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!
No comments:
Post a Comment