Peter Budaj on Wednesday was the odd man out for the Avalanche.
But David Aebischer acted like it.
Neither goalie was thrilled to learn that minor-leaguer Vitaly Kolesnik, who was called up Tuesday, would start against the Boston Bruins at the Pepsi Center.
But Aebischer, who served as Kolesnik’s backup against the Bruins, made no attempt to hide his sour feelings about having a third goalie in the mix.
“They didn’t say much, just that Vitaly comes up,” Aebischer said tersely of the coaches’ explanation of using three goalies over the next four games. “I didn’t play as well as I can at the start of the season, especially, but I thought I rebounded pretty good. … But I guess I’m the only one thinking this.”
Aebischer has a 3.37 goals-against average and .890 save percentage. He compiled a career-best seven-game winning streak from Oct. 21 to Nov. 10, posting a 2.42 GAA and .915 save percentage during that stretch.
However, he has been pulled twice before the second period in games Colorado went on to lose.
Budaj, a rookie who has a 2.62 GAA and .904 save percentage in nearly half as many minutes as Aebischer, took the Kolesnik call-up in stride.
“With three goalies, and just two dressing up, it’s tough,” Budaj said. “There are going to be up and downs in our careers and our season. This is something I got to work through, and I will do it.”
Laaksonen hopeful
Avs winger Antti Laaksonen said he’s one of 30 players being considered for Finland’s Olympic team.
“They’ll name the team Dec. 22,” said Laaksonen, who left his homeland in 1993 to play hockey and study at the University of Denver. “I think I have a good chance, and if they pick me I’ll be happy to go.”
Laaksonen, 32, has not played for an Olympic team, but he was on Finland’s World Cup team last year.
“Hopefully they’ll give me a chance,” said Laaksonen, who broke into the NHL with Boston in 1998, after playing four seasons at DU.
Footnotes
Boston leading scorer Sergei Samsonov was scratched because of what the team called an “upper limb nerve” injury. … Patrice Bergeron played in his 100th game with the Bruins. … The Joe Thornton trade that brought defenseman Brad Stuart and two others to Boston from the San Jose Sharks will likely make it more difficult for former Colorado College defenseman Mark Stuart to crack the Bruins’ lineup. Stuart, the club’s No. 1 draft pick in 2003, has yet to play for the Bruins.
