Glenn Hall’s NHL record of 502 straight games started by a goalie is still safe — Craig Anderson won’t play all 82 games this season for the Avalanche.
Backup Peter Budaj will get his first start of the season tonight in Colorado’s ninth game, at home against the Carolina Hurricanes.
“I think it’s the right time to get Peter in there and it’s the right time to give Craig a night off,” Avs coach Joe Sacco said. “We’ve been riding Craig, but everybody here has faith in Peter. He’s going to play a great game for us.”
Budaj, the starting goalie on opening night the previous two seasons, has tried to stay sharp by working extensively with new Avs goalie coach Jocelyn Thibault. Anderson is likely to return to the net for Saturday’s game against Detroit.
“Goose” honored.
The Avs tonight will have their second of 10 “Alumni Nights” and will honor former defenseman Alexei Gusarov.
The enigmatic “Goose” never gave a full interview in his time with the Avalanche from 1995-2000 but was still a favorite with teammates and the media for his wry wit — always feigning not to understand questions from English-speaking reporters, then carrying on conversations in perfect tongue with teammates.
His age, listed now at 45, was always a subject of amusement too.
“Maybe now we’ll know the true age,” quipped Avs assistant coach Sylvain Lefebvre, who played with Gusarov on Colorado’s 1996 Stanley Cup-winning team. “It’ll be nice to see him. He was an underrated player for us.”
Avs captain Adam Foote was Gusarov’s defensive partner most of their time as teammates.
“He was just such a calm guy,” Foote said. “He went about his business so smoothly. He went under the radar, but he was a big part of our successful seasons. He would always tell me, ‘Adam, no, no, no,’ at first when I’d make a mistake, but he always kept it positive and reassured me as a young defenseman.”
Gusarov will be honored before the game and will drop a ceremonial first puck. Fans attending will receive a poster in his honor.
McLeod out.
Avs left wing Cody McLeod will not play tonight or Saturday because of an eye injury he suffered Wednesday in Minnesota after taking an errant stick from the Wild’s Eric Belanger.
Sacco, however, said McLeod’s vision was good and seemed optimistic he will return soon. His official status, though, is listed as out indefinitely.
Because of the injury, the Avs recalled winger Chris Stewart from Lake Erie.
Adrian Dater: 303-954-1360 or adater@denverpost.com
