Goalie Announcements (Dec 8)

We're continuing on with the look at the top 10 (and tied) teams in the pool in the goalie starts today, as we've already had all four teams qualify for next week in the survivor pool.

Brian's team is still sitting atop of the standings after Thursday night's action, but it's not nearly as safe as it was at the beginning of the week.  From 1st place to 11th, the gap is only 19 points and it's getting really tight up top, so these posts are getting a little more entertaining, even though we still have better than half the season to go.

Henrik Lundqvist (Brian) versus Braden Holtby (Grant)
We'll open with our pool leader getting a start in Washington tonight, as the Rangers are in to visit the Capitals in a big Metropolitan Division match-up.  Brian's lead in the standings is down to 2 points and Henrik Lundqvist will be entrusted to help defend that lead tonight.  At the other side, Grant has half of his Capitals tandem in net, and his 9th place team will look to close the gap on Brian's team, which opens the night at 17 points.

Sergei Bobrovsky (Derek B.) versus Cory Schneider (Jeremy)
In the swamp, it's a battle of the top two teams in the Metropolitan Division, the Blue Jackets and the Devils, believe it or not, battling for top spot again.  Jeremy's team is one of two teams that trails Brian's team by 2 points in the standings, so depending on the game above, 2 points from Cory Schneider could either shut that gap up completely or just keep the pace.  Derek's team used to be in the top 10, but fell out a couple of weeks ago and now sits 9 points out of 10th.  A Sergei Bobrovsky win could help with getting back in tonight, for sure.

Malcolm Subban (Wilton) versus Pekka Rinne (Dale B.)
A huge money game in Nashville tonight, as Wilton's new goalie on his 2nd place team will visit Dale B.'s most-consistent keeper on his 4th place team and these two pool teams are only separated by a point at the start of play on Friday.  This will also mark the first time that Malcolm Subban plays against his broth P.K. Subban in the NHL, which will be a very popular story line tonight.  Nevertheless, a very good swing game in the hockey pool here and it could be quite an entertaining game, if you get a chance to watch.

Robin Lehner (Kristy & Don) versus Corey Crawford (Jeremy)
Good news for Jeremy, as he appears to be getting Corey Crawford back from his lower-body injury tonight with the Buffalo Sabres in town to face the Chicago Blackhawks.  This will make a huge money game in the standings, as Jeremy's team stands in the way of 1st place for Kristy & Don, who currently are in 5th, 4 points back of 1st and 2 points back of Jeremy's team.  The task for the worst team in the NHL gets all that much more difficult, meaning that Robin Lehner will have to play out of his skin to get these 2 points out of the Windy City.