The top six goalies are so close you couldn’t slide a piece of paper in between them, according to keeper leagues with a playoff element.

Just doing the goalie keeper rankings – and while Luongo and Fleury have tumbled, they haven’t tumbled enough to fall out of the Top 2… I’m trying to see how any of the other Top 10 goalies have shown enough to topple one of them, but hell – none of the other Top 10 goalies have really stepped up! Bryzgalov… a little. Lundqvist… nope. Rask…haha. Rinne was hurt and opened the door a crack for Lindback… Halak… nope, not enough. Quick… sure, but he has Bernier breathing down his neck. Price? Yes, but it’s early yet. So because of this, I’m afraid Luongo and Fleury remain the best goalies to own in keeper leagues that include a playoff component. Even though it contradicts what I say on here. The track record, the salary, the contract, etc will see to it that they get tons of chances at redemption.

Chris Vivlamore reports that Niclas Bergfors will be scratched again. Also, Bogosian will not play either (injury – day to day).

Update: Gonchar is back on the ice.

Bruce Garrioch reports that Sergei Gonchar left practice this morning “hurting”. Looks like he took a Kovalev shot off the foot. Man, Kovalev can’t do anything right this year.

New rss feed for the ramblings is below (couldn’t put it up here because it makes the intro box all wonky)

One game after Cory Schneider stops 32 of 33 shots for the win, Roberto Luongo stops… 12 of 18 shots for the loss. And to rub salt in the wound of Luongo owners, Schneider came on in relief and kicked aside all six shots he faced against the Wild. Now what we have is a highly-paid goalie who is signed for another 50 years, give or take, who seems to have lost a step 21 months ago when he injured his groin. Maybe it’s a mental edge, or maybe it’s something physical, but Luongo was the best goalie in the NHL and now he’s merely above average. Meanwhile, you have Schneider who has the talent to take that crown for himself. It’s very early still, but I would be wary of a Thomas/Rask situation here, but worse – since last year Thomas was injured, whereas Luongo is still healthy. Something’s gotta give – Luongo owners need him to get into the zone.

The Wild is suddenly this juggernaut of offense, with five players at a point-per-game or higher. Matt Cullen has eight points in five games to lead the way. Marek Zidlicky has four points in three games and his return seems to have helped Brent Burns. At the same time, it seems to have knocked Cam Barker off the top power play.

Ryan Kesler has just one point and is a minus-1 in six games. He is a great acquisition for a cheap price right now, because even if he has a bad season it will be much better than his current pace.

Pekka Rinne returned to action and stopped 34 of 35 shots, only giving one up in overtime. And Rene Bourque returned and scored that overtime winner for Calgary in the 1-0 snoozefest. Leave it to Nashville.

This is why I say Nashville gets 45 wins again, yet no player will get 60 points. Even New Jersey, Florida and Minnesota play more of an offensive style than the Preds.

Lines for Nashville: Wilson with Erat and Dumont; O’Reilly with Horny and Sully; Legwand with Tootoo and Ward; SK was on the fourth line.

For Calgary, Jokinen played with Morrison and Hagman; Stajan had Iggy and Tanguay again; Bourque had Backlund as his pivot and Glencross on the other wing.

Ryan Suter played just one minute. He left the game with an injury to his knee (clip below).

Thanks to Jason Arbuthnot for fixing the rss for the Ramblings. Here it is if you need an rss feed: http://www.dobberhockey.com/rss/ramblings.xml

Marcus Johansson scored his first NHL goal for the Caps.

Milan Lucic continues to roll as tallied a couple of points. Give him five in four games for the B’s. He got a goal, an assist and a fight – his second Gordie Howe hat trick of his career.

Michal Neuvirth left the game with the flu after letting in two of seven shots. Varlamov came in and stopped 11 of 12, but the loss went to Neuvirth. Injuries (or in this case, illness) will often determine who is Washington’s starter. When one of these guys gets to start two games in a row, he’ll hang onto the job until he gets hurt (or sick) again, and then the other guy will take over and go on his run. Each of them will look like a superstar, because the Caps will often win even if my Aunt Martha was in net.

I don’t have an Aunt Martha, I just think it’s a funny name.

New philosophy in Carolina? Jamie McBain finally got some decent PP time and earned an assist for it, while Joe Corvo was relegated to the second unit with him. Pitkanen and Babchuk were on the top unit, which is understandable. I just didn’t know why Paul Maurice was using Corvo there so often prior to last night.

Drayson Bowman and Zach Dalpe each played only five or six minutes. One or both will be sent down soon I’m sure. Jiri Tlusty is champing at the bit to get in, and Sergei Samsonov was the other healthy scratch up front.

Joe Thornton is a minus-6 so far this season. Can we blame him? Or can we blame the goaltenders and how they are a combined 88% SP? I wonder how Thomas Greiss would do…

Jason Pominville is back exercising, which indicates to me that he is about two weeks away at the most. Difficult to tell with concussions, though.

In practice, Tyler Ennis was demoted to the fourth line. Perhaps that’s what he needs – last year he couldn’t stop producing, no matter how little he was used, and thus worked his way to the top of the depth chart. This year, he’s had the top of the depth chart handed to him, and he hasn’t done enough with it.

I wouldn’t worry about Nate Gerbe. He has this year and next year where he won’t impress you with numbers. But the year after that, when he’s 26 or so, watch out. That’s the M.O. for both Steve Sullivan and Martin St. LOuis – nothing until they are 23 or 24, then a couple of ho-hum NHL seasons, and then they took off. I’ve been saying this for two years about Gerbe, but it can’t hurt to remind you, as not all of you read me every day (what’s wrong with you!?!?). So don’t be frustrated with him. Don’t write him off. He is going according to the script so far.

On Taylor Hall going back to junior (not “juniors” – “junior”) – whether he is NHL ready or not (he is, but even if you disagree), junior hockey is not a challenge to him. It is an insult. A wasted year. He’ll go there, put in half the effort, and still lead the OHL in scoring. And his development will be zero.

Marc Savard is back skating, and according to ESPN he skated for 25 minutes yesterday. Sounds like he could be back in two weeks, but he is taking it extremely slow and playing it safe. Two weeks is best case, and it’s just my personal opinion.

Henrik Karlsson is expect to make his debut on Friday for the Flames.

This injury to Suter’s knee looks serious. Franson may see a production bump as a result. Here’s the hit:

Whoops! Rick Rypien attacks a fan? Thanks to Puck Daddy for digging this clip up: