There is a zero in the “Goals” column and the number in the “Assists” column doesn’t look any better with just one. Josh Anderson is not having a good start to the season and he knows it very well.
• Also read: Martin St-Louis compares Juraj Slafkovsky to a Waze route
On the eve of the game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Bell Center, Anderson met with reporters.
With one point in eleven games, he assumed people would talk to him about his personal stats.
“I can’t hide it,” Anderson said calmly. I’m still trying to produce. But you can also help your team in other areas of the game, and I think that’s what I’m trying to do. I’m trying to work on the defensive side first. That’s my mentality and perhaps brings with it a little more rigidity. Hopefully the points will come.”
An offensive lethargy early in the season captures the imagination even more than it did between Games 37 and 48 in January.
“Yeah, maybe we’ll notice it more,” he replied. As a player you want to perform in this league. Personally, I think the opportunities are there. If I had taken advantage of my great opportunities at the beginning of the year, we wouldn’t have talked about it here. But that’s how it is. It’s part of the game. But how can you as a player deal with it? These are responsibilities that you have. I have complete confidence in myself and my teammates… It only takes one to get started. You just have to face the music and start taking advantage of your opportunities.”
In 11 games this season, Anderson has taken 21 shots, which is sixth on the team.
A 20-goal scorer
Although Anderson has never had a reputation as a playmaker, he has still performed decently in recent seasons. He scored 19 goals last year and 17 the season before that, but in just 69 and 52 games.
His best season in the NHL came with 27 goals in 2018-2019 with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
“Josh is a guy who has proven himself,” Martin St-Louis said. He scores 20 goals a year. The year is long. He’s a guy who produces in sequences. If he scores one, he will choose several. He has to score his first goal. He shouldn’t focus on necessarily scoring a goal, but rather on remaining productive on the ice.
In the last game in St. Louis, Anderson played right wing alongside Christian Dvorak and Alex Newhook. This trio had a difficult night against the Blues.