Rachel Barkley
It’s been a tough season for Frederik Andersen.
From a nine-game losing streak to career lows in key advanced statistics, Andersen has struggled to keep a consistent game. Despite the decimation of the Carolina Hurricanes’ defensive core in the early season, Andersen has been the one to take the brunt of the criticisms throughout the campaign – something that can rob the confidence clean out of any moment like a thief in the night.
However, as the national players return from the Olympic stage to the local arenas, perhaps therein lies just what the doctor ordered.
How It Started…
This season for the Hurricanes, goaltending was the position that left many biting their fingernails at first. When news came that Pyotr Kochetkov would be out for the rest of the regular season due to undergoing hip surgery, well, we no longer had nails.
In a shocking turn of events, the Hurricanes dropped Andersen to the backup goalie role, as newcomer Brandon Bussi provided the most consistent performances of the two netminders.
Andersen’s sharpness dropped off amidst the tornado of injuries and absences on the team, but it wasn’t for a lack of effort.
“The way I look at it, I’ve played worse hockey and had better numbers,” he said to the media during his losing streak. “Yeah, it doesn’t look good – obviously we’re not getting the wins with me in net lately – but I still feel like I’ve got my game.
“…I try to focus on what I can control, work my way out of it, and practice.”
…How It’s Going
Since the night he broke the losing streak in early January, he embarked on a points streak (which remains active) and has produced some of his best play of the season.
Upon departure for the Olympics, Andersen had a .871 save percentage and 3.26 goals against average. During the Olympics, he was the goalie to lead Denmark to their lone win, and put up a save percentage of .913 and goals against average of 2.75 with 84 saves throughout the tournament.
Andersen was being Andersen (in a good way).
Considering he was one of just six active NHL players on Denmark’s Olympic roster (none of whom were defensemen), it appeared as though he had firmly grasped hold of his game.
The Olympics gave Andersen what the NHL’s regular season could not: a true reset button.
With any hope, the Olympic mindset will remain imprinted on Andersen as the Hurricanes battle through the next leg of the campaign in their charge toward the postseason – and most importantly – the Stanley Cup.
