Andy Flirting with Greatness

Stopping 48 of 49 shots, Craig Anderson was clearly the difference last night’s game against the lowly, 23rd place Detroit Red Wings.  What was so impressive about this performance is that it shows Andy has something that nearly every truly great goalie has - something that it is especially key in the playoffs.  Something that Patrick Roy absolutely had.  


The ability to immediately re-focus after a bad performance and play at an extremely high and confident level.


Andy had easily his worst game against Carolina on Friday night.  This may have been a little understandable, he wasn’t supposed to play - Budaj was, but Budaj had the flu and Andy had to go.  The Avs didn’t play great defense in front of Andy and it was just one of those games where the puck just seemed to be finding the back of the net, but Andy essentially said after the game that his team bailed him out and that there were at least two goals that he wanted back.  


There are many reasons that Andy could have played an average game against Detroit.  He was tired, playing in the 2nd straight night of a back to back, playing in his 11th straight start.  Or maybe he lost some confidence in that Carolina game - we’ve certainly seen Budaj and Theo ebb and flow between greatness and horribleness for weeks at a time.  


But he didn’t.  (Suck it, Detroit.)  


Just to clarify, I'm not saying Andy is an elite goaltender (yet) -- no one is elite until they prove greatness in the NHL Playoffs, but its ok to get a little excited, Avs fans.  


Other Notes:

• Paul Stastny’s empty net goal was the first empty net goal for the Avs in more than a year.  (March 8, 2008 vs. Dallas.)
• Ryan O'Reilly is now tied with Hejduk and Stastny for the team lead in points (10).  The last team that had a chance to draft O'Reilly before the Avs?  That would be Detroit.  
• The Avs go right back on the road for 4 games against Edmonton, Calgary, San Jose and Vancouver.  

3rd Jersey News:

• According to Icethetics.info - the Avs will debut their new 3rd jersey in “mid November”.  The site points to Sat Nov 14th against Vancouver as a possible debut game.