Last season, Craig Anderson showed the Florida Panthers’ fans a glimpse of the goaltender he could become. Unfortunately, the team already had an established starter in Tomas Vokoun. The Colorado Avalanche, on the other hand, certainly did not have that problem. In the offseason, Colorado picked up Anderson on the first day of free agency, and he has been the team’s undisputed MVP ever since.
There’s no question that Anderson is happier now than he was in Florida, but I wonder if watching the Panthers’ most recent problems have only further confirmed his decision to seek greener, more opportunistic pastures. He’s now the starter on a surprise playoff-potential team, he’s quickly becoming a fan favorite, and he’s being called the best goaltender in Colorado since Patrick Roy.
On top of that, not a single Colorado Avalanche player has clubbed him in the dome yet. Not once.
Anderson returns to Florida tonight to face his former team for the first time. The match-up between former rivals Anderson and Vokoun was highly anticipated, but because of the referenced clubbing that Vokoun was subjected to by teammate Keith Ballard, Scott Clemmensen will be starting for the Panthers.
UPDATE: Florida is on top 2-0 after the first. Both goals by S. Weiss. But the most appalling stat? The Avs allowed 19 shots in the first period. NINETEEN! Absolutely unacceptable. They’d better turn things around and give Anderson a chance.
FINAL UPDATE:
DBFL = Douche Bag For Life
What a game! Duchene is absolutely on fire now, with 2 more goals and an assist tonight. He and Stewart are clicking. The Avs tied it with two goals in the last 37 seconds – a comeback of the type I’ve never seen if Joe Sakic wasn’t involved.
Though the game certainly wasn’t short on thrill, it does leave a bad taste in my mouth because
1) We lost in the shootout after not being able to put ANY goals past journeyman Clemmensen.
2) As far as I’m concerned, Keith Ballard is a goalie-killing mercenary douchebag. You can’t attempt to murder two goalies in two games, one of them being your own, and not be. Adam Foote agreed, and Ballard got what was coming to him.
Either way, congrats to the Panthers on coming out on top in a memorable game. Craig Anderson, hope you’re okay.
FanSided
Flame For Thought
Gone Puck Wild
Octopus Thrower
Oil on Whyte
The Canuck Way
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I have to say that I thought the Avs were actually gonna pull this out. Sitting in my seat I felt the impending doom after it was tied at 5.
Duchene is going to be a great player. So smart already.
Oh right you went to that game, didn’t you? Must’ve been wild!
Yeah, Duchene is starting to come into his own. Funny, both he and Stephen Weiss made the NHL Players of the Week this week – based largely on the stats they accumulated during our game!