This article is part of our The Daily Puck series.
The goaltending carousel can be a tricky beast to tame.
There can be good value in a back-up to a starter whose job isn't entirely secure.
If you don't keep an eye out, the ground will shift right under you. Like in Toronto, where James Reimer has the best nine-game save percentage of any point in his career at .951. He's posted five straight wins and has led Toronto to at least one point in his last seven games.
He's also making ridiculous shootout saves like this.
https://twitter.com/MapleLeafs/status/667907937248157696
Jonathan Bernier is going to have poison Reimer to get the net back.
In Edmonton Cam Talbot seemed like a sure thing to be their number one (and preseason it'd be fair to guess that Ben Scrivens would be number two). With Talbot and a seventh round pick costing a second rounder, a third rounder and a 7th rounder (that was higher than the seventh round pick going the other way).
Anders Nilsson cost only fringe prospect Liam Coughlin.
Yet, Talbot and his .890 save percentage have played just twice in November. It's been the Nilsson show in Alberta. And though Nilsson has certainly been a stretch from being the best in the west, he's putting up some decent performances and grabbing some wins. At least for now, he's the starter.
Meanwhile in Brooklyn, Thomas Greiss takes a loss for what was really on Jaroslav Halak. Jaro allowed three goals on 11 shots in the first period and ceded the net to Greiss at the start of the second. Halak is still the starter, but Greiss has a .931 save percentage on the season and that's not insignificant.
Outside of the top netminders in the league, it's a fickle position and value can appear in unexpected places. You need a good goaltender to win, but there are few who are a sure thing. Just look at how high Tuukka Rask went in drafts compared to his 5-7-1 record and .890 save percentage.
Projected Goalie Starters (all times Eastern)
For updates on the projected goalies later in the day, check our Projected Goalies Grid
Maple Leafs (Jonathan Bernier) at Boston Bruins (Tuukka Rask), 7:00 PM
Flyers (Steve Mason) at Senators (Craig Anderson), 7:00 PM
Ducks (Frederik Andersen) at Lightning (Ben Bishop), 7:00 PM
Rangers (Henrik Lundqvist) at Panthers (Roberto Luongo), 7:00 PM
Sharks (Martin Jones) at Penguins (Marc-Andre Fleury), 7:00 PM
Avalanche (Reto Berra) at Capitals (Braden Holtby), 7:00 PM
Coyotes (Mike Smith) at Jets (Michael Hutchinson), 7:00 PM
Red Wings (Jimmy Howard) at Blues (Jake Allen), 8:00 PM
Sabres (Chad Johnson) at Stars (Antti Niemi), 8:00 PM
Predators (Pekka Rinne) at Wild (Devan Dubnyk), 8:00 PM
Blackhawks (Scott Darling) at Canucks (Ryan Miller), 10:00 PM
Injury News For Teams Playing Saturday
Toronto Maple Leafs
Stephane Robidas, D (knee) - has no timeline on his return
Nick Spaling, C (upper body) - did not play Friday
Boston Bruins
Alexander Khokhlachev, C (hand) - remains out
Kevan Miller, D (upper body) - is expected to miss than next four games at least
Ben Sexton, C (hand) - remains out
David Pastrnak, LW (foot) - still out
Frank Vatrano, C (upper body) - is day-to-day after leaving Thursday's game with a hit
Chris Kelly, RW (femur fracture) - will miss the rest of the season
Philadelphia Flyers
R.J. Umberger, LW (undisclosed) - is still out
Mark Streit, D (pelvis) - is on long-term IR
Ryan White, RW (upper body) - is expected to miss at least another couple weeks
Ottawa Senators
Patrick Wiercioch, D (upper body) - has been ruled out of Saturday's game
Andrew Hammond, G (head) - was not available to the team on Thursday
Clarke MacArthur, LW (concussion) - is still without a timetable
Bobby Ryan, RW (undisclosed) - is considered to be doubtful for Thursday
Chris Phillips, D (back) - has not yet played this season
Anaheim Ducks
Nate Thompson, C (shoulder) - could be coming up on a return soon, but it won't be Saturday
Simon Despres, D (concussion) - is still dealing with a concussion
Jiri Sekac, RW (ankle) - is no longer on crutches, but is not skating
Tampa Bay Lightning
Mitchell Stephens, C (foot) - is out indefinitely
Tyler Johnson, C (upper body) - practiced in a no-contact jersey on Friday
Ondrej Palat, LW (lower body) - will be out another couple weeks
Jonathan Drouin, C (lower body) - missed Thursday's game
Cedric Paquette, C - is on IR
Ryan Callahan, RW (lower body) - practiced Friday
Florida Panthers
Dmitry Kulikov, D (lower body) - will miss a couple weeks
San Jose Sharks
Raffi Torres, LW (suspension) - is still serving a half-season suspension
Logan Couture, C (foot) - remains out
Ben Smith, RW (head) - has skated, but hasn't returned to practice
Pittsburgh Penguins
Olli Maatta, D (upper body) - is expected to miss a month
Bryan Rust, RW - resumed skating Friday
Colorado Avalanche
Alex Tanguay, LW (knee) - is expected to be out for an "extended period"
Brad Stuart, D (back) - is out
Semyon Varlamov, G (groin) - is back in practice but is still considered day-to-day
Jesse Winchester, LW (concussion) - is out
John Mitchell, C (oblique) - didn't play Thursday
Ben Street, C (chest) - didn't play Thursday
Washington Capitals
Brooks Orpik, D (lower body) - wasn't able to return for Thursday's game
Arizona Coyotes
Nicklas Grossmann, D (lower body) - is considered doubtful for Saturday
Steve Downie, RW (upper body) - didn't travel with the team to Columbus for Saturday's game
Joe Vitale, C (fractured orbital bone) - is still out
Winnipeg Jets
Blake Wheeler, RW (face) - took a puck to the face in practice on Friday and left in considerable pain
Detroit Red Wings
Kyle Quincey, D (ankle) - is expected to miss a couple months
Landon Ferraro, RW (knee) - is approaching a return, but is doubtful for Saturday
Johan Franzen, RW (concussion) - is on long-term IR
St. Louis Blues
Patrik Berglund, C (shoulder) - has yet to play this season
Jaden Schwartz, LW (ankle) - won't return soon
Colton Parayko, D (upper body) - hasn't been ruled out for Saturday, but is still considered day-to-day
Paul Stastny, C (foot) has skated with the team, but doesn't appear ready to return
Buffalo Sabres
Cody McCormick, C -(illness) - isn't going to be back soon
Mike Weber, D (knee) - is considered week-to-week
Robin Lehner, G (ankle) - still isn't ready to return
Mark Pysyk, D (lower body) - didn't return to practice on Friday
Zemgus Girgensons, C (undisclosed) - isn't traveling with the team
Dallas Stars
Brett Ritchie, RW (wrist) - isn't ready and won't be rushed back
Nashville Predators
Eric Nystrom, LW (upper body) - didn't play Friday
Paul Gaustad, C (lower body) - didn't play Friday
Minnesota Wild
Zach Parise, LW (knee) - is expected to return to practice Saturday, but won't play
Marco Scandella, D (lower body) - was placed on injured reserve Thursday
Justin Fontaine, RW (knee) - has started skating again, but won't play
Jonas Brodin, D (illness) - was a late scratch Thursday
Tyler Graovac, C (hernia) - is likely to miss at least another three weeks
Chicago Blackhawks
Teuvo Teravainen, C (upper body) - is expected to be sidelined for a few games
Marko Dano, C (illness) - didn't play Friday
Vancouver Canucks
Ben Hutton, D (undisclosed) - has been ruled out of Saturday's game
Radim Vrbata, RW (groin) - is considered a game-time decision for Saturday
Brandon Sutter, C (lower body) - will not play Saturday
Hot
Patrick Kane, RW, CHI — Yeah, you know he's been on fire, but as of Friday his incredible start to the season has reached new heights. He's now on a career-high 15-game point streak. He has a wildly impressive 31 points in 20 games. Not only has he only been held without a point only twice this season, he has at least two points in six of his last nine games.
Leon Draisaitl, C, EDM — He was a recommended pickup just over a week ago, now it'd be tough to find him on waivers in any league and in weekly or daily games his price is climbing rapidly. After a three-point night against New Jersey on Friday, he's got 17 points in 10 games. That's no small feat for the 20-year-old rookie.
Cold
Kris Versteeg, RW, CAR — Even if he managed to grab an assist on Friday -- his first point in seven games -- it's been quite a slump for Versteeg. With Versteeg you've only been getting help in a single category on any given night. He has five shots one night, no points. Gets a point last night, no shots. Rostering him when guys like Teddy Purcell are out there doesn't make any sense for now.
Marian Gaborik, RW, LAK — He's approaching droppable status. He's got just two goals and two assists in 19 games. He's averaging 2.2 shots per game, which is well below what he's done even in recent seasons. There's just not a lot of meat on the bone here.
Recommended Pickup
Evander Kane, LW, BUF — His ownership has shot up since the news hit on Wednesday that he'd be back. However, his ownership isn't at 100% and it should be. He's going to get every chance to succeed and even when he doesn't score, he can provide hits and shots at a good clip. In his first game back he pitched in five shots, three hits and a plus-1 rating. He's averaging three hits a game this season and hasn't eased up on the physical play in his return from injury.
