Goalie Announcements (Oct 5)

After night number one, we are well on our way.  Mike, Cam, Stacey C. and Wes were all winners on opening night and they are officially through to Week Two in the survivor pool.  Thursday night, there will be ample opportunity for wins, as we have eight games on the schedule.  Stacey C.'s second goalie can now play spoiler in the pool and there is one goalie that wasn't taken in the draft, putting another speed bump in the process.

Stay tuned to the blog, as this post will be somewhat daily, as I try to recap the night before, but not everyday... it might not be quiet enough at the office to get it done.

Pekka Rinne (Dale B.) versus Tuukka Rask (Clayton)
Clayton has one of two teams that only have two projected goalie starts through to the end of the week, so this first game for Tuukka Rask and the Bruins will be pretty big for his fate in this mini-game, moving forward.  Dale B., however, has three more after this start for Rinne, so it isn't quite as important to get the win, but it would be a huge spoiler play if he got it.

Carey Price (Dale C.) versus Robin Lehner (Kristy & Don)
The Sabres will open up their home schedule with the Canadiens coming into town, not the easiest opponent to do so with.  It has been confirmed that it will be Price against Lehner, each team's number one goalie getting the nod.  For Dale C., this will be the first of two starts, while Kristy & Don will only get this shot at a win tonight.

Semyon Varlamov (Stacey C.) versus Henrik Lundqvist (Brian)
On Broadway tonight, Stacey's goalie can play spoiler, trying to keep Brian, last year's 2nd place winner, from a necessary win in the survivor pool.  On the surface, it sounds like an intriguing game, but it is the Avalanche trying to keep the Rangers out of the win column to make that happen and that could be a very tall order, if the Avalanche are anything like last year's team.  Semyon Varlamov has looked good in the preseason, but we all know how much we can trust the preseason.

Braden Holtby (Grant) versus Craig Anderson (Tony)
The Washington Capitals and Ottawa Senators are going to make for a pretty good match-up on Thursday night and it is a marquee match-up in goal as well, with Holtby going up against Anderson.  For Grant, his only hopes lie with the Capitals, as he has the starter and the backup, so as they go, he goes in the survivor pool.  For Tony, he'll have a second shot tonight in one of the late games, if all else fails.

Devan Dubnyk (Brenda & Seward) versus Jimmy Howard (Dale C.)
The Detroit Red Wings had an up-and-down preseason and now we get to see which team is going to rear their head, starting now.  Is it the older, slower team that we're all expecting or is it a rejuvenated team that has their legs under them and ready to play?  Dale C.'s second shot at survival is pegged on Jimmy Howard tonight and he gets the tough task of Devan Dubnyk, who will go for the pool's second duo.

Antti Niemi (Derek) versus Corey Crawford (Jeremy)
The Blackhawks welcome the champs to the Madhouse on Madison tonight and they'll roll out the welcome mat, sending Corey Crawford to the crease to oppose them.  The sentiment may not be mutual though, as the Penguins played last night and it should be Antti Niemi getting the nod instead of Matt Murray, who started last night.  Both Jeremy and Derek see their first starts of the season from their keepers, trying to get safe in the survivor pool, ahead of the weekend.

Louis Domingue (Stuart) versus John Gibson (Tony)
On the pond in Anaheim tonight, it will be a good match-up of two good young goalies, as Domingue gets the nod for the Coyotes and Gibson goes for the Ducks on their opening nights in the league.  This is a slight surprise start for Domingue, as it sounds like the Coyotes want to run Antti Raanta as their number one, but he wasn't ready to go from a lower-body injury.  This is good news for Stuart, who only has one bonafide starting goalie on his side.

Michal Neuvirth (N/A) versus Jonathan Quick (Chris)
The Flyers are playing on back-to-back nights as well tonight, which means that Michal Neuvirth should be in the crease for the Flyers and surprisingly, he wasn't taken in the draft, given the Flyers and their regular goalie struggles, splitting games on the schedule.  On the other side, it's the home opener for the Kings and that should mean we'll see Jonathan Quick and Chris gets his only start of the night.  The Flyers put five goals on the Sharks last night, so it might not be a cake walk for Quick and the Kings.