Craig Anderson Injury: Updates on Senators Goalie's Ankle

Craig Anderson is off to an incredible start to the 2013 season, but he suffered a scare in the Ottawa Senators’ game against the New York Rangers Thursday.

Rangers forward Chris Kreider was pushed to the ice when flying toward the Senators’ goal, and he careened into Ottawa’s star goaltender. Fortunately, no serious injury occurred, as Sportsnet’s Ian Mendes reported via Twitter:

"

Anderson has a sprained right ankle and is day-to-day.

— Ian Mendes (@ian_mendes) February 22, 2013"

As the Associated Press reported (via ESPN), defenseman Erik Karlsson is already lost for the season with an injured Achilles' tendon. After this, losing Anderson would have been catastrophic for Ottawa. 

As the commentators in the video point out, Kreider is 6’3” and 226 pounds. The Senators are extremely lucky to be getting their goalie back soon after such a powerful player crashed into him.

Ottawa currently has 20 points and is seventh in the Eastern Conference. Anderson has been a crucial part of their success.

The 31-year-old’s 1.57 goals-against average and his .950 save percentage are both the best marks in the NHL this year. If he continues this pace once he is fully healthy, he will be up for multiple awards at the end of the season.

Once in the playoffs, a hot goaltender can lead a championship run, as Jonathan Quick and the Los Angeles Kings proved last season. At this point, no player in the league has proven to be more ready to unleash a similar streak than Anderson. 

With him between the posts, anything is possible for the Senators this season. The team’s fans likely cannot wait to see him healthy and back on the ice.