raycroft was better than Tuuka Rask. But I digress.

Now the braintrust has tied their future to Alex Auld and Martin Gerber? They seem to be riding their bike with no handlebars. Unless your defense is anchored by Nik Lidstrom, you CANNOT win a Stanley Cup without elite goaltending. Simple as that.

On to tonight's games

Anaheim Ducks @ Ottawa Senators

JS Giguere is the probable facing Alex Auld in the nation's capital tonight. How things have changed, it was only 18 months ago when these two teams were battling for the Holy Grail. Now both teams seem to be rudderless ships with little direction other than hanging on to fringe contender status.

Philadelphia Flyers @ New Jersey Devils

Talk about a mismatch. The extremely overrated Martin Biron to face off against Martin Brodeur in beautiful Newark, New Jersey tonight. Once again, it looks like one of those no brainer picks, Philly is struggling, "Fatso" is on fire, yet these are the ones that usually end up 4-0 for the underdog. These games my friends is why Vegas does not care wether the 200-1 Rays win the World Series or not. Let's just say they have it covered.

NY Rangers @ Columbus Blue Jackets

Stephen Valiquette is the probable for the Rangers tonight, facing Pascal Leclaire.

San Jose Sharks @ Florida Panthers

Probables look to be Nabokov and Vokoun, no confirmations as of yet. After a strong start Nabokov has come crashing down to earth giving up 14 goals in his last 3 games. If Nabokov was owned by a trader in the market today they would SELL, SELL, SELL him for the rights to Justin Pogge then after a shutout BUY BUY BUY him back for the rights to Sidney Crosby. I wouldn't want these guys running my fantasy team, let alone determining the outcome of our economy. Sigh

Atlanta Thrashers @ Detroit Red Wings

Probable's Kari Lehtonen and Chris Osgood. Question. If you had the choice in round 10 of your fantasy draft and Vesa Toskala was available or an XXL Red Wings jersey that was to be hung between the pipes for 50 starts this year, you would choose the jersey right? I mean it's a no brainer right?

LA Kings @ St. Louis Blues

Jason Labarbera gets the nod against probable Manny Legace. The only way I would watch this game is if it was Glen Hall appreciation night and they made both goalies play without their masks. Can somebody make this happen please? Damn Players Association!