With thanks to the Goalie Post.
I was amazed yesterday going through goaltending stats and compiling the October rankings to see that the Los Angeles Kings had begun the season by rewarding Jason LaBarbera with 10 consecutive starts.
That is Martin Brodeur, Evgeni Nabokov and Miikka Kiprusoff territory.
LaBarbera has had TWO starts in which he did not allow at least 3 goals and has a less than stellar 3.01 GAA and a .884 SV% in 2009. Hardly a candidate for your 4th string fantasy goaltender.
I am not going to say they have their sites set on John Tavares already, but come on. Sitting on the bench you have Erik Ersberg who in 14 games last season posted two shutouts, a 2.48 GAA and a .927 SV%. LaBarbera posted 1 shutout in 45 games. So unless Ersberg was
A. Hurt or
B. LaBarbera was so outstanding in training camp that the Kings wanted to give him 10 games to magically revert to his All-Star preseason form, I'm calling them out.
TANKERS!!
Now if only Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment could take a cue from them, Leaf Nation might have something.
On to today's starters updated @ 3:51 pm
NY Islanders @ NY Rangers
Who Cares (vs Rangers, 0-0-0, 3.00 GAA, .875 SV%) probable
H. Lundqvist (vs Islanders, 10-5-4, 2.03 GAA, .926 SV%) firm
McDonald gets the start, the Isles have been less than forthcoming with their starters this season now that DiPietro is not an automatic. I would piss and moan about this and how tandems in fantasy sports really suck, but it is the Islanders, and if you are relying on information to choose between McDonald and Danis, you are getting reamed harder than any of Lexington Steele's victims. BTW, Lexington Steele is a fantastic name for a Fantasy team.
Carolina Hurricanes @ Toronto Maple Leafs
C. Ward (vs Maple Leafs, 4-4-1, 3.29 GAA, .885 SV%) probable
V. Toskala (vs Hurricanes, 1-3-2, 3.82 GAA, .876 SV%) likely
Looking at Toskala's career numbers against the Canes might force you away from a start tonight, but this is one of those games that will keep the Leafs away from John Tavares, a game where the Leafs work their ass off and Toskala turns it up a notch to get a win against a very overrated Hurricanes team.
Washington Capitals @ Ottawa Senators
B. Johnson (vs Senators, 4-1-0, 1.89 GAA, .941 SV%) probable
A. Auld (vs Capitals, 2-2-1, 2.57 GAA, .899 SV%) firm
These two goalies are about as inept as George W. Bush and Stephen Harper. Unfortunately for the Capitals, there is no possibility of ridding themselves of Theodore tonight and bringing in "CHANGE". That being said, I would still trade Jose Theodore for one of Ray Emery or Johnny Bower, and Johnny Bower comes with Manon Rheaume as his backup. Both definite upgrades.
Phoenix Coyotes @ Calgary Flames
I. Bryzgalov (vs Flames. 1-5-1, 2.85 GAA, .901 SV%) likely
C. McElhinney (vs Coyotes, 0-0-0) probable
Another one of those games that is screaming start Kiprusoff, so expect Miikka to give up 4 in the first period, get the yank and have all 4 of my readers come back and give me hell tomorrow. I will shoulder the blame, life is much easier when it is somebody else's fault. Nevermind, look for McElhinney to get yanked.
Nashville Predators @ Vancouver Canucks
P. Renne (vs Canucks, 0-0-0) probable
R. Luongo (vs Predators, 5-5-3, 2.31 GAA, .923 SV%) likely
Paging Dan Ellis, I would bitch and moan about Dan Ellis and his slow start, but investing in a 28 year old career backup coming off a career year is like investing millions in Paris Hilton to sell underwear.
Anaheim Ducks @ LA Kings
J. Hiller (vs Kings, 2-0-0, 0.78 GAA, .971 SV%) probable
E. Ersberg (vs Ducks, 0-0-1, 0.93 GAA, .975 SV%) firm
Gary Bettman's dream matchup. Two teams nobody cares about starting two backups. MY NHL 2.0 everybody.
Minnesota Wild @ San Jose Sharks
N. Backstrom (vs Sharks, 0-3-2, 3.12 GAA, .891 SV%) probable
E. Nabokov (vs Wild, 11-8-2, 2.16 GAA, .912 SV%) probable
Does anybody blow as hot and cold as Brian Boucher? I mean the guy leads the Flyers to within one game of the Stanley Cup Finals in his rookie year and follows it up with a brutal sophomore campaign. Philly gives up on him and sends him to Phoenix where in his second year he registers 5 straight shutouts (the only shutouts he would register all year). Essentially disappears from the NHL for 2 and a half seasons and re-emerges in San Jose to put up 3 shutouts in his first 5 starts as a Shark, including 2 for 2 this year. Has their anybody who has looked this hot and then this bad, only to reappear hot again? Very Brittneyesque.
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