Thursday, November 17, 2016

Goalie Announcements (Nov 17)

We're now down to two teams in need of a win to move on in the survival pool, as both Troy and Stacey M. still haven't found one yet after three nights.  Fortunately for them, they both should get a start from a goalie and then we can talk about whether or not they're safe or they should start to worry.

Every expectation for the game in Minnesota between the Bruins and the Wild says it will be a battle of number ones and that means a survival game!  Troy needs to get his win and his only chance tonight will be from Tuukka Rask, as he takes on John S.'s number one, Devan Dubnyk.  This is definitely a prime time goalie face-off.

Pekka Rinne returns from a night off, nursing a lower-body injury, giving Stacey M. a start tonight and he'll get a non-pool test in Ottawa, taking on Mike Condon.  Stacey's team is one of two vying for the Basement Dweller nod, sitting with 2 points this week, and her team is also looking for that win for Week Seven.

Tony will get a start tonight from Connor Hellebuyck, while Brenda & Seward get a start from Steve Mason, a battle of the 22nd and 21st place teams, separated by only 1 point in the standings.  This could be considered to be a swing game.

It's a couple of qualified goaltenders in Buffalo, as Dale C. will have Ben Bishop going and then Jeremy will have Robin Lehner at the other side.  This is another close match-up in the standings, as Dale is 3 points behind Jeremy in the standings and a shutout could swing this game.

Eric gets a start from James Reimer tonight, as the Florida Panthers go in to face Frederik Andersen and the Leafs, Reimer's old team.  Our pool leader, Brian, gets a start from the buds tonight, certainly not an easy test, but he has been starting to string some good starts together too.

How about another quality goalie match-up, as Martin Jones will go for Wes and Jake Allen should be going for Mike, in a Western Conference powerhouse game between the Sharks and the Blues.  Both were 1st round picks this year and they're both playing to that quality, so it could be a good one to watch.

Kristy & Don will get a start from Semyon Varalmov and it is Kari Lehtonen's turn to go for the Stars, giving a start to Dale C..  This Central Division battle has some potential for a high scoring game and we can only hope that both teams shoot out the lights, for the sake of this pool.

With Ryan Miller coming down with a bout of the flu (listed as out day-to-day), Jacob Markstrom will be getting the call for the Canucks tonight, giving Clayton a start.  At the other end, it is back-to-back nights for the Arizona Coyotes, which means it should be Louis Domingue getting the call, with Mike Smith having gone last night in Calgary.  That's a start for Wes there.

Cory Schneider is expected to get another start for Stuart, while Dale B. gets a start from John Gibson tonight, with the New Jersey Devils landing on the pond to take on the Anaheim Ducks.  This is another 1st round showcase, with Gibson holding a slight edge in scoring to this point in the season.

It's non-pool night in Los Angeles... garbage night, perhaps?  Jonas Gustavsson is expected to get the nod for the Oilers, while Peter Budaj continues to run with the job in the Kings' crease.  Are you in need of a goalie at the Waiver Draft?  You can scout this game.

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