Bad things happen in threes. Like NHL goalie injuries.
Last Saturday, NY Rangers starter King Henrik Lundqvist suffered a vascular injury when he wad speared in the throat with a stick. On Saturday, the Rangers announced that Lundqvist will be lost for the next three weeks. The Rangers will have to win games with Cam Talbot in their net.
On Sunday, two more starting goalies suffered serious injuries.
Anaheim Ducks goalie Freddy Andersen suffered a freak head injury on Sunday.
Trailing 5-1 midway through the third period in Tampa, Anderson's net was dumped over and it fell on his skull.
Its too soon to say whether or not Andersen will be sidelines as a result of the injury.
If Andersen misses games, his understudy Ilya Bryzgalov will get the net. Bryz isn't exactly lighting the world on fire statistically speaking. In seven games played this season, the cosmonaut has accumulated a 3.95 GAA and an .859 save percentage.
Meanwhile in Philly, Flyers starting goalie Steve Mason suffered a lower body injury for the umpteenth time this season.
To compound the drama and anxiety, Ray Emery has been inconsistent and Rob Zepp is also injured.
The Rangers and Ducks are entrenched in fierce playoff seeding battles right now. The Flyers are miles away from a playoff spot and will likely sell off assets at the March 2 NHL trade deadline in an attempt to qualify for the Connor McDavid lottery.
Lindy Ruff and the Dallas Stars have also been experiencing very poor play from their veteran goaltenders this season. Kari Lehtonen and Anders Lindback have been a mess and there are no signs of better play in their future. Lindy Ruff may find himself on the unemployment line again if he can't get his Dallas Stars team in the playoffs.
The Buffalo Sabres have two pending UFA netminders who might be able to provide immediate solutions to the goaltending crises in NY, Anaheim and Philly.
Sabres GM Tim Murray is likely fielding calls about his two goalies as we speak.
Enroth has been one of Buffalo's best players in this their worst season in team history. Enroth is 13-20-2 in his 36 starts this season. Despite the chaos that is going on in front of him on a nightly basis, Enroth is 3.30 GAA and .903 save percentage.
Enroth will make a great insurance policy to a contending team that is experiencing goaltending injuries. Jhonas can easily be the next Devan Dubnyk.
Last month, Minnesota Wild GM Chuck Fletcher made a a season saving trade when he acquired journeyman back stop Devan Dubnyk. The Wild were a ways outside of the playoffs at the time of the trade. Today, they are five points outside of the wild card spot.
In 9 games played, Dubnyk is 7-1 with 4 shutouts. He has a 1.31 GAA and a .948 save percentage.
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Speaking of the Sabres, they returned to tanking form by recording only 10 shots on goal against the New York Islanders. They tied another franchise worst.
Buffalo entered the Islanders game winners of two of their past three games. They snapped a fourteen game losing streak in Montreal last Tuesday.
Despite their embarrassing shot totals, they only lost 3-2 to John Tavares and the Islanders.
The Sabres maintain the 30th place seed in the NHL standings while 29th place Edmonton will play the Devils in Newark on Monday night.
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