Another win for “The Hamburgler”, plus updates on your favorite Canadian NHL teams.
Andrew Hammond salutes Senators fans after picking up a hamburger tossed on the ice in his honor.
OTTAWA CITIZEN: The legend of Andrew “The Hamburgler” Hammond keep growing as he backstopped the Ottawa Senators to a 2-1 shootout win over the Philadelphia Flyers. Hammond’s record is now 10-0-1 in his first 11 NHL starts, one game shy of the record for allowing two-goals or less in consecutive starts set in 1938 by Frankie Brimsek.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Combined with yesterday’s losses by the Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers, the Senators have moved past the Panthers and are five points behind the Bruins for the final wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference. A fan tossed a burger on the ice following the Senators win to honor Hammond, who reportedly received a gift card for free McDonald’s food for life in Ottawa.
MONTREAL GAZETTE: Canadiens fans might not think highly of coach Michel Therrien, but Jack Todd notes he’s kept the Habs on the winning track.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: No, it’s Carey Price who’s kept the Habs on the winning track. Without Price’s Hart and Vezina Trophy-worthy performances, the Canadiens would be jockeying for a wild-card berth. You can see it in the rare games this season when Price’s play is less than stellar.
THE PROVINCE: The return of gritty checking-line forward Brad Richardson has provided a boost to the Canucks.
WINNIPEG SUN: Injuries to the Jets defense corps has allowed little-used blueliner Paul Postma an opportunity to step up.
CALGARY SUN: Among the five burning questions this week for the Flames: How many points will it take to clinch a playoff berth? And can their talented kids keep up their strong play down the stretch?
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Only the most devoted Flames fan gave this club any chance of making the playoffs. Regardless of how this season ends, the Flames have made significant strides in their rebuilding program and are an entertaining team. Though I’m not a Flames fan, I’m hoping they can clinch a berth.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: As the Oilers prepare to play nine of their final 13 games at home, they’re still lacking a complete-game effort.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Adding to the misery of Edmonton fans is seeing their arch-rival in Calgary doing so well with their rebuilding process while the Oilers continue to wallow in mediocrity.
TORONTO SUN: Terry Koshan doesn’t want the Leafs to call up promising William Nylander. “There is no reason to introduce William Nylander to the mess that is the Maple Leafs”, write Koshan.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: While Nylander will have to be introduced to the mess at some point, perhaps waiting until next season (when the Leafs might not be as big a train wreck as they are right now) could be a better option.
A training camp will help, switching coaches and systems on the fly midseason has been no help, simmilar to the jets last year when they hired Maurice and when Carlyle took over for Wilson, it can take a bit of time…Now I am not saying they will be much better next year results wise but it will be a lot less of a mess with a new coach in place (who the team will know is there for the foreseeable future) system in place, other new players…it only makes sense to let Nylander finnish the year with the Marlies, no rush.
I dont think the Sens can actually catch the Bruins, too much of a gap, but with Pageau Stone Hoffman Ceci Hammond…they have been one of the funnest teams to watch the second half of this year, too bad about the start.
“Adding to the misery of Edmonton fans is seeing their arch-rival in Calgary doing so well with their rebuilding process while the Oilers continue to wallow in mediocrity.”
The Oilers will continue to be futile as long as they retain the Lowe-MacTavish tandem who continue their desperate search for a clue – a commodity neither possesses on the management side of things.
In regard to Hammond, I, like many others no doubt, were patiently waiting for the other shoe to drop, seeing him as pretty much the second coming of Steve Penny.The more I hear about this guy and his nondescript hockey career prior to arriving in the NHL, the more I find myself rooting for him personally. A really good story!
With the NHL becoming so corporate its nice to see a guy without the usual credentials and hype rise to the occasion. His story has got to be encouraging for those players not considered to be top rung prospects. No matter what happens from here no one can take this incredible run away from him.