The Ottawa Senators are going to be without several players on Saturday night when they take on the Colorado Avalanche, including their top two goal scorers (Kyle Turris and Mark Stone) and a number of depth players.
What they will have is a red-hot goalie in Craig Anderson as he enters the games on a personal five-game winning streak as he continues to play some fantastic hockey for the seemingly playoff-bound Senators.
Along with his current five-game winning streak, the Senators are 7-1-0 in Anderson’s past eight starts dating back to Feb. 18, a stretch that has seen him record a .943 save percentage. When he has been with the team this season Anderson has been one of the league’s best goalies with a .931 save percentage that currently places him second in the NHL behind only Devan Dubnyk (among goalies that have appeared in at least 25 games).
On Saturday night he goes up against a Colorado Avalanche team that has won two in a row but remains the NHL’s worst team by a massive margin.
The Avalanche have announced their starter, but look for Calvin Pickard to get the call.
Elsewhere on Saturday...
-- In the afternoon games it was Steve Mason vs. Tuukka Rask in the Flyers-Bruins game, while Martin Jones went against Jusse Sarros in the Sharks-Predators game.
-- The Columbus Blue Jackets and Buffalo Sabres have not announced their starters for Saturday night’s game in Buffalo.
-- Andrei Vasilevskiy looks to lift an injury plagued Lightning team to a much-needed win against the Florida Panthers. Look for James Reimer to go again for Florida as they fight to keep their playoff hopes alive.
-- After getting his first win since Feb. 4 on Thursday night, Cam Ward is back in net for the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs. No word yet from the Maple Leafs but look for Frederik Andersen.
-- It will be Brian Elliott vs. Conor Hellebuyck when the Calgary Flames visit the Winnipeg Jets.
-- Cory Schneider goes for the New Jersey Devils when they visit the Arizona Coyotes, who will counter with Mike Smith.
-- Carter Hutton, who has allowed just one goal in his past three starts for the St. Louis Blues, gets the call on Saturday night when they host Thomas Greiss and the New York Islanders.
-- Ryan Miller is in the net for the Vancouver Canucks when they host the Pittsburgh Penguins. After Marc-Andre Fleury played a strong game in their overtime win in Edmonton on Friday night, look for Matt Murray to take his spot in the crease on Saturday.
-- It is Jonathan Quick’s turn to get the start on Saturday night when the Los Angeles Kings host the Washington Capitals. Look for Braden Holtby in the Capitals’ crease.