Monday, October 07, 2013

Monday Night Preview (Oct 7)

It's not a very busy night in the NHL on Monday, nor is it a very busy afternoon for me, so I thought I would do up a quick preview.  I know the standings haven't been updated quite yet, because I haven't set up my work computer to do that very well... yet.  The newsletter does have the final tallies considered and when I'm home, everything will be good to go.

How will the start of Week Two shape up?


It's a 7:30pm MT start to the league tonight, far from the usual 5pm MT starts, and the first game is in Alberta, of all places.  The Oilers will play host to the Devils, who are starting a Western swing to start the year, getting some of their extensive travel out of the way early.

This looks to be a pretty busy game, as there are plenty of picks in this one going.  The starting goalies are going to be Martin Brodeur for the Devils and Jason LaBarbera for the Oilers, both goalies taken in the draft this year, so already, it's a good match-up between John and Doug, respectively.

This game will mark the return of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, which makes for 22 active players in this game, taking into account the sitting goalies and Sam Gagner, who is still out with a broken jaw.

Four teams in the pool have three active players in this game, when injuries and benched players are set aside.  13 pool teams will have active players in this game as well, which should get the race started well.


In the late game, it is another Metropolitan Division team getting started out West, as the New York Rangers will do a Western swing as well, starting with a Pacific Division contender, the Los Angeles Kings.  The Rangers are still looking for their first win of the season, while the Kings are going to play their third game of the year.

The goaltending match-up should be an excellent one, as Henrik Lundqvist should be going for the Rangers and Jonathan Quick should be the goalie of note for the Kings.  Dale B. and Kristy & Don will have the goaltending sorted out from a pool perspective.

Another return set to happen tonight, as Ryan Callahan should be dressed tonight for the Rangers.  This should give us 20 picks active in this game, minus Ben Scrivens, who will be on the bench for the Kings as the back-up goalie and Tyler Toffoli, who starts the year in the minors for the Kings.

Cindy and Kristy & Don will each have three players going in this one tonight, all things considered, and 14 teams will have players going as well.

Between both games, 21 pool teams, out of 24, have players going tonight... Brenda, Chris and Doug each have four players going tonight and will look to jump out to a Week Two lead.  Brenda and Doug are already atop the standings, so they can pad some gaps with some good performances tonight.  Only Allan, Clayton and Dale C. are without starters tonight.

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