- Craig Anderson started in goal for the Panthers against the Lightning on Wednesday, but Coach Jacques Martin stressed he still considers Tomas Vokoun the No. 1 goalie and hasn't lost confidence in him.
"Craig gave us some good performances in training camp, worked hard, and deserves to play," Martin said, adding that Vokoun is scheduled to start tonight at home against New Jersey. "Craig played some big games to finish last season and you're not going to have a goalie play [all] 82 games, so you have to give [Anderson] some action."
Martin had said Anderson, who had a 2.21 goals-against average and .931 save percentage in five appearances last season, would play one of the two games because they were on consecutive nights. Martin opted to give the backup his fourth start as a Panther ? the first this season ? on the road, and against a division rival, but said it had nothing to do with Vokoun's performance (4.54, .816) the first two games.
"Craig gave us some good performances in training camp, worked hard, and deserves to play," Martin said, adding that Vokoun is scheduled to start tonight at home against New Jersey. "Craig played some big games to finish last season and you're not going to have a goalie play [all] 82 games, so you have to give [Anderson] some action."
Martin had said Anderson, who had a 2.21 goals-against average and .931 save percentage in five appearances last season, would play one of the two games because they were on consecutive nights. Martin opted to give the backup his fourth start as a Panther ? the first this season ? on the road, and against a division rival, but said it had nothing to do with Vokoun's performance (4.54, .816) the first two games.
