Goalie Announcements (Oct 23)

The news of starting goalies has seemingly improved this year, as I have been able to post some pretty accurate posts earlier and earlier in the afternoons.  You know, if I am not hungover or anything like that.

Eight games on the schedule tonight, let's see what kind of hockey pool impact we're looking at.

Michael Hutchinson (N/A) versus Alexandar Georgiev (N/A)
Let's start off in the Big Apple, where it's a dud game on the schedule for the hockey pool.  Michael Hutchinson gets the nod for the Panthers, Alexandar Georgiev gets his second career start for the Rangers.  No one was picking these guys in the pool in September, that's for sure!

Antti Raanta (Brian) versus Sergei Bobrovsky (Kristy & Don)
Both Brian and Kristy & Don need wins to qualify for next week in the goalie survivor pool and Brian gets his only start on the night with Arizona's Antti Raanta in Columbus.  The duo, however, get the first of two starts tonight with Sergei Bobrovsky for the home team and that's not a bad guy to rely on, when looking for a win.  On top of that, add in a lesser opponent like the Coyotes and they have to be feeling pretty good about it.

David Rittich (Ryan) versus Carey Price (Stacey M.)
Ryan gets a bit of a surprise start tonight out of the Flames, as they are rewarding the recent streak of good play out of David Rittich with another start tonight in Montreal.  Ryan has already been eliminated from the survivor pool, but Stacey M. hasn't and she gets a start from her number one, Carey Price, in response.  Both the Flames and Canadiens are off to decent starts this season, but one of those early starts are bound to fall back to Earth before too long.  Which one though?

Tuukka Rask (Jesse) versus Craig Anderson (Mike)
Mike is still cruising for his qualifying win in the survivor pool and he'll get the first of two starts in Ottawa tonight, where he has the home team's tendy tonight in Craig Anderson.  They have the tough test of the road weary Boston Bruins, who are finishing off a road trip tonight and they certainly want a strong finish to it, so they are sending Tuukka Rask to the crease, giving Jesse a start tonight.

Martin Jones (Brenda & Seward) versus Juuse Saros (Eric)
Eric's team has received the benefit of a backup goalie getting more starts, thanks to an injury to that team's number one and that continues tonight with a big Western Conference match-up between the Sharks and Predators.  Juuse Saros goes again for his team, which is still in the survivor pool conversation, but will indeed be in tough against Martin Jones and the Sharks.  The pool's second duo isn't concerned with the survival pool these days, they just want the points to help get them out of the basement.

John Gibson (Kristy & Don) versus Corey Crawford (Benson)
The Pacific Division-leading Ducks are into Chicago to take on the Wild Card Blackhawks tonight, which suggests that this could be a pretty good game here too.  Kristy & Don get their second start of the night with John Gibson and the visitors, while the already-eliminated Benson gets just his third start from Corey Crawford this season.  This game has a little bit more meaning in the money race, as Benson's team leads the duo by 7 points, heading into tonight's action.

Jonathan Quick (Derek B.) versus Ben Bishop (Clayton)
Neither the Kings or the Stars have been good to start the season, both teams below .500 and in need of their fortunes to change, if they want to keep the pace with the playoff teams.  Both Derek and Clayton are in the bottom half of the standings at the start of play tonight and their goaltenders are a big reason for that.  A win by either one could certainly help to turn their seasons around in this early part of the year.

Matt Murray (Wilton) versus Cam Talbot (Mike)
Finally, the Penguins and Oilers might be a marquee match-up for superstar forwards, as the fans and the media bicker about the best players in the league, but we're talking hockey pool here and those guys don't matter so much, when it comes to goaltending.  Wilton's team has already qualified for next week, survival-wise, but he could always use the 2 (or more) points from Matt Murray and the Penguins, while Mike gets his second start from Cam Talbot and the Oilers, but a second win and 2 more points also wouldn't hurt.