While Calgary Flames goalie Brian Elliott can't buy a win, he hasn't lost the confidence of his former teammates.
Traded to the Flames after spending the past five seasons with the St. Louis Blues, Elliott was on the bench when the Blues rolled into Calgary on Saturday to take on the Flames.
Chad Johnson got the call instead of Elliott, and it's understandable why, as the latter has struggled in the early season, going winless in three starts and owning a dreadful .839 save percentage.
That's a far cry from the league-leading .930 figure he posted last year.
Still, his old Blues teammates have no doubt that their former goalie will bounce back.
"I wouldn't worry one bit. That's just my perspective," Blues goalie Jake Allen told Wes Gilbertson of the Calgary Herald. "He's one of the most competitive people I have ever met, and he will find his game very soon."
Elliott and Allen shared the net in St. Louis for three seasons, with the veteran Elliott often acting as a mentor for 26-year-old Allen.
That timeshare became a little complex, particularly in the playoffs, when Allen often started despite Elliott's strong play.
That finally changed last year, when Elliott got the chance to be the No. 1 netminder after previous years spent backing up Allen and 2014 deadline pickup Ryan Miller. The Blues advanced to the third round thanks in part to Elliott's nine postseason wins and sparkling .921 save percentage.
"You couldn't take him out of the net because he was playing so good," added former teammate Jay Bouwmeester. "I guess what I'm trying to say is that anytime he's dealt with that adversity, he's always been really good. This is no different."
There's certainly pressure on Elliott, who at 31 has an opportunity to be the full-time starter after previous stints with the Blues, Ottawa Senators, and Colorado Avalanche often saw him split duties.
Furthermore, the Flames faithful are hungry for a strong hand in goal after watching the leaky performances of Jonas Hiller and Karri Ramo last season.
The Flames and Blues reconnect Tuesday in St. Louis, and while it's not yet known if Elliott will be between the pipes, he would surely enjoy the opportunity to face off against his one-time allies, telling Gilbertson, "You want to play good against your old teams."
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