Hurricanes goaltender Freddie Andersen made 31 saves in a season opening win vs. Columbus. Andersen spoke about working his way back from injury last spring and settling in to the game early
you guys? Yeah, I think everyone's excited to be, to be back and playing in front of these fans, obviously long journey had. So we want to take a good first step and I thought we played really well. Does that mean a lot for you to get back in the net in a regular season game? I mean sometimes it's just good to get that feel for yourself. So you're back in the same track that you're used to play of course, obviously had a little bit longer break than the rest, obviously how last year ended, but I'm just happy to work my way back and healthy enough to play. Yeah, obviously really fun to be out there and playing to start feeling normal. Um, Probably when I hit the eyes like a little bit later in the, in the summer, it was when I really knew that I was feeling good. I didn't um, it's tough to know when you're just in the gym and kind of going through that stuff and, and all the rehab. But uh once I start hitting the ice, I was uh I was happy to how it felt and having going through injuries before. Did it kind of helped the mental part a little bit as far as knowing how to just trust you. Um, you gotta trust the guys you're working with and um that's, that's really the main thing for me. No second thoughts out there seemed like you were facing everything down. I got to see some shots early on and then kind of settle in and there's always that excitement in the first game. Happy, happy about the way we came up about having a guy like burns out in front of you that for sure he was letting them know not to get too close. So it was better than the other way. And of course, I think that's the best feeling I think, other than winning a game. But yeah, you just try to make that save and you never know which which shape it is that that ends up being the difference. So you try to approach everyone the same. But obviously great to see the guys come up and take the lead there.