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Will George Richards of the Miami Herald please pick up the Black courtesy phone

I just love it when sportswriters show they know nothing about the subject they are writing on. In a long article about Florida Panther backup Goalie Craig Anderson, Mr. Richards writes-

The thought was Anderson would back up the newly acquired Alex Auld. A few weeks after trading for Anderson, the Panthers signed veteran Ed Belfour, announcing the starting job was open. But only to Belfour and Auld. Anderson was sent back to the minors.

Belfour played solidly, but Auld regressed and eventually had his season cut short with a knee injury. Anderson came up from the minors and impressed new general manager Jacques Martin enough that the Panthers offered him a two-year deal to be Tomas Vokoun’s backup in 2007.

I’ll tell you how much Jacques Martin was impressed by Craig Anderson less than two years ago.

Jokinen’s third-period heroics allowed the Panthers’ 41-year-old goaltender, Ed Belfour, to enjoy his franchise record-setting 23rd straight start, which should increase to 24 on Tuesday night at the Philadelphia Flyers.

It did increase to 24, check it out for yourself.

Martin never showed much confidence in Anderson. In the 07-08 season, Tomas Vokoun was trotted out as Goalie over 10 games at a time. It was clear to any dedicated Panthers follower, that the team’s coach would rather play anyone in goal but Anderson.

Anderson, who just shut out the New York Rangers on Sunday, will get the nod tonight when Florida plays Washington for the first time this season.

The Panthers received more bad injury news.

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Panthers’ offense took another hit Sunday with leading goal scorer David Booth the latest to join Florida’s injury list. Booth injured his shoulder in the first period of Sunday’s win at the Rangers, coming back in the second before leaving for good.

Coach Pete DeBoer said Booth will be out at least a week. He remains with the team, and watched practice from a stationary bike Monday, coming off it dripping. ”I sweat easy,” he said as teammates joked about his soaked workout clothes.

Booth joins forwards Nathan Horton (ankle laceration), Cory Stillman (concussion) and Richard Zednik (elbow) on the injured list.

Anderson may have to keep pitching shutouts in order for the Panthers to win.

 
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