Goalie Announcements (Feb 24)

We're through the workweek in the NHL and we've descended upon the weekend and I thought I would chime in with another addition of the Mover & Shaker look at the goalie starts today. I'm sure you've all been missing it.

First, let's have a look at the Mover & Shaker race this week.  Grant's team is leading the way in Week Twenty-One, tops with 25 points, through Friday night's action.  Dale B. is showing to be 1 point behind, while Tony and Mike each have 22 points, all within striking distance.  I'd usually like to keep the range to about 5 points, so we'll focus on these four this morning.

With a couple of afternoon games, we're probably going to be doing some guessing, but they'll be educated guesses.

Robin Lehner (Kristy & Don) versus Braden Holtby (Grant)
No matter what, Grant gets a start in DC tonight, since both of his Capitals goalies are healthy today.  Everything is pointing towards another start for their number one, giving Braden Holtby the nod, as the Capitals look to get back on top of the Metropolitan Division with a victory.  Kristy & Don, a fringe team for this post, 6 points back of Grant's team for the Mover & Shaker, should be getting a start in this one too, with Robin Lehner as the assumed starter tonight.

The two teams are separated by 9 points in the standings too, with the duo trailing at the moment, so an upset in this game would tighten that race, ever so slightly.

No starts for Dale B. tonight, as he has no active goalies on the schedule, so he'll have to rely on his skaters that will be hopping on the ice instead.

Petr Mrazek (Mike) versus Craig Anderson (Tony)
How about an all-Mover & Shaker match-up in the first game of the day today?  Tony's 9th placed team starts the day 3 points back of the Mover & Shaker nod and it has been announced, ahead of the afternoon tilt against the Flyers, that the Senators will go with Craig Anderson.  The Flyers will counter with Petr Mrazek, making his second start for his new club, as he was acquired earlier in the week, as the Flyers have really struggled with the health of their goalies.  Mike gets the start from the visiting side and I would have to say that the Flyers are the favourites today, since the Senators are in selling mode at the deadline.

This will be Tony's only start of the day, but he has lots of projected games left to play this weekend, so he'll be in the race, if his team can keep up the pace.  This isn't the last game for Mike, however...

Tuukka Rask (Clayton) versus Frederik Andersen (Mike)
It's a classic Original Six match-up in Toronto tonight, as the Bruins are in to face the Maple Leafs and Mike gets his second start in the main national game on Hockey Night in Canada.  Frederik Andersen has been dynamite for Mike's team this season and he'll get the nod in this key Atlantic Division game.  The opposition won't be easy, with the big, bad Bruins in town and they are going with their number one guy tonight, Tuukka Rask, giving Clayton a start tonight.

Mike's team reached the middle of the pack this week, taking 13th place in the standings, but his team doesn't have the projected games that Tony's team does, although he has two starts today.