The Los Angeles Kings announced today that starting goaltender Jonathan Quick has a grade 2 groin strain. This means that Quick will likely be out for 4 to 6 weeks, maybe more. Groin strains are very tricky for goaltenders, and often times players try to come back too soon, and then get reinjured.  This injury is a big blow for the Kings, and maybe for the US Olympic hockey team, as well if Quick is not fully ready by February.  Quick had a magical year 2 seasons ago when the Kings won the Stanley Cup. He went 35-21-13 that season in 69 games played with a 1.95 goals against average a .929 save percentage and 10 shutouts.  He was even better in the playoffs with a 16-4 record a 1.41 goals against a .946 save percentage and 3 shotouts.  Quick has never come close to those numbers again.  Last year he went 18-13-4 with a 2.45 goals against and a .902 save percetage.  That save percentage was most definitely medicore.  As I have stated before, the NHL average is around .912-.915.  Anything less than that is subpar.  This year while Quick has a good 10-5-0 record, his save percentage is only .905.  He just has not been playing up to the level he did a couple of years ago.  Well he is going to be out for a while now, and it looks like backup Ben Scrivens who came over in a trade with Toronto will get his chance to be the starter. Scrivens has played in 5 games this year with a 1-1-1 record a nice 1.89 goals against and a .924 save percentage.  His career numbers are not as impressive though at 12-15-3 a 2.78 goals against and a .911 save percentage.  At 27 years old he has never had to shoulder the load of being a starting goaltender in the NHL.  He will have to now.  At least for a while.  The Kings have called up Martin Jones from the AHL to backup Scrivens. Jones has put up some good numbers in ths AHL going 9-2-2 this year, but for now Scrivens is going to be the man. Grab him and put him in your linep if you can.  The Kings are a solid team, and Scrivens should get a lot of wins. Stick saves: Minnesota goaltender Josh Harding came in to replace Niklas Backstrom after he was hit hard by Toronto forward Nazem Kadri a few nights ago. Harding had 19 saves in the Wild's 2-1 victory.  He has been outstanding this season with a 10-2-2 record an amazing 1.21 goals against average a .947 save percentage and 2 shutouts.  You have to ride this guy now because the often injured Backstrom is likely to be out for a while, and Harding is hot.  Get him in your lineup ...

ALL GOALIES CONFIRMED UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED AT TIME OF PRINT With the loss of Jonathan Quick to the dreaded LBI (lower-body injury), Ben Scrivens will see most of the action in net for the Los Angeles Kings. Scrivens takes on Kevin Poulin of the New York Islanders who is looking to push his foot in the door a little further for the Isles' starting job. Evgeni Nabokov hasn't instilled a lot of confidence in the coaching staff with a 3.24 GAA and .894 SP.  The team has played much better in front of Poulin as his numbers show (2.35 GAA & .924 SP) and he has started 4 of the past 6 games for the Islanders. The Kings are coming off a tough loss to the Buffalo Sabres but look for that to continue on the Island.  On home-ice, the advantage belongs to Poulin.... Jean-Sebastien Giguere draws a tough assignment tonight for the visiting Colorado Avalanche as they take on Jaroslav Halak and the St. Louis Blues. Giguere is playing lights out with a 1.00 GAA and .970 SP and a perfect 5-0-0 record.  Halak is playing well also with a 9-2-2 record but his stats don't match Giguere's.  However, the Notes have the home-ice advantage and the team should be ready to take on the NHL's biggest surprise so far this year in the Avalanche.  I would love to get "Jiggy" with it, but I just can't.  Blues at home after a tough OT loss to Phoenix.... Sergei Bobrovsky and the Columbus Blue Jackets head to Beantown to take on the Boston Bruins. Chad Johnson gets the call as the B's give Tuukka Rask a night off. This will be Johnson's third start of the year and the Bruins look to extend their winning streak to 4.  This is a good game for Johnson to play as the Blue Jackets have lost 6 of their last 7.  The B's won't leave Chad hanging in this one.... Tonight pits the two Conference leaders against one another as  Ben Bishop is in net for the Tampa Bay Lightning while Jonas Hiller gets back in the net for the Anaheim Ducks after 3 straight starts by rookie goalie phenom, Frederik Andersen.   The Bolts are coming off a 3-game road trip that was successful with 2 wins against Montreal and Detroit but suffered a devastating loss in Boston when their superstar scorer Steven Stamkos went down with a broken leg.  Bishop has been a rock for the Lightning in net, winning his last 5 starts.  The Bolts will return to the road after tonight's tilt.  Look for the Ducks to rebound after losing to the Florida Panthers 3-2 the other night.  Hiller will be the pillar in net for the Ducks tonight... ...

ALL GOALIES CONFIRMED UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED AT TIME OF PRINT The NHL's top team rolls into sunny Florida, as the Anaheim Ducks will face a Panthers squad who are losers of their last 8 games. Frederik Andersen, the Great Dane Goaltender, has been stellar while Tim Thomas has not been at his best since returning from a leg injury. In those two starts for Florida, he posted a 3.56 GAA and .881 SP. OUCH! Andersen continues his magical season... After having his three-game winning streak snapped at the hands of Colorado, Braden Holtby and the Washington Caps take the show home to face the struggling Columbus Blue Jackets. Alex Ovechkin and company should be stoked to get back in the winning column. Edge to Holtby...Jonathan Quick has won 5 of the last 6 starts for the Kings, while Ryan Miller was pulled in his last start after two periods in Buffalo's lop-sided loss to Anaheim. The Sabre's defense has been very porous, leaving Miller to hang out and dry on many occasions. The Kings should have their way tonight. Go Quick.... The Isles have been playing it smart by giving Kevin Poulin a bunch of starts in place of the struggling Evgeni Nabokov. Marek Mazanec gets his first career start after relieving Hutton in the last game. We love Poulin tonight against the invisible Nashville offense.... Niemi gets the night off as Alex Stalock will be getting just his second career start. Stalock and San Jose are looking to stop their 5-game winless streak. They are bound to win a game, right? Their opponent Calgary has fallen off after a good start, so expect a big bounce-back game from the Sharks... The matchup between the Devils and Rangers pit the best of all-time (Martin Brodeur), against the best right now (Henrik Lundqvist). This could be a mild shocker, as the proud Brodeur continues to roll, even against a surging Blueshirts squad....What could turn into another goaltending duel is Mike Smith and the Phoenix Coyotes against Jaroslav Halak and the St. Louis Blues. Phoenix is having a good start to the season behind Smith, whose metrics haven't been great, whereas Halak has solidified his hold on the No.1 spot for the Notes.  Notes over Yotes.....Even without the loss of Superstar Steven Stamkos, it was going to be a tough night against Carey Price (LIKELY) and the Montreal Canadiens. The Bolts may still be in shock over what happened yesterday, and now must find ways to replace the missing offense.  Ben Bishop (LIKELY) has been stellar so far this season and ...

Nabokov had a great history vs. the Capitals heading into Tuesday, but he was torched for six goals on 39 shots in the blowout loss. Nabby has had a hard time keeping the biscuit out of the net, allowing 25 goals in his last 6 starts (4.17 per game). He has a solid matchup tonight vs. the Blue Jackets.

Nabokov gave up four goals on 31 shots in a win over the Senators on Friday. He has given up at least three goals in all of his last five starts. Nabokov faces a Washington team who expects to get Alex Ovechkin back this evening.

Nabokov allowed three goals on 24 shots in a loss to the Rangers on Tuesday. After a good start to the season, Nabby has had a rough time in his last five starts. He won two, but had a 3.41 GAA and .887 SV%. Tonight he will face an Ottawa team who have lost three in a row.

Nabokov gave up three goals on 42 shots in a huge win over their divisional rivals, the Pittsburgh Penguins. Nabokov had given up 17 goals in his five previous starts (3.40 GAA). He'll look to grab a win over another rival tonight, vs. the Rangers.

Nabokov gave up five goals on 33 shots in a loss to the Canucks on Tuesday. He has a tough matchup vs. the Penguins tonight- he was 1-4-0 with a 3.04 GAA and .893 SV% vs. Pittsburgh last season. He has lost four of his last five starts, I would avoid this one tonight.

Nabokov allowed four goals on 23 shots in a 4-3 loss to the Hurricanes on Saturday. He has lost three of his last four starts and had a tough fantasy week last week - 1-1-1 / 2.95 GAA / .895 SV%. He has a tough matchup tonight with the Canucks in town.

Nabokov gave up two goals on 29 shots in a win over the Oilers on Thursday. The 38-year-old netminder has had a great start to the year - posting a 2.25 GAA and .925 SV% in six starts. He allowed three goals and lost in OT in his only game vs. Carolina last season.