As part of our 2003-03 preview, I said it was a lot more comforting for teams to have "Goalie A" instead of two "Goalie B's." I also said there are only so many Patrick Roys out there, so you have to make do with what you have.

Let's revisit the two-goalie towns we toured through almost two months ago and see how those teams and their goalies are faring:

Boston Bruins
I thought they would head into the season with Steve Shields as the No. 1 guy. Although that wasn't the case -- John Grahame emerged as the No. 1 guy out of camp -- it did end up that way for a brief time. Shields was ready for the challenge when Grahame injured his shoulder during the team's season-opening road trip.

These are two very large goaltenders who cover up a lot of net. But both have had the tendency to move around quite a bit, which makes them look smaller. While that statement has been very true in the past, it's not case as much this season. Early in the season, the goal of the Bruins coaching staff was to preach more patience in the net. The old theory that less is more.

You have to know that Shields is a great team player who stays highly motivated even if he's not the top guy. He will be challenging Grahame for the No. 1 spot, but clearly it has been handed to Grahame and it's his job to lose. Give credit to Rob Ftorek for starting Shields against his old team, the Sabres, and to Shields for responding to the challenge.

The Bruins could be an exception to the rule when it comes to only playing a No. 1 goalie.The Bruins have some history of using two goalies and having a great deal of success (Eddie Johnston and Gerry Cheevers won the Cup in 1972, Andy Moog and Reggie Lemelin reached the Cup final in 1990).

Carolina Hurricanes
I figured that Arturs Irbe would start the season as the top guy, then the coaching staff would get into a pattern of giving starts to the the guy who's hot. Instead, Irbe fought his game early on and, like we saw in the playoffs, Kevin Weekes stepped in. And right now, Weekes is not relinquishing the top spot.

Irbe played well Saturday vs. Montreal, just like he did last spring when Weekes slowed down, but the No. 1 job appears to be Kevin's to lose. Does that sit well with the proud little Latvian? Of course not. I am surprised that the veteran Irbe went public with his case so early in the season. I figured he has been down this road before and found out the grass isn't always any greener on the other side. Back in the mid 1990s, the Sharks offered him a five-year deal worth $8 million, but he turned his back on it and ended up making $500,000 and battling for respect in Vancouver. Carolina's future is solid, and I figured he wanted to be a part of it -- if not in as the No. 1, then in a leadership role because everyone respects him as a person and as a goalie. That being said, Weekes still has to prove he can withstand the rigors of the long schedule and pressure of making the playoffs in what will be a tough battle in the Eastern Conference.

Minnesota Wild
All you need to know about the Wild is what is written in the hockey operations handbook they handed out over the summer: "The good of the team will always come before the good of any one individual." They may be the most cohesive team in the NHL, and it shows. I said earlier that Manny Fernandez had to be the No. 1 because I don't think he has the kind of character to be a backup, and after the down season he had a year ago, the pressure was on to be great this year. Fernandez hasn't disappointed, and neither has his rock-solid partner, Dwayne Roloson. Rolie is just one of those unselfish, put-the-team-first kind of guys who has the mentality to come in off the bench. The guys play hard in front of him because they like him and want to do well for him. This is typical of the character the Wild are developing, and it is paying off. That said, Fernandez is the top guy in goal for the Wild.

Nashville Predators
At the start of the season, I said that Mike Dunham will be the go to guy. He couldn't struggle like he did last year and he would be the horse for the season. So far, not so good. You have to understand that the Preds are the youngest team in the NHL. They make a ton of mistakes in their own end and struggle to score at the other (they've scored the fewest goals in the league).

Tomas Vokoun has played three of the last four games. The reason Dunham played Saturday against Minnesota was, as coach Barry Trotz said, "to get Mike going." After being pulled early in the third period against the Wild, it became obvious that Dunham is going to have to just hunker down and work through this funk he is in. I am quite impressed with the fact that this club has not quit. They are sticking together despite the loss of veterans and key injuries. But at the end of the day, if your No. 1 guy isn't standing on his head and spitting out wooden nickels, then you are not going to compete in the league, let alone win in it.

I was told earlier this season that if another team would work out a deal for Vokoun, then the Preds would take young Mathieu Garon off the waiver wire from Montreal. It didn't happen, so the door remains open for Vokoun to prove to other teams he is a goalie that can compete for a No. 1 spot.

Phoenix Coyotes
I thought Bobby Francis would use Brian Boucher as more than just as a back up when they got him from Philadelphia. But could have foreseen Sean Burke getting injured, so give general manager Mike Barnett all the credit in the world for being prepared. Otherwise, young Patrick DesRochers would be their main guy right now. The Coyotes signed both Boucher and Burke to new deals before the season. What I like about Boucher is he is the complete team player and showed it after DesRochers played well in a recent loss at Dallas. DesRoshers made 32 saves, but gave up a couple of soft goals to Scott Young. Boucher was quick to come to his defense, pointing out after the game that "Patty was the difference. He made a lot of great saves."

This is a team that is taking too many penalties, while having a penalty kill that is at the bottom of the NHL. Your goalie has to be the best penalty killer on the ice and that hasn't always been the case with this team. When Burke gets back -- and ankles take some time even when you get the green light -- look for this team to settle down in their own zone. Burke has the ability to take charge. In the meantime, Boucher is going to have to get on a serious roll and improve on his goals-against average, which is over 3.00.

St. Louis Blues
I said a two-goalie system doesn't work that well, but how many of us considered a three-headed monster? When Brent Johnson returns, where do the Blues go? Do they move my little buddy, Fred Brathwaite, or veteran Tom Barrasso? It seems likely it will be Fred, but the Blues have to be careful. Fred is one of those lockerroom good guys who provides a unique perspective when the going gets tough and he has a pretty good rapport with Johnson. All three are terrific at handling the puck, so there is familiarity in that department.

How long will it take Johnson to get it going once he returns? I said before that it was Johnson's job to lose, although Brathwaite worked his tail off in the offseason only to pull a groin early in the season. Brathwaite replaced Barrasso in the loss to Colorado on Saturday. And after Barrasso lost to to the Sharks on Monday, Brathwaite will get the nod Wednesday in Denver.

Again, the Blues will do everything they can to hand the top job over to Johnson, as they did last year. I think, in the end, the best tandem will be Johnson and Brathwaite.

Darren Pang, a former goaltender with the Chicago Blackhawks, is a hockey analyst for ESPN.