Florida's schedule for the upcoming week

M- At Tampa

Tu- At Wash

Th- Buffalo

Sa- NY Islanders

Like the Panthers, Theodore is 2-1-0 for the year. His save pct. is .930 and his GAA 1.97. If you're wondering that makes Theodore 11th in the NHL for the former, and 10th for the latter. Obviously you have to take any stats based on such a small sample with a grain of salt.

Theodore's play this year has ranged from very good(against the Islanders) to Ok(Against Pittsburgh).  I don't think the Islanders challenged Theodore that often and at the same time the sloppiness of other Panthers was at fault in the Penguins getting four goals in the one Panthers loss.

I can't see Florida trotting Theodore out for all four games this week no matter how well he's played. The Panthers open the week off with back to back night road games. Say you start Theodore in Tampa and even if he plays well or even excellently, you're taking a great chance on him being gassed the next night facing Washington and Ovechkin.

The people who would argue against Markstrom playing would say 1- It's early in the season so Theodore should be able to do a back to backer  2- Markstrom has never started an NHL regular game and putting in net against either Washington or Tampa is throwing him to the wolves.

I consider the 2nd argument more compelling than the first. It would be nice if the Panthers could give Markstrom an easier baptism of fire, say against Buffalo or the Isles, but the schedule doesn't work out that way.

As for Theodore, he has played well for three games but I don't think its enough proof to those who had doubts going into the year.  His consistency is still a question.

If it was me, I'd start Markstrom on Monday night in Tampa. Theodore the next night. For the rest of the week? Whoever has the hot hand. What does everyone else think?