Whether you’re interested for fantasy hockey reasons or just want to know which goalie your team is playing in a given day, we thought it might be helpful to share our best guesses (based on various previews from newspapers and Web sites plus our own instincts) on who might start each day.
7:00 PM ET games
Washington @ Carolina
Likely Washington starter: Michal Neuvirth - Semyon Varlamov had an injury setback, so expect Neuvirth to start for a while. (Source for both: Canes Country.)
Likely Carolina starter: Cam Ward - You have to start Ward in the home opener, right? (Source for both: Canes Country.)
Atlanta @ NY Rangers
Likely Atlanta starter: Chris Mason - Ondrej Pavelec likely won’t be back until Saturday the earliest, so expect Mason to get at least two more starts. (Source: Bird Watcher’s Anonymous.)
Likely NY Rangers starter: Henrik Lundqvist (Source: Rangers Rants.)
7:30 PM ET games
Pittsburgh @ Tampa Bay
Likely Pittsburgh starter: Marc-Andre Fleury - It would be a big confidence booster if Fleury can help shut down the dangerous Lightning, particularly Steve Stamkos. (Source: Pensburgh.)
Likely Tampa Bay starter: Mike Smith - He’s as mediocre as you can get while also being 4-0. (Source: Damian Cristodero.)
NY Islanders @ Montreal
Likely Islanders starter: Dwayne Roloson - He’s been the Islanders best goalie so far, so he deserves to steal a few starts from the guy they want to succeed - Rick DiPietro. (Source: Islanders Twitter page.)
Likely Montreal starter: Carey Price (Source: Habs Inside Out.)
8:30 PM ET game
Los Angeles @ Chicago
Likely Los Angeles starter: Jonathan Bernier - The Kings have back-to-back games - today against Chicago and tomorrow against Dallas - so it makes sense that each Jonathan will receive a start. (Source: Kings Twitter page.)
Likely Chicago starter: Marty Turco (Source: Chicago Tribune.)
10:30 PM ET game
New Jersey @ San Jose
Likely New Jersey starter: Martin Brodeur - My best guess for this one, because when in doubt, he gets the start. (Source: In Lou We Trust.)
Likely San Jose starter: Antero Niittymaki - It looks like Niittymaki might have the upper hand in this goalie duel. Right now, at least. (Source: David Pollak.)