Annunen stopped 35 of 36 in Dallas, 29 of 31 in Montreal to begin Predators tenure
By Anthony Pellegrino @Pellegrinoap50 IceInsider.com Predators All Access Reporter
NASHVILLE--Justus Annunen, 24, landed in Nashville sporting maroon colored pads and a helmet featuring snowy mountains, now a former member of the Colorado Avalanche.
Also arriving to the team-with a .872 SV% and 3.23 GAA.
As the Predators faced a back-to-back last week against Toronto and Montreal, Annuen was called upon to make his Predators debut against the Canadiens.
He stopped 27 of 29 for a .931 SV% in the debut.
"Our goaltending really has been excellent." Brunette said crediting the Predators goaltending postgame in Ottawa last week..."They're feeling it just like the rest of us."
One of his strong suits, standing at 6'4, happens to be absorbing pucks when in his butterfly on posts, and moving sliding laterally.
Quite opposite from the other puck stopper, "Juice, "Juuse Saros who stands at 5'11". Whose style consists of staying agile while primarily traveling on his feet.
Thursday night in Dallas, Annunen was given the nod to start in goal in front of a heavily injured Predators blueline. Roman Josi, Alex Carrier, and Jeremy Lauzon were injured and could not play.
Now with a helmet painted on short notice by DaveArt, and gear the right tone of navy to match the Predators, Annunen looked seemingly more apart of the team.
Over the game, Annunen's patience and deminer helped the young goaltender accumulate 35 saves on 36 shots. This marks the third-highest number of shots he has faced in a game throughout his career.
Giving the team confidence in goal-like with Juuse Saros can facilitate the team's momentum much like a goal, or penalty kill.
“He was phenomenal tonight, he made so many timely saves." Ryan O'Reilly said of Annunen's performance...
"That's a very great team over there. They've got a lot of firepower, they make good plays, and it was timely saves that could have changed the game for us. He made them, and it was great to get him a win.”
Rookie defensman Adam Wilsby spoke on Annunen's deminer:
“He’s just so calm,” Wilsby said of Annunen. “Even when they got some good chances on us, he’s just calm. So it's very impressive.”
He became the 15th goaltender in franchise history to record a win with the Predators.
Annunen described how he views his career when taking a step back after first arriving in Nashville:
“I feel I'm just starting (my career), and I guess I'm still learning what (it’s like to play in) the NHL."
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