Tonight's starting goalies - Nov 20, 2008

Don't look now, but the quiet resurection of Marty Turco's season has begun. Although he only has 2 wins in his last 5 starts he has only allowed 11 goals in those starts. The opportunity to buy low on Turco could disappear very quickly should he continue to improve his numbers over the next couple of weeks.

Just like anything in fantasy sports, patience is essential in winning championships. The opportunity to get lucky will always exist for individual owners, but maintaining a consistent contender requires patience.

Those who chose to panic early on and deal Turco, are probably the same owners who dealt away Martin Brodeur after his sluggish start to 2008.

The Dallas incumbent has put up 4 consecutive 30+ wins seasons, 6 times has produced a sub 2.50 GAA and has only once registered a save percentage below .900. Add in the fact that he plays on a Stars team that made the Conference finals last season and has not registered a season of less than 90 pts since 1996 and it remains a no brainer that he will rebound.

Keep poking around Turco owners, but your time may be running out to steal one of fantasy's elite goalkeepers.

With thanks to the Goalie Post, on to today's starters

Florida Panthers @ New Jersey Devils

T. Vokoun (vs Devils, 4-3-1, 2.54 GAA, .917 SV%) firm

S. Clemmensen (vs Panthers, 0-0-0) probable

Pure guess on Clemmensen, probably the same attitude that Brent Sutter takes when sending out his starting goaltender. Not quite the same as penciling in Fatso on a nightly basis.

Pittsburgh Penguins @ Atlanta Thrashers

D. Sabourin (vs Thrashers, 0-0-0) likely

J. Hedberg (vs Penguins, 1-0-0, 2.98 GAA, .824 SV%) probable

Thanks to the NHL, the Lehtonen situation has become ridiculous. Nobody knows what is wrong with him, this helps the NHL how? This is right up there with expanding to regions who don't care about hockey, the glowing puck and linkage in the salary cap that has caused the floor to approach the hard cap the NHLPA proposed 4 years ago. Bettman keeps his job how? I agree with the Sportsguy, Stern sent him from the NBA to sabotage the league.

Montreal Canadiens @ Ottawa Senators

C. Price (vs Senators, 3-2-0, 2.54 GAA, .916 SV%) likely

A. Auld (vs Canadiens, 1-2-1, 2.93 GAA, .903 SV%) firm

A battle of two struggling teams. Everybody thought the Habs had righted the ship with a 4-0 whipping of the Sens last week, but people still associate contender with the Senators, even though they have done nothing to earn that respect in the last calendar year. Kind of like people still buying AC DC records.

Vancouver Canucks @ Minnesota Wild

C. Sanford (vs Wild, 3-2-0, 2.63 GAA, .905 SV%) likely

N. Backstrom (vs Canucks, 7-2-3, 2.03 GAA, .928 SV%) probable

I think Roberto Luongo has earned the night off tonight. I still can't believe that Henrik Lundqvist yanked himself from the game. Can't remember the last time I saw that.

Chicago Blackhawks @ Dallas Stars

N. Khabibulin (vs Stars, 14-14-3, 2.77 GAA, .902 SV%) likely

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

With Turco sporting a 14-2-1 career mark against the Hawks, it would seem like his resurrection should continue. But these aren't your daddy's Blackhawks, well, actually they are, the Hawks used to be good. Let's rephrase, these aren't your older brother's Blackhawks.

Calgary Flames @ Colorado Avalanche

M. Kiprusoff (vs Avs, 15-10-4, 2.76 GAA, .898 SV%) probable

P. Budaj (vs Flames, 4-8-1, 3.82 GAA, .878 SV%) firm

Is Peter Budaj so good that Raycroft cannot even get into a game? Ladies and gentlemen, the John Ferguson Jr. era.

Detroit Red Wings @ Edmonton Oilers

C. Osgood (vs Oilers, 16-8-7, 2.26 GAA, .913 SV%) firm

M. Garon (vs Red Wings, 3-3-0, 3.54 GAA, .893 SV%) probable

A team with three mediocre goalies, battles a team with no goalies at all, NEXT on versus.

Washington Capitals @ Los Angeles Kings

B. Johnson (vs Kings, 2-4-1, 2.71 GAA, .897 SV%) likely

E. Ersberg (vs Capitals, 0-0-0) firm

If Eric Ersberg played in Toronto this guy would be a rockstar, in LA, nobody cares. Toronto media has hyped in no discernable order: Andrew Raycroft, Damian Rhodes, Marcel Cousineau, Peter Ing, Mikael Telqvist, Jeff Reece, Alan Bester, Justin Pogge etc.