ALL GOALIES ARE CONFIRMED UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED AT THE TIME OF PRINT The San Jose Sharks shuffle into Buffalo to take on Ryan Miller and the Sabres. Antti Niemi (LIKELY) is hoping that there is still some ammo left in the Shark's tank for tonight's game after last night's 7-3 pasting of the Philadelphia Flyers. The Sabres have some serious momentum going even though half their team is on the trading block.  Or so it seems.  Expect a low-scoring affair with the Sharks taking a bite out of Buffalo's swagger....Semyon Varlamov gets the call tonight against the visiting Phoenix Coyotes.  Thomas Greiss (LIKELY) should get the call after Mike Smith started last night. Greiss is more than capable as Smith's backup but that all he is.  Both teams coming off losses last night, so expect a good fight for the much needed 2 points....Minnesota Wild wonder boy Darcy Kuemper gets the call on back-to-back nights but expect a different outcome against a Vancouver Canucks team that is ready to break out offensively. Roberto Luongo (LIKELY) will backstop the Canucks after Eddie Lack's impressive 1-0 shutout of the St. Louis Blues. Luongo steals the show...Jaroslav Halak proved in his last outing (a 1-0 loss to Vancouver) that he is a top quality goaltender but wins is what matters at this point in the season. A poor outing could see the likes of Ryan Miller or Martin Brodeur in a Blues' jersey before the weekend is out.  It will be a tough matchup as Halak will be facing Jonas Hiller (LIKELY) and the Anaheim Ducks, the Western Conference leaders and a team the Blues need to show they can beat if they want to advance far in the playoffs. The Ducks are mightier than the Notes in this tilt. FANTASY MUST STARTS: Antti Niemi, San Jose @ Buffalo Jonas Hiller, Anaheim vs. St. Louis SLEEPERS: None. DAILY GOALIE PICKS: Steve: (76-46) Semyon Varlamov Ray: (68-53) Jonas Hiller Mike: (59-44) Antti Niemi

ALL GOALIES ARE CONFIRMED UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED AT THE TIME OF PRINT The Columbus Blue Jackets are still trying to claw their way into a playoff position but will find a tough opponent in the New Jersey Devils. Cory Schneider is firmly entrenched as the Devils Number 1 goaltender with Martin Brodeur quietly seeking a trade. Schneider's numbers are spectacular even though his win-loss record doesn't live up to those metrics.  However, he does give the Devils thebe best chance at winning, and that is what they need in order to get back into the playoff hunt.  Sergei Bobrovsky has been playing much better since his return from injury and he will need to lead the Jackets if they want to play in the dance come April. Devils at home.....The New York Islanders will face the Toronto Maple Leafs on the Island tonight but without their superstar, John Tavares.  Evgeni Nabokov will man the nets for the depleted squad while Jonathan Bernier goes for the Leafs. The Leafs may prove too much for the inexperienced Islanders who will also be without the services of Frans Nielsen & Matt Martin. Leafs blow away the Isles...their 11-4 surge started when they beat tonight's opponent, the Chicago Blackhawks, 3-2 in Chicago on January 8th. Henrik Lundqvist also started to return to form and the Rangers have been rolling along up until the Olympic break.  Lundqvist gets another days rest as Cam Talbot mans the pipes for the Blueshirts. The Hawks are 3-3-3 in past 9 and will try and get back on track with Corey Crawford getting the start. The Rangers should be focused as they don't play again until Saturday against Philly.  Rangers.... Speaking of Philly, San Jose heads into the City of Brotherly Love but won't find any as Steve Mason and the Flyers are pushing to secure a playoff position.  Alex Stalock should get the nod for the Sharks but will face a tough opponent tonight. Antti Niemi gets a little more rest. Take the cheesesteaks....The Montreal Canadiens had a tough overtime loss last night against Detroit but there is no letting up as they face the Eastern Conference leader, the Pittsburgh Penguins.  With Carey Price out for at least one more game, Peter Budaj (LIKELY) will probably man the crease again tonight. The Pens will probably go with Marc-Andre Fleury as they seek to lock down the top seed for the playoffs. With their legs under them now, I see an upset in Steeltown....A revitalized Braden Holtby leads the Washington Capitals into Miami, Florida to take on Tim ...

Niemi was pulled after he allowed four goals on 23 shots in a 5-2 loss to the Flyers on Monday. He was given Wednesday night off but will be back in net with the Blue Jackets in town. Niemi has yet to face Columbus this season, but has a fantastic 18-3-3 record with a 2.07 GAA and .922 SV% at the 'Shark Tank' this season.

San Jose's starting goatender Antti Niemi is considered a premiere NHL goaltender. He is usually taken pretty high in fantasy drafts.  The Sharks are a team loaded with talent, although they struggle every year to win the big prize, Mr. Stanley Cup.  San Jose has a lot of aging stars like Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau and Dan Boyle. The future is really now for them this year, if they want to win the cup.  This situation may potentially be a catalyst for a game changer in goal  as Niemi, despite his status as a starter, has suddenly been sharing a lot of time with backup Alex Stalock. This is a bit of a stretch for me because Stalock has only played in 14 NHL games, while Niemi has played in more than 220 games.  But the 26 year old American, Stalock had good numbers in the AHL, and he has played well when he has had a chance this year for the Sharks.  His numbers are 8-4-0 with a 1.67 GAA and a .938 SP.  Since January 20th, Niemi and Stalock have split the last 10 San Jose games, so they each have played 5 of the last 10 games. This is something to watch because it is unusual to have an established starting goaltender like Niemi split so much time with an inexperienced backup. Niemi has 28 wins this year, but his .912 save percentage is really just average, a little below his career number of .916,  and if the Sharks want to win the cup this year, which they most surely want to do, they may potentially make a move to Stalock.  It may be a lot of smoke on my part, but it is something you should keep an eye on, especially if you are Niemi owners.  You may want to handcuff Stalock just in case the worst happens.      

Niemi stopped 29 of 30 shots as he out-dueled Corey Crawford to a 2-1 shootout win over the Blackhawks on Saturday. It was his 28th win of the season which puts him one behind Marc-Andre Fleury for the NHL lead. He carries an 18-2-3 home record into tonight vs.the Flyers.

Niemi allowed three goals on 27 shots in a loss to the Oilers on Monday. Ben Scrivens made 59 saves on the other end of the ice, handing Niemi his first loss in his last four starts. He'll get another shot at the Blackhawks tonight, they lit him up for five goals on 27 shots in November.

Niemi allowed two goals on 22 shots in a win over the Wild on last Wednesday. Niemi has won four in a row while posting a 2.18 GAA and .918 SV%. He draws a strong matchup against the Oilers tonight. He is 1-0-0 against Edmonton this year.

ALL GOALIES ARE CONFIRMED UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED AT THE TIME OF PRINTING Only 3 games on tap tonight in the NHL. The Rangers at the New York Islanders is the feature game as it will be played outdoors at Yankee Stadium. Henrik Lundqvist has been (confirmed) for New York tonight. Lundqvist has really been heating up lately with wins in 3 of his last 4 games and 6 of his last 8.  The "King" has a solid save percentage of .931 in January.  Lundqvist got smacked around by the Islanders in late Dcecember, but these are different teams now.  Evegeni Nabokov is (likely) for the Islanders now that he is back from injury, and considering how ineffectual Kevin Poulin has been. Nabokov missed 3 weeks with an injury, but he relieved Poulin in New York's 6-3 loss to Boston this week. While Nabokov's numbers are mediocre at a 2.85 goals against and a .905 save percentage, he is a better option than Poulin. Like NYR in this one. Antti Niemi is (likely) for San Jose at Edmonton. Niemi is 7-0-1 in his last 8 games against the Oilers, and he has been having a great year with 27 wins. He has won his last 4 games, although each was by only one goal. Ben Scrivens has been (confirmed) for the Oilers. Scrivens has played 3 games for the Oilers since coming over in a trade from Los Angeles. He is 1-2 in those 3 games although he had a nice 5-1 against Nashville in his last game. But go with the Sharks. The last game features Chicago against Vancouver. Corey Crawford is (likely) for the Blackhawks, and his performance is starting to get downright scary for Chicago fans. He has lost 3 straight and his record is 2-8 in January, not exactly confidence inspiring considering how good the Blackhawks are. He does have a decent .918 save percentage in January though.  Roberto Luongo is (likely) for the Canucks, and he has been sort of mediocre himself losing 2 of his last 3. His 2.25 goals against on the year is pretty good though, so we like Vancouver. FANTASY MUST STARTS: Anttti Niemi, San Jose at Edmonton SLEEPERS: Evgeni Nabokov, NYI vs. NYR DAILY GOALIE PICKS: Steve: (67-41) Henrik Lundqvist Ray: (62-45) Henrik Lundqvist Mike: (52-38) Antti Niemi

Niemi gave up two goals on 23 shots in a 3-2 win over Calgary on Monday. He was given a break on Thursday, when Alex Stalock faced the Jets, but he Niemi will return to the crease tonight vs. Minnesota. He has won three consecutive starts with a 2.33 GAA and .920 SV%. He enters play tonight 1-1-0 against the Wild this season.

Niemi gave up two goals on 23 shots in a 3-2 win over Calgary on Monday. He was given a break on Thursday, when Alex Stalock faced the Jets, but it looks like Niemi will return to the crease tonight vs. Minnesota. He has won three consecutive starts with a 2.33 GAA and .920 SV%. He enters play tonight 1-1-0 against the Wild this season.