TheSpread.com

Thursday March 1st

The goalies below have been confirmed by a source:

Mike Smith, Dallas Stars - Smith is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Panthers, reports the Dallas Morning News. Marty Turco will get the call tomorrow against the Blue Jackets. If you pay attention to our weekly planner, you probably saw us guess this way back on Monday morning.

Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh Penguins - Fleury is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Rangers, reports the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.


The goalies below have not been confirmed by any sources:

Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins - Thomas is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Flyers.

Martin Biron, Philadelphia Flyers - Biron is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Bruins.

Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers - Lundqvist is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Penguins.

Johan Holmqvist, Tampa Bay Lightning - Holmqvist is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Capitals.

Brent Johnson, Washington Capitals - Johnson is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Lightning.

Curtis Sanford, St. Louis Blues - Sanford is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Islanders.

Rick DiPietro, New York Islanders - DiPietro is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Blues.

Ed Belfour, Florida Panthers - Belfour is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Stars.

Peter Budaj, Colorado Avalanche - Budaj is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Blackhawks.

Nikolai Khabibulin, Chicago Blackhawks - Khabibulin is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Avalanche.

Josh Harding, Minnesota Wild - Harding is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Oilers. Niklas Backstrom left yesterday's game after one period due to an apparent sore groin, so we'll stick with Harding for now.

Dwayne Roloson, Edmonton Oilers - Roloson is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Wild.

Curtis Joseph, Phoenix Coyotes - Joseph is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Canucks.

Roberto Luongo, Vancouver Canucks - Luongo is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Coyotes.

Ilya Bryzgalov, Anaheim Ducks - Bryzgalov is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Kings. Considerable uncertainty here as the Ducks play back-to-back games but Bryzgalov already received a start this past Monday. However, we'll put him down as the likely starter based on the fact that he was terrific in a 3-2 win by stopping 40 shots.

Mathieu Garon, Los Angeles Kings - Garon is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Ducks.


General goalie news:

Manny Legace, St. Louis Blues - Legace had arthroscopic surgery Tuesday to clean up cartilage in his right knee and will miss at least two weeks, reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The Blues aren't saying if Legace will miss the rest of the regular season, but with knee surgery for a goalie no matter how minor, that certainly has to be a possibility. Curtis Sanford will handle the bulk of starting duties in his absence but coach Andy Murray probably wouldn't hesitate to turn to Jason Bacashihua if Sanford falters.

Year-to-date: 1817 / 1912 = 95.0%