Goalie Announcements (Dec 29)

There was no anxiety to happen this week, as the first busy night of the week, Tuesday, saw all four teams that needed wins get them right away and the rest of the days and nights are all mainly used for points. How mundane!

Nevertheless, the points are still very interesting, as the money spots have seen some changes and it remains awfully tight in the standings heading into a 12-game Thursday night.  Let's check out those money teams and see how they're getting on.

Brian, who has now taken over top spot in the standings, will not get a start tonight, as his only chance comes from Toronto visiting Tampa Bay, where it will be Antoine Bibeau in net for the Leafs, taking on Ryan's goalie, Andrei Vasilevskiy.

The Canadiens and Panthers could have been an all-money match-up tonight, but neither money goalies are getting the start here. It will be Al Montoya taking on James Reimer, which makes for a Marcin versus Eric match-up in the standings tonight.  Neither Benson or Cam have a starter going tonight either.  How odd.  All three money teams have been stumped.

Scott has our 4th placed team in the standings and he won't have a goalie going either tonight, as the Chicago Blackhawks will go with their number one, Corey Crawford, giving a previous money, belonging to Marcin, his second start of the evening.  Nashville starts back-to-back nights tonight with the Blackhawks and then the St. Louis Blues, it will be a matter of whether or not Pekka Rinne goes for both divisional games or just one... and then which one?  If Rinne goes tonight, Stacey M. will have two starters going in 13th place.

Brenda & Seward, our 5th place team, doesn't even have an opportunity for a starter, because neither team for her goalies are going tonight.

The highest team in the standings to have a start tonight belongs to John S., who gets the first of two in Minnesota tonight, as Devan Dubnyk gets the call for the Minnesota Wild, taking on Troy's goalie, Jaroslav Halak and the New York Islanders.

The second start of the night will come from Calgary, where Chad Johnson will get the call for John S., as he gets the task of the visiting Ducks and John Gibson at the other side.  Gibson belongs to Dale B., who is one spot below John in standings, but 8 points back.  John is 15 points back of the money and a sweep from the crease would be a huge lift.

Jeremy, one of the pool's hottest teams, will get a pair of starts tonight and they begin with Robin Lehner and the Buffalo Sabres, hosting the Boston Bruins tonight. All indications would suggest that the Bruins will go with Tuukka Rask, there's just no reason why not. Troy gets another start for his surviving team.

The other start for Jeremy comes from the number one overall pick in the draft this year, Braden Holtby and the Washington Capitals, as they will entertain the New Jersey Devils.  The Devils will go with non-pool goalie, Keith Kinkaid tonight.  Jeremy opens the night 18 points back of the money in 8th place.  9th place, Stuart, had his only chance for a start go by the wayside with a Kinkaid start tonight.

The hottest NHL team at the moment, the Columbus Blue Jackets, will look to stay hot and they should be going with Mike's goalie, the best player in the pool, Sergei Bobrovsky.  We know he will be facing Michael Hutchinson of the Jets tonight, a start for Grant's 19th place team.

In Ottawa tonight, it could have been an all-Stacey C. affair, but the Senators will be the only one of the two teams to play his goalie, as Mike Condon will get another start for the Sens and it will be youngster Jared Coreau in net for the Wings, as they try and get back on track. Stacey currently sits in the Basement Dweller spot through Wednesday night, so he could really use a win here tonight.

A couple of our lovely ladies will have their goalies go head-to-head and it's a big game in the standings, as they are 13th and 14th in the standings. Stacey M. has a 1-point lead in this match-up and she'll have Antti Raanta in net for the Rangers, while Marcie will get the first of two starts on the night from Mike Smith and the Coyotes. This is a good swing game.

Marcie's second start of the night will come from the Edmonton Oilers, as they open up against the Los Angeles Kings with Cam Talbot tonight. The Kings played last night in Vancouver, so there is a great chance that they will go with non-pool goalie Jeff Zatkoff tonight.

The last of the games this evening will go in Dallas, where it will be Calvin Pickard of the 18th placed team belonging to Derek B., against Kari Lehtonen of the 21st team belonging to Dale C..  The two teams are 12 points apart and fading out of the money conversation.