I'm going to start by not saying, "Goaltender Controversy", here. That dates back decades to situations where there was really not any. From what I've read, Bower and Sawchuck got along just fine. Tony Espsoito has said he wanted to play game eighth in 1972 vs. USSR, but was fine with Ken Dryden taking the duties. We all know how that ended, right? All's Well That Ends Well.
Here now, in Ottawa, where the Senators looked dead, comes an interesting situation. Ottawa looked out of the playoff picture back on February 7th of this year. They were 20-22-9, and on a three-game losing streak. It was time to look forward to next season. Their starting goalie, Craig Anderson, had been hurt in a 4-3 win over Toronto on January 21st, and things were going downhill fast.
Ottawa had actually started off strong this season. It seems like a distant, forgotten time, but the Senators started out 9-5-4 after finishing strong the year before that. The team, however, was under a lot of pressure, because it had missed the playoffs the year before. Ottawa, you see, looked to be on the rise after making the playoffs in 2011/12 and winning a round for good measure the next season. Missing out on the spring in 2013/14 seem to spell the end for this edition.
When the team hit a slump right after their strong start, they fired coach Paul MacLean. To be honest with you, he's a coach I've always liked. But it appeared that he'd lost control of the players, who seemed to master the fine art of "finding a way to lose". Indeed, Ottawa was losing games by a goal or two. They were right there in the game, and then the wheels came off the chariot, usually in the third period.
Even so, this team had talent. Erik Karlsson is one of the best defenceman in the league, and happends to be on pace for the most goals he's ever scored in one season. Bobby Ryan and Kyle Turris are on pace for over 20 themselves. Mark Stone is, too. Mike Hoffman looks like a Calder winner with 24 goals already. And he's got a bright future. The Senators have nine players in double-digits in goals already. Okay, goal-scoring is not the team's problem. Although they are just at league average, with that kind of spread offence, they have more than enough players to keep them in the games they play. But that puts pressure on the goalies.
The goalies, pre-Hammond were Craig Anderson and Robin Lehner. Anderson has actually played quite well this year. He's in the top ten in save percentage despite a win-one, lose-one record. But you always have to look beyond his stats to tell the real story. Thousands of times, he has saves would turn the game around for Ottawa. And not just this season, but ever since he arrived back in 2010/11. He's been a winner everywhere he's played. And he also has experience.
Lehner is still out with a concussion, but despite his not-so-great numbers, he's looked strong at times. I gotta think he'll be the odd-man out in this situation when he returns. He has yet to really break out as the Senators have hoped. And, if Hammond continues his strong play, he might be out of Ottawa.
The Senators have had other injuries, which makes Hammond's streak look stronger. Chris Neil has been out since mid-February with a broken thumb. Clarke MacArthur was concussed with Lehner in their collision two days later on the 16th of February. Zack Smith has not played since December.
Anderson is back injured, and Hammond has run his streak to 12-0-1 with a 6-4 win over Boston. Alas, his two-or-less-goals allowed in starts streak has come to an end and Fran Brimsek's record looks save for good. But there is still twelve games to play and Ottawa still is a point back. They've made it back and now have to press onwards. Hammond is still a rookie, and the stress that would be placed on him from having to play every game from here on in would be more than he could handle, in all likelihood.
Funny, Craig Anderson was only 12-9-2 two seasons ago. Now look at Hammond's record, his 1.55 GAA and his .950 S%. Anderson added a 1.69 GAA and .941 S%. Both marks led the NHL in 2012/13, and this season has been very good. Hammond will take a lot from this streak of his, but what will he do when things stop going his way? You can't expect a rookie to take the full load, especially if the Sens make the playoff. And before they get there? The Ottawa Senators will need someone to pick up the slack once Hammond comes down to earth. Anderson needs to play. The Senators will not make the playoffs if he doesn't!
Here now, in Ottawa, where the Senators looked dead, comes an interesting situation. Ottawa looked out of the playoff picture back on February 7th of this year. They were 20-22-9, and on a three-game losing streak. It was time to look forward to next season. Their starting goalie, Craig Anderson, had been hurt in a 4-3 win over Toronto on January 21st, and things were going downhill fast.
Ottawa had actually started off strong this season. It seems like a distant, forgotten time, but the Senators started out 9-5-4 after finishing strong the year before that. The team, however, was under a lot of pressure, because it had missed the playoffs the year before. Ottawa, you see, looked to be on the rise after making the playoffs in 2011/12 and winning a round for good measure the next season. Missing out on the spring in 2013/14 seem to spell the end for this edition.
When the team hit a slump right after their strong start, they fired coach Paul MacLean. To be honest with you, he's a coach I've always liked. But it appeared that he'd lost control of the players, who seemed to master the fine art of "finding a way to lose". Indeed, Ottawa was losing games by a goal or two. They were right there in the game, and then the wheels came off the chariot, usually in the third period.
Even so, this team had talent. Erik Karlsson is one of the best defenceman in the league, and happends to be on pace for the most goals he's ever scored in one season. Bobby Ryan and Kyle Turris are on pace for over 20 themselves. Mark Stone is, too. Mike Hoffman looks like a Calder winner with 24 goals already. And he's got a bright future. The Senators have nine players in double-digits in goals already. Okay, goal-scoring is not the team's problem. Although they are just at league average, with that kind of spread offence, they have more than enough players to keep them in the games they play. But that puts pressure on the goalies.
The goalies, pre-Hammond were Craig Anderson and Robin Lehner. Anderson has actually played quite well this year. He's in the top ten in save percentage despite a win-one, lose-one record. But you always have to look beyond his stats to tell the real story. Thousands of times, he has saves would turn the game around for Ottawa. And not just this season, but ever since he arrived back in 2010/11. He's been a winner everywhere he's played. And he also has experience.
Lehner is still out with a concussion, but despite his not-so-great numbers, he's looked strong at times. I gotta think he'll be the odd-man out in this situation when he returns. He has yet to really break out as the Senators have hoped. And, if Hammond continues his strong play, he might be out of Ottawa.
The Senators have had other injuries, which makes Hammond's streak look stronger. Chris Neil has been out since mid-February with a broken thumb. Clarke MacArthur was concussed with Lehner in their collision two days later on the 16th of February. Zack Smith has not played since December.
Anderson is back injured, and Hammond has run his streak to 12-0-1 with a 6-4 win over Boston. Alas, his two-or-less-goals allowed in starts streak has come to an end and Fran Brimsek's record looks save for good. But there is still twelve games to play and Ottawa still is a point back. They've made it back and now have to press onwards. Hammond is still a rookie, and the stress that would be placed on him from having to play every game from here on in would be more than he could handle, in all likelihood.
Funny, Craig Anderson was only 12-9-2 two seasons ago. Now look at Hammond's record, his 1.55 GAA and his .950 S%. Anderson added a 1.69 GAA and .941 S%. Both marks led the NHL in 2012/13, and this season has been very good. Hammond will take a lot from this streak of his, but what will he do when things stop going his way? You can't expect a rookie to take the full load, especially if the Sens make the playoff. And before they get there? The Ottawa Senators will need someone to pick up the slack once Hammond comes down to earth. Anderson needs to play. The Senators will not make the playoffs if he doesn't!
References
"Official Site of the National Hockey League” | NHL.com.
National Hockey League. Web. 19 Mar. 2015. <https://www.nhl.com>
Sports Reference LLC. "(title of a particular
page or blank for general citation)." Hockey-Reference.com - Hockey
Statistics and History. Web. http://www.hockey-reference.com/. Web. 19 Mar. 2015
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