HOCKEYORA

Thursday, October 29 · Eastern time

NHL Starting Goalies Tonight

Who is in net tonight: the expected starting goalie of both teams in every NHL game, projected from each team’s recent starts and confirmed from the box score once the puck drops, with his save percentage, goals against average, record and last start this season. Tomorrow’s goalies are further down.

11 games tonight · 0 confirmed starters · 1 back-up start expected on a back-to-back.

Tonight · Oct 29

Tomorrow · Oct 30

Questions

How do you project the starting goalie?
From every goalie appearance of the season (the NHL's game-by-game stats). A team's No. 1 is the goalie with the most starts in its last 20 games, among those who started at least once in the last 10, so a goalie out injured drops out. On the second night of a back-to-back, when the No. 1 started the first night, we expect the back-up.
When is a starter confirmed?
Teams do not name their goalie in a feed before the game, so every goalie on this page is projected until the puck drops. Once the game has begun, the NHL's box score marks the goalie who started, and the page shows him as confirmed.
How often is the projection right?
Tested on past NHL seasons, the No. 1 / back-to-back rule named the real starter about two times in three. Late news (an injury, a coach resting his starter, a hot back-up) is what it misses.
What do save percentage and GAA mean?
Save percentage is the share of shots on goal the goalie stopped this season (.910 = 91 of 100). Goals against average (GAA) is the goals he allowed per 60 minutes in net. Both count every appearance before tonight, regular season only.
Does the starting goalie change your picks?
Our win chances come from team ratings and, where bookmakers price the game, the betting market, which moves when a starter is announced. The goalie line on each game page shows who we expect and his numbers.

More: NHL games tonight · NHL picks today · NHL standings · How the model works