Colorado Avalanche goaltender Craig Anderson out indefinitely with knee injury
The hockey experts say that most National Hockey League teams can only go as far as their goaltender takes them, but what happens when their starting goaltender gets injured?
The Colorado Avalanche are going to have to find the answer to question sooner than later, as starting goalie Craig Anderson went down with a knee injury before Colorado’s game against
the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday, 26 October.
Before the start of the game, Anderson skated onto the ice to participate in the team’s final warm-up drills, in which the back-up goalie faces a few close-range shots from his team-mates.
After the drills, he got up and appeared to be experiencing some discomfort. He was sprawled on the ice at first, but eventually got up and skated lightly back to the Avalanche’s bench, where he received some additional assistance from the team’s trainers.
Anderson was not scheduled to start the game, as Peter Budaj had been pencilled in as the starter beforehand.
After the second period, Anderson flew back to Denver, where his condition would be evaluated by the Avs’ medical staff. Anderson will not join Colorado when they play against the Calgary
Flames on Thursday, 28 October.
The Avalanche will call up either Jason Bacashihua or Denver native John Grahame from the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League to serve as Budaj’s back-up in the team’s next
game.
Last season, Anderson was a big surprise in the Avs’ net, helping the team to earn a trip to the postseason. The 29-year-old set many franchise records that season, including games played
(71), minutes played (4,235), and total saves made (2,047). He posted a 38-25-7 record with a 2.63 goals-against average and a save percentage of .917.
In seven games played this season, Anderson has a 3-4 record, along with a 3.15 goals-against average and a save percentage of .907.
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