Avalanche goalie Craig Anderson stayed down on the ice and seemed shaken after a shot from St. Louis’ Alexander Steen caromed off Anderson midway through the second period of Colorado’s 5-2 win over the Blues.
After some nervous moments for the Colorado coaching staff, though, Anderson remained in the game and finished with 32 saves while earning his 29th victory of the season.
“It got me right in the shoulder, and my whole arm went numb,” Anderson said. “It was just one of those spots. Once the feeling comes back, it’s just a bruise.”
Anderson, who was making his 13th consecutive start and his 50th of the season, had some sympathy for Blues starter Chris Mason, who allowed five goals on 15 shots before being yanked.
“We threw pucks to the net, and some nights as a goalie, you’re not going to have it,” Anderson said. “It’s just one of those funny things where it kind of sneaks through and you just have to battle through it.”
Ironmen.
After Ryan O’Reilly missed the game with a bruised foot, the list of Avalanche players who have appeared in all games this season was down to five: Wojtek Wolski, Matt Duchene, Scott Hannan, Paul Stastny and Kyle Quincey.
Center Justin Mercier stepped into the lineup against the Blues, and in the wake of the broken hand winger David Koci suffered in a first-period fight and O’Reilly’s uncertain status, it’s likely Colorado will recall a forward from Lake Erie today.
Also out.
Defensemen John-Michael Liles and Ruslan Salei were Colorado’s healthy scratches. Liles now has sat out three of the last five games. Salei has played in only one game this season and underwent back surgery, but he was activated Monday. Salei has been hoping to play in at least one NHL game before suiting up for Belarus in the upcoming Olympics.
Terry Frei, The Denver Post
