Thursday, February 15, 2007
The goalies below have been confirmed by a source:
Brent Johnson, Washington Capitals - Johnson is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Lightning, reports the Washington Post. Probability of start occurring: 90%
Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers - Lundqvist is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Hurricanes, reports the New York Post. Probability of start occurring: 90%
The goalies below have not been confirmed by any sources:
Dwayne Roloson, Edmonton Oilers - Roloson is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Sabres. Probability of start occurring: 75%
Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres - Miller is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Oilers. Probability of start occurring: 75%
Andrew Raycroft, Toronto Maple Leafs - Raycroft is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Flyers. Probability of start occurring: 85%
Michael Leighton, Philadelphia Flyers - Leighton is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Maple Leafs. Coach John Stevens would not confirm who would start tonight, but odds are it will be Leighton as he has given the Flyers a much needed shot in the arm. Meanwhile, Antero Niittymaki continues to play second fiddle and Robert Esche has recovered from his neck strain but appears to be the odd man out. Probability of start occurring: 75%
Cam Ward, Carolina Hurricanes - Ward is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Rangers. Probability of start occurring: 75%
Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins - Thomas is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Islanders. Probability of start occurring: 85%
Rick DiPietro, New York Islanders - DiPietro is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Bruins. While some may continue to say that DiPietro is not worthy of the sensational contract he signed last year, he has certainly played like a borderline top-10 goalie this season. Probability of start occurring: 85%
Johan Holmqvist, Tampa Bay Lightning - Holmqvist is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Capitals. He should not be available in any fantasy leagues - at least as long as he's the unofficial #1 goalie in Tampa Bay. Probability of start occurring: 85%
Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Anaheim Ducks - Giguere is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Coyotes. Probability of start occurring: 85%
Curtis Joseph, Phoenix Coyotes - Joseph is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Ducks. Probability of start occurring: 75%
Peter Budaj, Colorado Avalanche - Budaj is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Flames. Budaj's strong last couple of months has ensured that he's become the new #1 goalie in Colorado and even if he loses or has a bad game, he'll get a second chance before coach Joel Quenneville looks in Jose Theodore's direction. Probability of start occurring: 85%
Miikka Kiprusoff, Calgary Flames - Kiprusoff is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Avalanche. Probability of start occurring: 85%
General goalie news:
Kevin Weekes, New York Rangers - Weekes came up lame during practice on Tuesday while doing sprints, reports the New York Post. Coach Tom Renney described Weekes' problem as a "lower body injury," and he was consequently placed on injured reserve. Though further details are sketchy, the New York Daily News believes it is a calf injury. Henrik Lundqvist will carry pretty much the entire load in Weekes' absence but he's pretty much been doing that anyway lately.
Cristobal Huet, Montreal Canadiens - Huet left yesterday's game against the Devils in the second period due to a hamstring injury, reports TSN. He'll be re-evaluated today but count on him missing the rest of the week and possibly more depending on the full extent of the injury.
Year-to-date: 1633 / 1722 = 94.8%
Montreal goaltender Huet leaves game with injury in second period
Wed, Feb 14, 2007
By Associated Press
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Montreal goalie Cristobal Huet left the Canadiens game against New Jersey in the second period after sustaining a lower body injury on Wednesday night.
Huet fell awkwardly in his net after giving up a power-play goal to Devils defenseman Brian Rafalski. He was assisted off the ice and to the locker room with 6:49 left in the period and did not return.
David Aebischer took over in goal.
The Devils won the game 5-2 as -191 favorites and the teams played over the total which was set at 5 goals. The loss was Montreal's fifth consecutive overall
Rangers place Weekes on injured list, recall Valiquette from AHL
Wed, Feb 14, 2007
By Associated Press
NEW YORK -- Rangers backup goalie Kevin Weekes was placed on the injured list Wednesday because of a muscle strain in his leg sustained a day earlier in practice.
The injury occurred at Weekes' most inactive time of the season. He hasn't played since Jan. 11 and appeared in only two games since losing three straight between Dec. 17-21 while filling in for starter Henrik Lundqvist.
Lundqvist has started in a career-high 11 straight games and seen action in 20 consecutive contests. He has given up only 20 goals in that span and posted a mark of 9-10-1. He is expected to start again Thursday at Carolina.
Oddsmakers have listed the Rangers as +122 underdogs and the total is set at 6 goals.
Weekes, 31, strained a quadriceps muscle Tuesday and needed help getting off the ice. It is unclear how long he will be sidelined. He is 4-6-2 in 14 games this season, with a 3.39 goals-against average and an .879 save percentage.
New York recalled goalie Stephen Valiquette from Hartford of the AHL on Wednesday. Valiquette went 17-12 with a 2.34 GAA and a .909 save percentage in 30 games with Hartford. He won seven times in his past 10 games.
Madden, White sidelined for Devils game against Montreal
Wed, Feb 14, 2007
By Associated Press
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Center John Madden and defenseman Colin White missed the New Jersey Devils' game Wednesday night against the Montreal Canadiens with injuries.
Madden was hit under the right eye with a shot Sunday against Tampa Bay and required stitches. His face and eye remain swollen.
White has an upper body injury, coach Claude Julien said before the game, adding that he hopes to have both players back Friday when the Pittsburgh Penguins visit New Jersey.
The Devils recalled defenseman Mark Fraser from Lowell of the AHL under emergency conditions to take White's place in the lineup.