Dallas Stars’ new backup goalie all about experience
One of the biggest question marks for the Dallas Stars entering the 2014-15 season was the backup goaltending behind starter Kari Lehtonen.
With 27 games left, the same question remains, this time with a new face as Lehtonen’s understudy.
Wednesday, the Stars traded for goalie Jhonas Enroth from the Buffalo Sabres, giving up backup goalie Anders Lindback and a conditional third-round pick in the 2016 NHL Draft.
It was the experience Enroth gained in 37 games played for Buffalo this season that set him apart from a struggling Lindback, coach Lindy Ruff said.
“He started a lot of games this year, and for us, I think that’s important,” Ruff said. “It puts him probably in a little different category than Lindback was in, and it should give us just that little extra. I think that his game has really come around, and I think he can be a difference-maker.”
Lindback, who joined the Stars via free agency before the season, posted a 2-8 record this season for Dallas with a .875 save percentage and a 3.71 goals-against average.
Enroth, who was the lead backstop for the NHL cellar-dwelling Sabres, is excited about joining a team that sat five points out of the final Western Conference wild-card spot heading into Friday night’s game with the Florida Panthers.
“Super excited to be on a team that’s trying to get into the playoffs,” Enroth said. “It’s been pretty tough up there [in Buffalo]. I’m very excited to be here and hopefully get into the playoffs.”
The native of Sweden posted a 13-21-2 record in 37 games with Buffalo this season, holding a 3.27 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage. While a weak supporting cast aided in a poor record, Enroth faced 1,237 shots, seventh most in the league.
Number one in that category? Lehtonen.
Enroth held fast to the opinion Friday that his new teammate is one of the top goalies in the league.
“In my mind, I think he’s top 10 in the league,” Enroth said. “He’s been around for a while, and he’s a proven starter, and he actually was one of my favorite guys to watch, so I’ll learn from him.”
With former Buffalo coach Ruff at the helm of the Stars, Enroth should be comfortable fitting into the system.
He also carries some momentum into his transition, having defeated the Stars 3-2 on Feb. 7, stopping 38 of 40 shots.
Enroth, however, won’t be in the same rhythm as he was in starting the majority of games for the Sabres. But with five back-to-back games left on the Stars’ schedule, the new backup could pay dividends.
“It’s something I’ve been through before, and I’m just going to try to stay sharp, because I learned from that experience when I was younger and I didn’t stay sharp throughout the games,” Enroth said. “I think I’ve grown up a little bit and I’m a little bit more mature now, and I can handle that situation better.”
This story was originally published February 13, 2015 at 7:50 PM with the headline "Dallas Stars’ new backup goalie all about experience."