"It is simply impossible not to like Peter Budaj. The kid is unfailingly polite to everyone, always credits others for any success he has and never ducks the media after a rough night.

That's why it has been painful to see what Budaj has gone through this season with the Avalanche. He is the forgotten man, the goalie who never plays.

The Avs played their 28th game Monday night, a 3-0 victory against the Lightning. Budaj has started exactly two of them. His last start came Nov. 18 at Edmonton, a 6-4 loss in which he allowed five goals on 32 shots. In the three games he has played, his goals-against average is 4.29, and his save percentage is .855.

It's clear that coach Joe Sacco doesn't have much confidence in Budaj right now, though he prefers to paint the situation as simply a case of riding a hot goalie in Craig Anderson. Thing is, Anderson hadn't been all that hot lately, entering Monday night's game against Tampa Bay having allowed four or more goals in four of his previous five starts.

In the seven games Anderson had lost, his goals-against average was 3.34, and his save percentage was .892. On the other hand, in the 13 games he had won, the numbers were 2.05 and .939.

During an offseason that saw a virtual housecleaning in many areas of the team, one of the most puzzling developments was the re-signing of Budaj. Not only that, but in giving him a $475,000 raise after what was the worst season of his — and the Avalanche's — time in Denver. This season, the Avs are paying Budaj ($1.25 million) just a little less than they're paying Anderson ($1.5 million)."