Goalie Announcements (Dec 23)

A happy Festivus to one and all!

One grievance I need to air this morning... why the hell are we starting the hockey schedule at 10:30am MT?  It's the holiday season and I really wanted to sleep in and having to do this post early in the morning, after a little sleep in, means that it's really rushed and probably not as accurate or funny as it possibly could be.

Oh well, it's the last day of Week Twelve, the aluminum pole is standing proudly, undecorated in the living room with pride, dinner will be served whenever the hell we feel like it and we'll finish off the night with the feats of strength, likely after the 6pm MT games have concluded.

If your team doesn't finish in the Basement Dweller spot tomorrow morning, it will be a Festivus miracle!

Sergei Bobrovsky (Kristy & Don) versus Keith Kinkaid (Neil)
The Devils will be rocking their retro jerseys for the first time this season and they will be doing so against the Blue Jackets this morning/afternoon, the reason why I am rushing to get this post right through.  Thankfully, both goalies were confirmed and that's all I needed to know.

Both of these pool teams are free and clear of the Basement Dweller nod this week.

Tuukka Rask (Jesse) versus Petr Mrazek (Stacey C.)
It's Hartford Whalers day in Raleigh, NC today and the Hurricanes will be rocking those sweet, sweet green jerseys featuring the whale!  Both the Bruins and the Hurricanes played yesterday, so it seems very likely that we'll have the match-up we see up at the top there.

Ooooh... the Whalers game is a game for the Basement Dweller nod.  Jesse currently holds the spot, but Stacey is only 1 point clear.  Huge swing game for the Newsletter.

James Reimer (Dale C.) versus Cam Ward (Scott)
The Blackhawks have indeed confirmed Cam Ward for today's game against the Panthers and the Panthers did play last night, so the smart money is going to the goalie that didn't play in that game, so that's what I've got right here.

Both teams here are at 20 points this week, 7 points clear of the basement, this is safe.

Michal Neuvirth (Stuart) versus Henrik Lundqvist (Scott)
There were some rumblings that the Flyers might go back-to-back with their young netminding phenom Carter Hart, but that hasn't been confirmed yet.  I don't think they should be going that way today, but who am I to say?  This is the goalie match-up I'm looking for in the Big Apple tonight, which could still be a pretty good game.

Scott gets a second start to today, that's worthy of a grievance.  Stuart's team should also get a grievance, since it's still close to the top of the standings after winning last year.

Jonathan Bernier (Brenda & Seward) versus Garret Sparks (Grant)
I'm pretty sure the spots that I was reading yesterday said that Jonathan Bernier was expected to start for the Red Wings against the Panthers, but lo and behold, they changed it up on me and went with Jimmy Howard.  It didn't seem to help, since they lost 2-1, but that should make it so Bernier starts in Toronto today.  Garret Sparks has been confirmed for the Leafs, that much I'm certain about.

Brenda & Seward are also at 20 points this week, well clear of the bottom, while Grant gets the first of two starts today, which we have established is grievance worthy.

Cal Petersen (N/A) versus Malcolm Subban (N/A)
Sounds like this game could be a moot point for the crease points in Vegas tonight.  Neither Kings or Knights goalies are selected on a pool team in this second segment, which may or may not bode well for the scorers in this game.  The Kings have been lacklustre, so far this year and the Knights are starting to pick up their socks, but Subban hasn't been all that great.  Let's hope for a good ol' fashioned shootout then, not one of those new skills competition shootouts.

Darcy Kuemper (N/A) versus Aaron Dell (Troy)
Both the Coyotes and the Sharks are on back-to-back nights, so it seems very likely that we'll get both goalies who didn't play yesterday.  Kumper will indeed go for Arizona today, while Dell hasn't been confirmed, but I would imagine that he would play, since the team still has plenty of faith in their number two.

Troy's team also stands at 20 points, it's a 20-point team convention on Festivus.  Go figure! 

Thomas Greiss (Stuart) versus Anton Khudobin (Grant)
Finally, the Stars return home to play the Islanders, after picking up an overtime win in Minnesota last night.  They have confirmed that Khudobin will play, while the Islanders, we're assuming will try to finish off before the break strong with a big start from Greiss.  Greiss hasn't been confirmed, but I'd say he's fairly likely.

And both Stuart and Grant get two starts today?  How is that even fair?  I think they will have to wrestle each other for the feats of strength today.  That seems fair, right?