Pick 'Em: Winter Classic Starting Goalie

Really, the call couldn’t be tougher at this point. Neuvirth has been pretty solid all season while Varlamov was hurt. Varlamov has been there the last couple years when it mattered most, and just came off a shutout.

I say dress one as a D-man.

Came up heads, went with Neuvirth.

I’m going to say Neuvirth. He just seems more solid to me, better positionally, and less likely to hurt himself making a great save. Varlamov is quick but he has that recurring groin issue which concerns me.

Tough call, I went Neuvy just because I’m scared of Varly’s mask.

It’s a good problem to have, but I think I’d have to go with Neuvirth. I think the weather concern probably wins out.

Sounds like one of them “good” problems.

I think Varly will start, given Bruce’s “win-and-you’re-in” mantra, and he has been solid over the past couple of games. I also think that’s the right decision, though, because Varlamov’s conditioning and endurance seems to be markedly better than Neuvirth’s, and I imagine he’ll hold up a little better under any questionable weather conditions.

Flip a coin on this one. Both goalies have been real good this year. I think the Caps play better in front of SV40. Since I have to spend the game this in a room full of Pens fans, I hope we beat em good. The weather sure doesn’t look good, though.

Surprised that Neuvirth is getting as much support, but not surprised at the arguments. Both goalies are deserving, but I have the feeling that Varly earned the start by getting the shutout last night. Neuvirth has played great this year, don’t get me wrong. He was arguably the best Cap the first month of the season, and while he trailed off a little, has played well of late and was the winning goalie that ended the losing streak. That being said, sitting a young goalie after a shutout doesn’t send the best message.

I think another question that should be asked is, would this even be a debate if the game wasn’t the Winter Classic? Think about it… Neuvy starts last week against Pitt, plays well, but loses. It would seem that logic points towards Varly getting a crack against the Pens to see what he can do whenever the teams met next.

I’d give it to Varly. He won it in Bruce’s “win and you’re in” system, but more importantly he’s proven to be good under intense pressure for us. Not to say Nevuy wouldn’t be, but he hasn’t been thrown into the fire quite as often.

It would be hard to be disappointed with either choice, though.

Flip a coin, there’s no way to pick based on merit.

I voted Varly but I’m surprised that it’s so heavily tilted his way right now (61%). Varly has looked great the past few games, I say stick with him. I know everyone harps on his injury history, but since he’s come back, he hasn’t had one issue. In that amount of time, Neuvy has had a few tweaks that have kept him out of games.

I agree with someone above that the team seems a bit more comfortable with Varly, perhaps from his communication and stick handling.

Why not let each guy play half the game? Not very conventional, but let’s not forget this is a glorified regular season game. Both goalies deserve to experience the winter classic imo.

I’ve been expecting for about a month that whoever the hot hand at the time would get the start and then depending on how the game was going the other goalie would come in during the third period or half way through the second.

So I’m saying Varly starts. If he has a SO going into the third he’ll stay in. If he has let up only quality goals but the Caps are in the lead Neuvy will come in for the third. If he’s playing terribly Neuvy will come in.

Switch every time we give up a goal.

As for the #1 goalie, who knows

But as far as against the Pens, I’d say Varly. More experience against the pens and against crosby and malkin you need a goalie that can breakdance and knead dough all at the same time. Varly’s more acrobatic

Looks like the votes are going 1 and the comments are going 30.

Would we even be asking this question, if it wasn’t the WC? Varly just won two games back-to-back and pitched a shut out last night. I think you have to stay with the hot hand.

If you are an “alternater,” then I’ll argue it’s Varly’s time to get Pittsburgh, because Neuvy got them last week.

I’d go with Varly, but only on the condition he uses a different mask. His current Winter Classic mask is slightly embarrassing. Looks like Semin had a bit too much to do with it.

Varly won his game. He’s in. I like the win and you’re in mindset, even if it’s not always fair. Had he lost, I’d have said to put Neuvirth in.

ESPN says we are still looking to trade for a goalie, so I say we end this discussion and just bring in Ty Conklin.

Considering JP’s post the other day about how much better each goalie does having started the previous game, I think you have to go with Varly.

I’d go Varly. He’s playing well right now, and is looking like he’s improved positionally. If he can keep his groin healthy and continue to play this style, I could see him taking the #1 spot.

Can anyone remind me what Neuvirth’s injury was?

My instinct (and my vote) go to Varlamov. Two games ago, Neuvirth skipped a game he was supposed to start because of an injury. Varly played well. Last game, Varly had a pretty nice little shutout. I think having Neuvirth’s first game back from injury be the outdoor game sounds risky. And I think a guy who has a shutout deserves the next start.

I chose Varly, but mostly because at some point (April), this team needs to choose a goalie and stick with him. Coming into this season, that was Varly, and despite how good Neuvy’s been playing, Varly hasn’t lost that spot.

Our #1 goalie (injury not limiting) needs to play as many “pressure” games as possible. This team is about the post-season and the more “post-season-like” games our #1 goalie can get under his belt, the better. Varly is still considered that guy.

I’m surprised there isn’t more of a sentiment for giving the start to Neuvy in part as a reward for carrying the team in October. I probably should’ve added that in the last line before the poll. I mean, the kid’s done everything they’ve asked of him all year… I think he deserves the start.

I start the guy who just shutout Montreal last night and isn’t a week removed from tweaking something.

Var-ly! Var-ly! Var-ly!

Seroiusly though.. I’d put in Varlamov.

Did Neuvy save our collective bacon multiple times in October, preventing us from having to claw our way out of an even deeper hole in the SE and giving us a cushion to absorb the terrible December Slide with? Yes, yes he did. Does he have good rebound control, a good sense of where the puck is and where it will be? Yes. Does he suffer from Russian Brittle Groin Syndrome? Signs point to no.

With all that said, I’m going with Varly. Why? Because this isn’t a seven game series, it’s only one game and coming off a dominating shutout (one where he actually held off some good shots) I think he’s in the zone. Plus, if it goes to shootout – as it very well might – there’s no question who I want in the net. Varly is ice cold in the shootout and even though Neuvy stood on his head in that Pitt game, there’s no way Dupuis gets that shot past the Varlamonster in a SO.

Another small, but not insignificant fact: I don’t know where I read this, perhaps one of the Hershey writers, but it was noted some time ago Neuvy has NEVER played an outside game in his career (is this correct?). I suspect the Beast from Samara has played many.

Great pull from Stack the Pads here. I won’t spoil it for you, but it’s worth a click.

I do not want to see that mask on TV.

I’m a bigger fan of Neuvirth, but I voted Varlamov on this one. The determining factor is the shut out. If he had even let in one goal last night I might have gone with Neuvirth.

If BB goes with Varly, he’s just continuing his “go with the hot hand” system.
But if he goes with Neuvy (especially after Varly’s SO) he’s identifying his #1 goalie.
My bet is on Varly.

Whether it’s Varly or Neuvy, I think we’ll all concede that the fact that’s it’s such a difficult decision is a very good thing.

Team-Neuvirth, but what determined my decision to vote for Varlamov was seeing his play (in person) en route to an SO last night. It might be me, but I’m noticing he seems more solid positionally relative to the ongoing play than he has ever been. Improved economy of movement lately coupled with less reliance on his instinctual, explosive reflexes and athletic aggressiveness has been impressive over the last few games he’s played. Just an observation.

Then again, I’m not a goalie.

Start Varly

Varly. How do you sit the kid after the shutout. I get the idea that JP mentioned about letting him know things aren’t handed to him, but nothing has been. He got hurt and we were all anointing Neuvy the #1 goalie after his October. Varly’s numbers since coming back from injury have been absolutely stellar save for the MSG game when the team was at it’s lowest point during the losing streak. Neuvy having tweaked something recently only makes it that much more easy of a decision. The trick is finding a way to let Neuvy know this isn’t us anointing Varly #1 either. I just don’t know how you sit him after a shutout and the numbers he has been putting up.

Tough call. I’d almost let both goalies play if that wasn’t something that could mess with the team or each goalie. It is a special game and not at all just another 2 points.

Pity voted for The Truth, but start Varly. Ride the hot hand till he bucks you, then swap goalies. As far as I am concerned they have two #1 goalies and there’s no reason to play them any different.