Goalie Announcements (Mar 2)

It's been a pretty busy week, which has been the cause for the lack of posts this week and after the trade deadline, who really wanted to post less exciting posts about injuries? Like, really.

The NHL schedule is pretty busy for a Friday night, giving us nine games to choose from, but we'll keep our end-of-the-week focus on the Mover & Shaker race, which will be about 5 points of top spot, just outside of a shutout away from at least tying for top spot.  That's what all of those skaters are for, right?

Cam leads the way with 24 points and his team currently holds a 3-point lead on Dale B. at 21 points.  Brenda & Seward, Kristy & Don and Eric are all sitting with 20 points and then Stuart's top team has 19 points.  It's a pretty good week, so far, and we're likely in for a few good nights worth of action.

Sergei Bobrovsky (Derek B.) versus John Gibson (Tony)
The injury to John Gibson had certainly helped Cam get a little more action from the crease, but that comes to an end tonight, as Gibson will get the start tonight, returning from a lower-body injury.  This will take the only possible start away from Cam's team tonight, leaving him with no help from the crease. The Jackets went with their backup last night in Los Angeles, so Sergei Bobrovsky is expected to get the nod again tonight.

Juuse Saros (Eric) versus Jacob Markstrom (Wes)
With the Predators playing Pekka Rinne last night in Edmonton, that means that Juuse Saros should be getting the nod tonight, shifting Dale B.'s only chance of a start over to Eric's contending team tonight and they get the floundering Canucks tonight, who haven't been able to pick up much in the win column lately.  This works out to be Eric's only start of the night, but he might only need one, given the opponent.

The Canucks will likely go with Jacob Markstrom tonight, since he has been a bit better of late than Anders Nilsson, which is good news for Wes, in case the Canucks want to win.  Wes' team is in the running for the Basement Dweller and could really use the 2 points.

Devan Dubnyk (Brenda & Seward) versus Semyon Varlamov (Stacey C.)
The first completely confirmed games for both goalies comes from Denver, where Brenda & Seward will get their only start tonight from the visiting Devan Dubnyk and the Wild.  The duo are in the race for 4th place in the standings today and this is going to be a great Central Division match-up against the Avalanche, who will go with Semyon Varlamov at the other end.

Stacey C.'s team is 4 points clear of the Basement Dweller at the start of play on Friday and has exactly 50% of what the current Mover & Shaker candidate has in the standings.  It would be a long way up, but 4 points from Varlamov would be a huge help.

Robin Lehner (Kristy & Don) versus James Reimer (Troy)
The pool's other duo, Kristy & Don, also right in the mix for both the Mover & Shaker and 4th place in the standings, get their only start of the night in Florida, where Robin Lehner and the Sabres will play tonight, taking on Troy's goalie, James Reimer and the Panthers.  The duo start the night 4 points out of the Mover & Shaker and then 10 points out of 4th and counting on the Sabres is a bit of a stretch, but not out of the question.

Troy's team, on the other hand, is also trying to stay out of the Basement Dweller nod, starting the night only 2 points clear and three teams in between.  Reimer and the Panthers have been playing a bit better of late and are not exactly counting themselves out of the playoff race either.

Keith Kinkaid (Stuart) versus Cam Ward (Stacey M.)
Well, if it wasn't enough that Stuart's team is leading the pool, he's also in the mix for the Mover & Shaker this week, furthering his attempt to lock it down for the last five weeks of the season.  He gets a start in Carolina tonight, where Keith Kinkaid and the Devils are expected to take on Scott Darling and the Hurricanes.  The Devils are working hard to make the playoffs, currently holding down a playoff spot and they'll revert to their number two goalie on back-to-back nights, while the Hurricanes are on back-to-back nights as well, they're NOT going with their number two

This is the first time this season that Cam Ward will get back-to-back nights and that's alright by Stacey's team.  Stacey's team opens the night in 11th place, halfway up the weekly standings and after a big win in Philadelphia... why the hell not get another start?