Anton Khudobin gets his first start of the season in net. He came on in relief to get the win in overtime against the Rangers, stopping six of six shots. Braden Holtby left the game with dehydration, so the challenge was tough for Khudobin. But the man who has served as a backup goalie for much of his career seems to have the mindset to play as a partner with Holtby or as a 1B.
"The role of a backup is a difficult role, but for most of the career that's what his career has been," Bowness said. "He's had that role before, and he knows how to handle it. He knows how to prepare himself and he knows that at any second that you could be thrown in. That's your job as a backup, you have to be ready for the unexpected."
As for Sunday, well a big game for Khudobin would be quite timely. He is 8-0-2 in his career against the Senators with a 2.17 GAA and .935 save percentage. Khudobin went 12-11-7 last season with a 2.54 GAA and .905 save percentage. He battled injury and COVID, and that contributed to his numbers being down.
"He knows he was off last season, and it was a disappointing season for him, and I think he did everything he could over the course of the summer to get himself in much better physical shape," Bowness said. "When he reported to camp, he was 10 pounds lighter and in very good shape, so when you do that, you're showing your commitment. You're working very hard physically, and it's also good for the mind to remind yourself how hard you have to work."
Also worth watching will be Miro Heiskanen. John Klingberg missed much of the first game and all of the second, and as a result Heiskanen is seventh in the NHL at 27:25 in average time on ice. Klingberg will be out again Sunday with a lower-body injury, so Heiskanen will likely be played with several partners and in all situations.
"He's been great. He had a great training camp and he's been great the two games we've played," Bowness said. "We love his poise, but we also love the fact that when the game is one the line - you're up a goal, you're down a goal - he wants to be on the ice. He wants the ball to run with it. He loves that, and he raises his game. Elite athletes have the innate ability to when the game is on the line to take your game to another level. If you watch Miro late in games, he's trying to be a difference-maker."