Mask Madness Match-ups

Yes, I'll refer to it as Mask Madness every once and a while just for you guys. But here we go with the preliminary- and first-round match-ups for the 2008 NHL Tournament of Goalie Masks. I'm having a little bit of difficulty building the actual bracket. So until I figure something out, you'll have to deal with it in text format.

First, there will be the Preliminary Round, made up of 4 polls. They will start Monday and be as follows:
1 | TURCO (black) vs TURCO (white)
Here you'll choose between Marty Turco's home and road masks.
2 | RAMO (a) vs RAMO (b)
Here you'll decide on which of Karri Ramo's two masks goes into the full tournament.
3 | DENIS vs CLEMMENSEN
4 | HOWARD vs RASK

Then comes Round One. There are 32 polls comprising that group, divided into two sides. The first list is the group on the left side of the bracket.

1 | MILLER vs HALAK
2 | ROLOSON vs ERSBERG
3 | BRYZGALOV vs TELLQVIST
4 | KOLZIG vs GRAHAME
5 | BRODEUR vs THIBAULT
6 | HUET vs NORRENA
7 | CONKLIN vs HEDBERG
8 | EMERY vs RAMO
9 | TOSKALA vs ELLIS
10 | KIPRUSOFF vs HASEK
11 | LUONGO vs CLOUTIER
12 | JOSEPH vs VALIQUETTE
13 | FLEURY vs ANDERSON
14 | NIITTYMAKI vs HOLMQVIST
15 | LECLAIRE vs MASON
16 | THEODORE vs DENIS/CLEMMENSEN

And on the right side of the bracket is this group:

1 | BACKSTROM vs RAYCROFT
2 | WARD vs HARDING
3 | TURCO vs OSGOOD
4 | KHABIBULIN vs DUBIELEWICZ
5 | VOKOUN vs SANFORD
6 | GARON vs GERBER
7 | LALIME vs TOIVONEN
8 | GIGUERE vs AULD
9 | LEGACE vs WEEKES
10 | DiPIETRO vs HILLER
11 | LUNDQVIST vs BUDAJ
12 | BIRON vs SMITH
13 | THOMAS vs LaBARBERA
14 | PRICE vs SABOURIN
15 | NABOKOV vs BOUCHER
16 | LEHTONEN vs HOWARD/RASK

Remember, totally random!

When I get the bracket completed, I'll post it. In the meantime, get ready to start casting your votes! And do me a favor, start spreading the word around. Let's get as many people involved in this tournament as possible!

Another Goalie Masks Update

All right, I've been listening to you guys and I have some quick changes to make before announcing the match-ups for the NHL Tournament of Goalie Masks.

I'm updating the graphics for Grahame and Budaj who both have new masks which I didn't know about until today. So much for doing my research. Same goes for Cloutier who's returned to the Osgood-esque helmet. All of those updates will be made at some point this morning.

I'm keeping Holmqvist's mask the way it is because, first, he has yet to play a full game for the Stars and so has no mask painted for that team. Second, he carried the Lightning goaltending most of the season and that shouldn't go unnoticed. He played all year, so to drop him out now just because he got traded at the 11th hour isn't right, if you ask me.

I'm adding Ersberg today as well. He'll be replacing Fernandez, who hasn't played a game since October. I like Manny Fernadez and I hate to drop him, but somebody had to go. I'm not getting rid of Osgood and Cloutier just because their helmets are plain. That'll be for the voters to decide.

Otherwise I think that's everybody. So if you've noticed anything else that needs adjustment, speak now or hold your peace.