Anders Lindback Continues To Prove His Worth As Reliever

After being called up from the AHL on December 14th, Dallas Stars backup goaltender Anders Lindback has proven that his play was upgraded while in Austin.

Lindback is currently 2-1-0 since being recalled, and has played dominantly in both wins, though his performance in the loss was a little foggy.

Anders Lindback is 2-6-0 on the season and started the year off looking completely lost and unready to perform at an NHL level. His current save percentage rests at .871 along with a goals against average of 4.03. These numbers are pathetic, but are much better than what he had prior to the send down and call-up. Prior to taking a minor detour to the AHL, Lindback was 0-5-0, with a save percentage of .844 and a goals against average of 4.00. Since the recall, he retains a save percentage of .882 and a goals against average of 2.33.

But, Anders Lindback’s success is not being found in starting and finishing the game. Instead, Lindback is finding his niche in relief mode.

Kari Lehtonen, who is experiencing one of his worst seasons to date up to this point in the 2014-2015 campaign, has been yanked from the crease twice through his last ten games started, and Lindback has been expected to play reliever and stop the bleeding.

“Well, it’s kind of what I have to be ready for.” -Anders Lindback

Lindback has not just stopped the bleeding, but he has found a way to keep the Stars in the game and come out on top. Lindback’s two wins come on the heels of his relief of Lehtonen. Over the two relief games, Lindback has a .922 save percentage and a 1.50 goals against average.

First, he was substituted in against the Edmonton Oilers in Alberta on December 21 after Kari Lehtonen surrendered four goals off 19 shots, pinning the Stars in a 4-2 hole with around 10 minutes left in the second period. Lindback stood tall and only sacrificed one goal off of 10 shots, while the Stars ignited the offensive onslaught at the other end, spouting three goals to tie it up at five and take it to a shootout, where Lindback made the potential tying save and won the game for the Stars, marking their fourth straight victory. Many expected Lindback to be awarded the start against Toronto two days later, but Lehtonen took it, and ended up losing 4-0.

Anders Lindback did not get another chance in net until the January 6th against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Lindback started and looked like his old self, giving away four goals, though the defense did not do him many favors. He returned to the dead list, until a week later when he was substituted in for Kari Lehtonen with 9:30 to play in the first period against the Ottawa Senators, who had buried the Stars in an early 2-0 hole. Lindback came in ice cold, but ended red hot. Lindback made an astounding 34 saves on 36 shots, and one of the two goals was found on the Senators power play. Lindback avoided the Sens late game push, and came out on top with a 5-4 win.

Anders Lindback continues to prove his worth, though it is not in the right form. With Lehtonen’s recent struggles, Lindback may be awarded the start tomorrow night against the Winnipeg Jets in Dallas. We won’t know for sure, but Lindy Ruff could play the best move possible regarding the recent trend and start Kari Lehtonen, but sub Anders Lindback in after the first period. Who knows? Either way, Lindback may be starting to find that niche he’s been looking for. It took him a lot longer than it should have, but at this point in the Stars season, they will take anything they can get.

Leave your comments and questions below, and as always, thanks for reading! Go Stars.