Tell me I'm crazy. I'm going to sit Rask

[MarmotKing]

Start your best goalies. In the long run, you'll come out on top.

[mister_mcgoo]

I can understand that matchups matter sometimes but for me matchup analyses don't always predict future performance, especially when looking at our perceived top players. Sure, sometimes they work but I've been burned too many times trying to look at them that way. Furthermore, I would rather my 'stud' have a poor outing in my starting lineup then a strong one on my bench, just because the matchup said otherwise.

I don't think it's poor advice necessarily, it's just how we each manage our own teams and I'm giving this advice based on how I would do it. Some people have success using matchups and others don't. Others also have success with starting your stud strategy. What if the Flames win and Rask gets a shutout on my bench? (resist laughing about the Flames comment ) That would hurt more than Rask having a sub par performance in my lineup. I would accept it knowing that is an outlier.

Now, let's see if he takes my advice on sitting Holtby.

If he sits Rask and Tampa wins then he can say he told me so.

Haha, I think maybe you misunderstood me...I'm with you, I would start Halak/Rask personally. My point was simply that while Rask is a good start, Halak is an excellent start for tonight IMO.

And yes, obviously this could all go **** up and TB and NSH win big but you gotta play the odds

[horrorfan]

Haha, I think maybe you misunderstood me...I'm with you, I would start Halak/Rask personally. My point was simply that while Rask is a good start, Halak is an excellent start for tonight IMO.

And yes, obviously this could all go **** up and TB and NSH win big but you gotta play the odds

Sure I agree, that's why I said to sit Holtby.

[joeygmoney]

If you want to play matchups thats cool, but it should be done with Halak and Holtby never Rask. Rask is one of the 2 or 3 best goalies alive, you play him every start he has with confidence no matter what.

[theslymonkey]

So here's what I find funny.

Last night I am heading off to bed, and I think
"Hey I should throw this out on the forum to see if I am nuts to sit Rask."

What I expected this morning when I logged in was to find a couple people commenting:
"Start Rask you idiot.... You're crazy...."

What I didn't expect to find was a fairly long thread that actually has me thinking that I might sit Holtby against the Flames.

I understand the lunacy of sitting Rask, so I won't ever ask that question again

So the choice is now Holtby or Halak, and after reading everyones comments I am thinking Halak might be the better option. Except Bondon told me to start Halak. Thats the kiss of death....

I'll throw out some random REP for the great thread. Thanks to everyone.

[Pengwin7]

For me:
Rask vs. TB
Holtby vs. CGY

I'm sitting Halak because the Blues have some new players and this is a "pressure start", IMO for Halak.
Recall last year ended poorly for him and there is a threat that the Blues could head towards Elliott or Allen if Halak struggles.
That shit gets in goalies' heads.
Goalies don't play well under pressure... well... MOST goalies don't.

I'd start Rask against ANY team when Boston is at home.
Why: Boston is an incredible defensive team with potentially one of the best defensive/face-off forwards in the NHL (Bergeron).
Do you know what teams get to do when they are at home?
Change last.
That means that BOS can match up a checking line against Stammer/MSL all. game. long.
Don't sit Rask at home. Unwise, IMO.

Anybody vs. CGY is pretty much a start this year.

Rask.
Holtby.
Bench Halak.

Oh... and "you are crazy"... since you said I could say it!!!

[horrorfan]

Just so I look like a genius if I get it right:

Calgary 4 Washington 3.

If I'm wrong, then it's expected.

[mister_mcgoo]

Goalies don't play well under pressure... well... MOST goalies don't.

You don't say?

[Pengwin7]

You don't say?

1. That was not Halak's team at that time. It was Price's team. Nobody expected anything from Halak that season, i.e. No pressure.
2. Montreal was not expected to beat Washington... or PIT. They were #8 seed vs. #1 seed. I even had a buddy who put money on a WAS sweep that series. i.e. No pressure.

Halak played well... because there was NOT oodles of pressure.

[mister_mcgoo]

1. That was not Halak's team at that time. It was Price's team. Nobody expected anything from Halak that season, i.e. No pressure.
2. Montreal was not expected to beat Washington... or PIT. They were #8 seed vs. #1 seed. I even had a buddy who put money on a WAS sweep that series. i.e. No pressure.

Halak played well... because there was NOT oodles of pressure.

wrong on both counts...they were 1A/1B that season, it didn't become 'price's Team' until the subsequent season. And just because no one else expects you to win doesn't mean you're not under pressure, besides which you don't face 40-50 shots a game by the likes of Ovechkin, Semin, Crosby and Malkin and not feel the pressure, especially given how close those games were...puuuulease

[Pengwin7]

Mcgoo, if a guy isn't expected to win... there's very little pressure.
That's my point.

There's a big difference between being expected to be the team's #1 goalie (Halak 2013 STL) and being a guy who happens to be doing a better-than-expected job (Halak 2010 MON)

Besides... how long does this Halak 2010 clip apply to?

Oct 06, 2015 - Halak's coming off a 17-win, 3.24 GAA season with Florida.
Somebody bashes Halak as not being a good start... but wait, Mcgoo's got a 2010 highlight video of him.

Oct 04, 2017 - Halak's coming off an 1-8, 3.65 season as Columbus' back-up.
Somebody bashes Halak as not being a good start... but wait, Mcgoo's got a 2010 highlight video of him.

2046 - Halak is in the retirement home.
Somebody says "Well, don't start Halak tonight!"
But wait...

[mister_mcgoo]

Mcgoo, if a guy isn't expected to win... there's very little pressure.
That's my point.

There's a big difference between being expected to be the team's #1 goalie (Halak 2013 STL) and being a guy who happens to be doing a better-than-expected job (Halak 2010 MON)

Besides... how long does this Halak 2010 clip apply to?

Oct 06, 2015 - Halak's coming off a 17-win, 3.24 GAA season with Florida.
Somebody bashes Halak as not being a good start... but wait, Mcgoo's got a 2010 highlight video of him.

Oct 04, 2017 - Halak's coming off an 1-8, 3.65 season as Columbus' back-up.
Somebody bashes Halak as not being a good start... but wait, Mcgoo's got a 2010 highlight video of him.

2046 - Halak is in the retirement home.
Somebody says "Well, don't start Halak tonight!"
But wait...

you're not making much sense now dude, this whole reply is a jumbled mess:

1)you were suggesting that he was not a good option under pressure, my reply video was solely directed on disproving that, it has nothing to do with anything else and it doesn't meanthat I'm going to trot out a highlight reel for him indefinitely or something, that was simply an excellent example of a goalie elevating his game and playing well under pressure.
2)who says he's the team's #1 goalie? it's been goaltending by committee since the 2011-12 season, why would you imagine it would be different this year? The Blues have recognized that it's better to split starts and keep them both healthy and competitive and it's worked very well for them.
3)Plus you mentioned 'last year ended poorly for him' which isn't really fair either, he was hampered by a groin injury most of the season, you can't expect a goalie to be at his best with that kinda injury

[havanablast21]

Start Rask and Holtby.

I would probably start Rask every game this season. He is that solid.

YUP! What he said. Don't be surprised if Tampa is shut down tonight. They don't have the hype of their new young draftee...it's business as usual for the Bolts tonight...I don't forsee them surprising the Bruins on home ice for their season/home opener.

[bondon]

So much for starting anybody against Calgary lol jesus... Anybody watching the game and can comment what happened to Holtby?

[mister_mcgoo]

I'm just going to leave this here:

Rask - W - 32/33 = .970S%
Halak - W - 23/25 = .920S%
Holtby - (pulled) - 3/8 = .727S%