Goalie Announcements (Nov 21)

It's that time again down below the border in Trump Land, the US Thanksgiving holiday is upon us, which means a pretty lopsided schedule.  Tonight, Thanksgiving Eve, when we have almost a complete slate of games and then tomorrow... nothing!  At least it's a day off for the blog, I guess.

Troy, Stacey M. and Mike still need wins to survive in the goalie pool this week and it looks like there will be chances for each of them to get their win.

Jeremy will also look to build on his hot start to the week, his 14 points on Monday night still hold a significant lead after only one game on Tuesday night, which didn't offer us many points in the end.

Eric still only has 1 point after two nights, but his grip on the Basement Dweller spot isn't quite as firm.  There are 17 teams within 5 points of Eric's team, so all is not lost, but his body count is sketchy, at best.

Lots of work to be done, so let's have a look at what we'll see tonight.

Carey Price (Stacey M.) versus Keith Kinkaid (Neil)
Stacey gets her first and only shot at a win with Carey Price and the Canadiens in New Jersey to take on the Devils.  Neil's team is hanging tight in 9th place in the standings, 6 points so far this week, and this game will have his only start of the night as well, as the Devils will roll again with Keith Kinkaid.

Robin Lehner (Chelsea) versus Alexandar Georgiev (N/A)
I know I've suggested that Robin Lehner would start for the Islanders before and it didn't happen that night, but this time is a little bit different.  There is confirmation out there that he will get the nod, so Chelsea can rest easy on getting that start tonight.  Her team is off to a good start this week with 7 points, definitely a chance to build on that with this game.

Anton Khudobin (N/A) versus Casey DeSmith (N/A)
It's a dud of a game for the hockey pool in Pittsburgh tonight.  A team with their number one goalie injured for the next week against the team that doesn't have a ton of faith in their number one goalie, so there will be no points from the crease, when the Stars take on the Penguins.  Next!

Corey Crawford (Benson) versus Braden Holtby (Stacey C.)
Braden Holtby will be back in the net for the Capitals tonight, when they take on Corey Crawford and the Blackhawks.  Without Holtby, Stacey's team hasn't been able to claw their way out of 16th, but even with a healthy Crawford in the Chicago net, Benson's team has still managed to fall all the way down to 22nd this week.  Neither team has seen good starts to the week, but one of these teams will at least get a little help with a win in this game.

Frederik Andersen (Derek B.) versus Curtis McElhinney (N/A)
Derek's team has also been spinning its wheels a bit, mired in 23rd place, but his team is off to a better start this week with 6 points and is only 6 points back of Benson in 22nd place.  The Hurricanes will be no easy task for Frederik Andersen and company, as they will face a familiar face in non-pool goalie Curtis McElhinney, who might have a chip on his shoulder.

Alex Lyon (N/A) versus Carter Hutton (Wes)
Wes' team has made some gains this week, as one of the hot teams through two nights, 8 points in the jar already, and he'll see Carter Hutton go for the Sabres with the Flyers in town.  Wes' team has opened this week with a strong 8 points, so far, and his goalie will face a team that has been dealing with their own goalie injury issues, which could play to the Sabres' favour.

Tuukka Rask (Jesse) versus Jimmy Howard (Tony)
Jesse and Tony are only separated by three spots in the standings, but the gap is 9 points at the start of play tonight, both teams having okay starts to the week, so far.  Tuukka Rask goes for Jesse's 14th place team and Jimmy Howard goes for Tony's 17th place team, when the Bruins invade the Little Caesar's Arena in Detroit.  The injury-depleted Bruins are going up against a Red Wings team that will welcome some bodies back from injury, so maybe, just maybe... advantage: Detroit?

Roberto Luongo (John P.) versus Louis Domingue (N/A)
The Florida state rivalry continues tonight in Tampa Bay, but there will only be one hockey pool goalie in this game.  John will get to see Roberto Luongo go for the visiting Panthers tonight, as his team aims for the top five again, starting the night in 8th place, but 9 points back of 5th.

Jake Allen (Steve) versus Pekka Rinne (John P.)
Well, if John is aiming for the top five, then having two goalies will certainly work in his favour.  Pekka Rinne is assumed to go in net for the Predators, but it's not 100% confirmed by the look of things.  The Preds will get the Blues at home tonight and Jake Allen has indeed been confirmed for the visitors, as Steve's team is in the exact same boat as John, 9 points back of 5th, but his team has 3 more goals, so his team sits in 7th.

Craig Anderson (Mike) versus Devan Dubnyk (Wes)
This would have been a good match-up on Monday, with two goalies still participating in the survival game, belonging to Mike and Wes, but Wes has already qualified, so that means his goalie, Devan Dubnyk, will look to play spoiler against Mike's goalie, Craig Anderson, when Ottawa and Minnesota clash at the Xcel Energy Center tonight.  I guess that's still a pretty good storyline.

Marc-Andre Fleury (Troy) versus Darcy Kuemper (Stuart)
The third team, still looking for a qualifying win this week, Troy's side, might get their start tonight when Vegas heads into Arizona tonight.  Marc-Andre Fleury has not been confirmed, so it isn't certain, but it does seem very likely.  Maybe more importantly, since there is no money in the survival game, this is a game for 1st place in the overall standings, since Stuart is only hanging on by a 10-goal lead in the tie-breaker.  A win could very likely swing the balance of power accordingly.  Darcy Kuemper goes for Stuart and the Coyotes tonight, providing a lot of intrigue in this Pacific Division game.

Jacob Markstrom (Chelsea) versus John Gibson (Kristy & Don)
Kristy & Don are aiming even higher than their top five position, looking towards the money and getting a start from John Gibson and the Ducks tonight, when they take on Jacob Markstrom and the Canucks.  The duo open up play 4 points out of 3rd place and 6 points out of 1st.  Chelsea gets her second start of the night, as her team aims for the top half of the standings, 18 points back of 13th in 18th spot.

Connor Hellebuyck (Jeremy) versus David Rittich (Ryan)
The current holder of the Mover & Shaker, Jeremy, does get a start tonight from Winnipeg, as Connor Hellebuyck gets another nod, this time in Calgary, taking on the new number one(?) for the Flames, David Rittich.  Ryan's team was passed by Jeremy's this week and already sits 10 points back thanks to Jeremy's hot start, so it's time to start clawing back those points.

Semyon Varlamov (Wilton) versus Cal Petersen (N/A)
Wilton's team is in need of a break this season and maybe the Kings and their goaltending concerns could be one of them, as they are riding a kid up from the minors, who isn't doing too badly, but will have his hands full with the Avalanche tonight.  Semyon Varlamov is Wilton's chance at 2 points tonight, as his team starts in 21st, 39 points back of 1st place.