Craig Anderson wasn’t expecting to get into the Washington Capitals’ Game 1 matchup with the Boston Bruins Saturday, but he did and the 39-year-old netminder proceeded to pick up the victory, leading Washington to a 3-2 overtime victory. By doing that, Anderson became the oldest goaltender in team history to win a playoff game, making 21 out of 22 saves. Anderson is likely to get the start for Game 2 against the Bruins on Monday according to the Washington Post’s Samantha Pell.
Anderson, who turns 40 on Friday, had to take over in the first period for starter Vitek Vanecek, who suffered a lower-body injury. He was already filling in for Ilya Samsonov, who was on the COVID-19 protocol list and wasn’t available to play either. Enter Anderson, who was forced to take over with No. 4 netminder Pheonix Copley standing in as the replacement goalie.
Vanecek is listed as day-to-day, according to head coach Peter Laviolette, but he could not confirm whether it will be a short day-to-day or a longer stint. Samsonov came off the COVID-19 protocol list Saturday, but there is no word on whether he might be available for Game 2. He skated Sunday for the first time in two weeks.
Regardless, the team could be putting quite a bit of pressure on Anderson, who spent most of the season on the taxi squad. He only appeared in four regular season games, posting a 2-1 record, with a 2.13 and a .915 save percentage.
Cheering for Anderson!! Get this guy a cup
Totally agree..go get em Andy!
Johnny Bower was 42 years old when he played I; the Cup finals in 1967, beating Montreal
“Anderson became the oldest goaltender in TEAM history to win a playoff game”
Bower didn’t play for the Caps.
He will probably out duel playoff stiff Tuukka Rask again.
Good to have a savvy veteran ready to go in a situation like this. I think he’ll do fine.
I was nervous when Anderson came in, but he looked really good. He played well in limited action this year as well as having playoff experience and being well rested. I think he can fill in for awhile, but if the Caps are forced to use him for the rest of the playoffs, I’m not so sure that he won’t wear down. I highly doubt that will happen, though.
The Caps have been playing without a full roster for what seems like all season and still find ways to win games. If Anderson can hold the fort long enough for Vanecek to recover or Samsonov to be ready (the longer, the better), they should be fine. The rest of the team played really well in front of him in the opener.
Maybe Anderson will find the fountain of youth getting another legitimate chance at a cup with perhaps the best team he’s ever been in this situation with. Should be interesting. The Bruins should come out strong in game 2 and test him thoroughly.
Damn shame Lundqvist isn’t healthy.
Won’t matter anyway… Bruins take the next 4
History will prove that statement to be incorrect. In the last six playoff series, the top three have scored 5, count them five, 5 on 5 goals. THAT, and Rask is the Bruins problems.
OMG, what cementhead who doesn’t know anything about hockey history wrote this?
Johnny Bower. Jacques Plante. Gump Worsley. Eddie Johnston. Gerry Cheevers. Tony Esposito. A *bunch* of goalies won playoff games older than Anderson did.
Clearly says team history not nhl history
“Anderson became the oldest goaltender in TEAM history to win a playoff game”
OMG, even a cementhead would know “team history” means only the Washington Capitals. If you can’t read, flag down an adult and have them read it to you next time.
Yeah, nice try, but the original version of the article said “oldest goaltender in NHL history to win a playoff game” — check the Internet Archive, which has the original version of the article.
Not when the article was first published it didn’t.