Craig Anderson shows he’s good at hockey and leads Sabres in 4-1 win over Ottawa

Anderson has been one of the best goaltenders in the NHL over the past decade.

He backstopped the Buffalo Sabres to a 4-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night, making 32 saves. It was Anderson’s first start in goal since Nov. 29 and just his second appearance since Nov. 25.

“I thought Craig was our best player,” Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said. “He gave us a chance to win. We made some big mistakes in front of him and he bailed us out time and time again. He was calm, he gave us confidence and we needed that performance from him tonight.”

The Sabres have now won four straight games and are 7-2-1 in their last 10. They’ve also moved within three points of the final wild card playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Anderson is in his 16th NHL season and is playing for his fifth team. He’s been a workhorse throughout his career and has appeared in at least 60 games in eight of the past nine seasons.

The Ottawa native was a late-bloomer, not making his NHL debut until he was 25. He spent his first four seasons in the minors and didn’t become a full-time NHL goalie until he was 28.

But Anderson has been one of the most consistent goalies in the NHL over the past decade. He’s posted a save percentage of .923 or better in eight of the past nine seasons, including a career-best .941 mark with Ottawa in 2010-11.

Anderson has also been a durable goalie, appearing in 70 or more games in six of the past seven seasons. He’s played in 63 or more games in 11 of his 15 NHL seasons.

“It’s always nice to get back out there and compete,” Anderson said. “I felt good. The guys did a great job in front of me. They were blocking shots and clearing guys out of the crease. It was a team effort.”