Boston--Shields (Grahame now talking about being back wed or thurs)
Ottawa--Lalime. Ott Sun sez 'Expect to see Shields start tonight, while G Patrick Lalime will likely be back between the pipes for Ottawa ...' but Lalime started no games on consecutive nights last season until near the end. but they did have more confidence in the no.2 netminder then...
Phila--Chechmanek. I see no reason for backup tonight. and Chech's play has improved of late.
Phila paper sez "Tonight's guests, the Canadiens, have owned the Flyers at the First Union Center with a 5-0-2 record dating back to Feb. 4, 1999.
That's the longest unbeaten streak any NHL club has against the Flyers in Philadelphia."
MTL--Theodore, sez Ott paper that Froggy quoted in his thread. But he's been rather poor, unlike backup Hackett. so we should see more Hackett getting unexpected starts in games coming up. Theodore is 6-3-0 vs Phila, .923 save pct, 2.41 gga--that is before 2-6 pasting Phila handed him Oct 15. He may want payback tonight, but he doesn't have a terrific track record in getting it...
NYI--Osgood. I see no reason for Snow, he got last start and this is big game sez coach. Osgood 8-1-3 vs FL, with 2.37 gga and .903 save pct. but this FL team playing so well...Miami Herald sez
"An increase in calling obstruction has led only to an increase in frustration for the Islanders' special teams, ranked 29th in the power play (6.8 percent) and 28th in the penalty kill (75 percent).
Trace that to the absence of Peca, an excellent two-way forward and faceoff ace. The Islanders also have the worst team goaltending save percentage (.838) in the NHL."
FL--Luongo I suppose. He's been playing very well and started some on consecutive nights at start of last season too. But could see Hurme.
SJ--Kiprusoff sez Mercury News. This morning is Nobby's first practice with team all season.
Nashville--Glennon in Tennessean writes:
"Tomas Vokoun will make his third start of the season in goal tonight, as Predators Coach Barry Trotz seeks a spark when his team plays host to the San Jose Sharks.....
"Vokoun hasn't been perfect in his two previous starts ? his .875 save percentage is just slightly better than Dunham's .869 ? but Trotz is hoping a change will do the team good."
MN--Fernandez I assume. He seems to be emerging as the No. 1.
Chicago--Thibault. See no reason for backup yet.
Sassone in Chi Herald writes:
"Tip-ins: Minnesota goalie Manny Fernandez is 4-0-0 with a 1.49 goals-against average and .947 save percentage. ... Despite losing 5-2 to Calgary on Saturday, Hawks goalie Jocelyn Thibault has a 2.01 goals-against average and .920 save percentage. ... Just a reminder, the Wild started last season 3-0-3-1 before finishing 25-39-13-5."
Dallas--Turco. 2-1-1 vs Calg, 1.75 gga, .938 save pct.
Calgary--Turek. These teams have clear no.1 and only use backup on consecutive night starts. Turek 5-1-3 vs his former team, 2.23 gga, .909 save pct.
STL--Kerber, on official site sez "The goaltending will be a game time decision tonight. Brathwaite skated well yesterday and
said he felt fine. He is expecting to play tonight. It would not surprise me tonight though if
Sanford again gets the start giving Freddie two more days and then play against his former
team in Calgary. "
Edmonton--Salo. He's started all games so far, and gets days rest before and after this start.
Colorado--Roy. Newspapers say he chasing more Terry Sawchuck records, and will set new one tonight.
Phx--Boucher. Burke out for a month. DesRochers recalled from Springfield and should see few starts.
Anaheim---LA Times sez " The Ducks will start first-year goaltender Martin Gerber, who stopped 22 shots in his first NHL start against the Avalanche. " But Gerber was especially charged in that start, facing fellow Swiss Aebischer. Gerber was very good on those Swiss teams...
Vancouver--Cloutier probably. Skudra mostly used on nites of consecutive starts or when Cloutier is playing poorly.
Ottawa--Lalime. Ott Sun sez 'Expect to see Shields start tonight, while G Patrick Lalime will likely be back between the pipes for Ottawa ...' but Lalime started no games on consecutive nights last season until near the end. but they did have more confidence in the no.2 netminder then...
Phila--Chechmanek. I see no reason for backup tonight. and Chech's play has improved of late.
Phila paper sez "Tonight's guests, the Canadiens, have owned the Flyers at the First Union Center with a 5-0-2 record dating back to Feb. 4, 1999.
That's the longest unbeaten streak any NHL club has against the Flyers in Philadelphia."
MTL--Theodore, sez Ott paper that Froggy quoted in his thread. But he's been rather poor, unlike backup Hackett. so we should see more Hackett getting unexpected starts in games coming up. Theodore is 6-3-0 vs Phila, .923 save pct, 2.41 gga--that is before 2-6 pasting Phila handed him Oct 15. He may want payback tonight, but he doesn't have a terrific track record in getting it...
NYI--Osgood. I see no reason for Snow, he got last start and this is big game sez coach. Osgood 8-1-3 vs FL, with 2.37 gga and .903 save pct. but this FL team playing so well...Miami Herald sez
"An increase in calling obstruction has led only to an increase in frustration for the Islanders' special teams, ranked 29th in the power play (6.8 percent) and 28th in the penalty kill (75 percent).
Trace that to the absence of Peca, an excellent two-way forward and faceoff ace. The Islanders also have the worst team goaltending save percentage (.838) in the NHL."
FL--Luongo I suppose. He's been playing very well and started some on consecutive nights at start of last season too. But could see Hurme.
SJ--Kiprusoff sez Mercury News. This morning is Nobby's first practice with team all season.
Nashville--Glennon in Tennessean writes:
"Tomas Vokoun will make his third start of the season in goal tonight, as Predators Coach Barry Trotz seeks a spark when his team plays host to the San Jose Sharks.....
"Vokoun hasn't been perfect in his two previous starts ? his .875 save percentage is just slightly better than Dunham's .869 ? but Trotz is hoping a change will do the team good."
MN--Fernandez I assume. He seems to be emerging as the No. 1.
Chicago--Thibault. See no reason for backup yet.
Sassone in Chi Herald writes:
"Tip-ins: Minnesota goalie Manny Fernandez is 4-0-0 with a 1.49 goals-against average and .947 save percentage. ... Despite losing 5-2 to Calgary on Saturday, Hawks goalie Jocelyn Thibault has a 2.01 goals-against average and .920 save percentage. ... Just a reminder, the Wild started last season 3-0-3-1 before finishing 25-39-13-5."
Dallas--Turco. 2-1-1 vs Calg, 1.75 gga, .938 save pct.
Calgary--Turek. These teams have clear no.1 and only use backup on consecutive night starts. Turek 5-1-3 vs his former team, 2.23 gga, .909 save pct.
STL--Kerber, on official site sez "The goaltending will be a game time decision tonight. Brathwaite skated well yesterday and
said he felt fine. He is expecting to play tonight. It would not surprise me tonight though if
Sanford again gets the start giving Freddie two more days and then play against his former
team in Calgary. "
Edmonton--Salo. He's started all games so far, and gets days rest before and after this start.
Colorado--Roy. Newspapers say he chasing more Terry Sawchuck records, and will set new one tonight.
Phx--Boucher. Burke out for a month. DesRochers recalled from Springfield and should see few starts.
Anaheim---LA Times sez " The Ducks will start first-year goaltender Martin Gerber, who stopped 22 shots in his first NHL start against the Avalanche. " But Gerber was especially charged in that start, facing fellow Swiss Aebischer. Gerber was very good on those Swiss teams...
Vancouver--Cloutier probably. Skudra mostly used on nites of consecutive starts or when Cloutier is playing poorly.
