Goalie Announcements (Dec 30)

There was definitely a big shift down around the border of the top 10 on Friday night, as the busy night produced quite a few points.  Some teams were fortunate, other teams, not so much.  The gap between 1st and 10th, the ties were broken last night, is now 45 points and growing, since Dale B.'s team is in the running for the Mover & Shaker nod this week, which is bad news for everyone.

Only six games to be played tonight, which is a shockingly weak schedule for a Saturday night, but it is what it is.  There's no sense in complaining about it.  Since it's such a small schedule, I might as well go ahead and look at every game!

Tuukka Rask (Clayton) versus Mike Condon (N/A)
Clayton gets the first of two starts in Ottawa tonight, with the Boston Bruins in to take on the Senators at the Canadian Tire Center.  Tuukka Rask gets the call again for the Bruins, while the Senators will counter with their number two, Mike Condon.  Clayton's team has moved up to 7th this week and has eyes on 6th tonight, while on the other side, Tony's team has made some gains this week as well, but still sits in the bottom half at the start of play today.

Carey Price (Dale C.) versus James Reimer (Troy)
The Canadiens continue to roll through the Southeast USA with a game in Sunrise, Florida tonight.  Dale C.'s pool team fell out of the top 10 on Friday night and will take aim at getting back in, starting with an appearance from Carey Price for the visitors.  Dale needs 5 points to climb back into the top 10 on Saturday afternoon, so he'll need more than one good game from Price tonight.  Troy's 18th place team is hanging around the Mover & Shaker nod this week, already with 17 points on the week, 6 points back of the weekly lead.  A win from James Reimer could inch his team closer, before a busy Sunday.

Cory Schneider (Jeremy) versus Braden Holtby (Grant)
Grant's team is the current leader for the Mover & Shaker nod this week and his team gets one more start this week out of his number one keeper, Braden Holtby and the Washington Capitals, taking on the visiting New Jersey Devils.  Grant's hot week has also vaulted his team into the top 10, jumping over a few teams on Friday night and a big game tonight could get him closer to moving up again.  At the other end, the Devils are running with Cory Schneider on back-to-back nights, looking to aid Jeremy back into the top three tonight, as he opens the night in a tie for 3rd place, but losing out on tie-breakers.

Scott Darling (Clayton) versus Carter Hutton (Benson)
It's been a busy week for just about every goalie in the hockey pool in this shortened week, as teams battle through back-to-back games.  Both the Hurricanes and Blues are on the back half of their sets tonight in St. Louis, so it is expected that those goalies who didn't "start" last night, plays tonight.  Scott Darling gives Clayton's team a second start of the night, while Carter Hutton, who came on in relief last night for the Blues, should give Benson one start tonight.  Clayton's team trails Benson's by 22 points, at the start of play tonight.

Alex Stalock (N/A) versus Juuse Saros (Eric)
It's the second half of back-to-backs between the Minnesota Wild and Nashville Predators tonight and it is expected that both backups will be playing in this one.  One pool goalie playing in that case, as Eric gets a rare start from Juuse Saros and the Predators, who look to split the two games, after losing away last night.  Eric's team opens the night, safely in 23rd spot, 7 points back of 22nd and 14 points clear of 24th.

Jonathan Quick (Chris) versus Jacob Markstrom (Wes)
All indications suggest that this will be a top draw goaltending match-up in Vancouver for the late game of Hockey Night in Canada, as the Kings will take on the Canucks.  Chris' team will try to find its way back to the top 10, starting with a game from Jonathan Quick tonight, while Wes' stagnant team in 22nd place will counter with their number one guy, Jacob Markstrom for the Canucks.  Not a lot of intrigue in the pool in this one, but it should be a decent Pacific Division rivalry game, nonetheless.