Goalie Announcements (Jan 14)

Week Sixteen, eh?  Where has the time gone?

We've already passed the halfway point of the season and we're quickly approaching the two-thirds mark here in a couple of weeks, with the All-Star festivities coming up even faster. 

The hockey pool teams are seemingly getting themselves tucked into their compartmentalized spots in the standings, give or take a good run or two through the weeks.  The haves are all in the money or within spitting distance, the middle part of the standings would like to draw closer, waiting impatiently for the second player swap to make that last ditch effort at glory and the have nots are mired in a hell that doesn't have any legitimate mini-games for them to play this year, just a big guessing game of game-winning goals.

At least the hockey has been pretty entertaining this year, doesn't matter if you are a have, a middle or a have not.  It's been pretty good.

Semyon Varlamov (Wilton) versus Frederik Andersen (Derek B.)
Good news for the Maple Leafs tonight, as both their number one and number two goalies are set to return tonight, Frederik Andersen getting the start and Garret Sparks good enough to suit up as backup tonight.  Derek B. is only 1 point up on Brenda & Seward at the start of play tonight, so the free fall can be slowed down with a win here.  On the other side, Wilton is expected to get a start out of Semyon Varlamov and the Avalanche, with his team 8 points out of the top 10 and 36 points out of the money.

This one could be a really good game to watch, if you've got nothing better to do.

Cam Ward (Scott) versus Mackenzie Blackwood (N/A)
Scott's team opens up the week now 18 points out of 24th place and was losing ground last week, taking another Basement Dweller nod this season.  Work towards staying out of the basement starts tonight with a goalie start, as Cam Ward gets the nod for the Blackhawks tonight, as they are in New Jersey to take on the Devils.  The Devils have struggled, much like the Blackhawks, so now would be a good time to pick up those key 2 points.

Devan Dubnyk (Wes) versus Carter Hart (N/A)
Hasn't Wes had enough points already?  Does he really need another start?  Well, like it or not, he gets another start out of the Minnesota Wild and Devan Dubnyk, as they take on the rookie Carter Hart and the Philadelphia Flyers.  Wes sees his team only a shutout out of the money spots or a couple wins, so this would be a good start here.

Jake Allen (Steve) versus Pheonix Copley (N/A)
This one could have been a completely hockey pool washout, but the St. Louis Blues are going back to the well with Jake Allen, despite having a good non-pool rookie goalie in Jordan Binnington kicking around getting results.  Tonight's start is good news for Steve, who opens the week hanging on to 10th place in the standings, 38 points out of the money and his goalie will get the Capitals backup as his opposition, since Braden Holtby's eye injury will keep him from starting, but not from dressing.

Carey Price (Stacey M.) versus Tuukka Rask (Jesse)
A good ol' fashioned Original Six rivalry game tonight in Boston and for the occasion, the Bruins will be wearing their Winter Classic duds again, which are some sharp looking threads.  A full-on hockey pool match-up highlights this game as well, as Stacey M. gets a start from the visitors, trying to close the gap on 1st place, which opens at 6 points, while Jesse gets the home start, but sees his team 54 points behind 1st place.  No better time than the present to collect those points.

Carter Hutton (Wes) versus Mikko Koskinen (Tony)
Did I say Wes needed a couple of wins earlier?  Well, he gets a couple of starts, as he will have the visiting goalie, Carter Hutton, in the Buffalo/Edmonton game tonight, getting a pair of starts on top of back-to-back Mover & Shaker nods.  The rich only get richer or he might just have a leprechaun locked up in his basement somewhere.  Tony also gets a start tonight, in what could be a pretty busy week for his team; Mikko Koskinen getting the nod for the Oilers at home.  Tony's team opens the week in 15th place, 25 points out of the top 10.