Game recaps, updates on Radim Vrbata, Karri Ramo and Nail Yakupov, and the latest on the Leafs.
Game recaps.
Ottawa Senators goalie Andrew Hammond makes one of his 35 saves against the Winnipeg Jets.
OTTAWA SUN/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS: Thanks again to stellar goaltender from Andrew Hammond, the Ottawa Senators picked up their sixth win in seven games, downing the Winnipeg Jets 3-1 to finish their road trip with a 4-0-1 record. Hammond made 35 saves for the victory.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bit of a surprise start for Hammond, as it was expected Craig Anderson would get the call. Anderson apparently hasn’t fully recovered from his injury. With the win, the Senators are only four points out of playoff contention. Thanks to Hammond’s performance, the Senators are playing with confidence and have a legit shot at a wild-card spot.
MONTREAL GAZETTE: The Montreal Canadiens lost their second straight road game, dropping a 3-1 decision to the Anaheim Ducks. Former Hab Jiri Sekac picked up an assist for the Ducks, while Anaheim goalie John Gibson made 37 saves. The Canadiens remain atop the Eastern Conference, two points up on the New York Rangers and New York Islanders.
Notable headlines.
THE VANCOUVER SUN: Canucks forward Radim Vrbata is wary of his former team, the Arizona Coyotes, whom Vancouver will face next. Vrbata cites his club’s recent loss against the hapless Buffalo Sabres as proof it won’t be an easy game against the stripped-down Coyotes.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sometimes the most dangerous opponent down the stretch are non-playoff clubs which have nothing to prove. The pressure is off those teams and they’re more relaxed, while a team jockeying for playoff contention (like the Canucks) are under considerably more tension.
CALGARY SUN: Flames goalie Karri Ramo has a league-best “goals-against average at 1.87 and best save-percentage of .938” this season among NHL goalies with 10-or-more appearances in road appearances,
EDMONTON SUN:Under new Oilers coach Todd Nelson and center Derek Roy, young winger Nail Yakupov is enjoying an offensive revival. He has nine points in his last 13 games.
THE GLOBE AND MAIL: James Mirtle explains how the unrelenting media circus following the Leafs is taking a toll on the players.
As bad as the media has been in Toronto Mirtle (who freely admits he is not a fan of the Leafs) has been great.
Just a thought… with Hammond playing like he is, could we see Lehner being traded in a package for a top centre? If Hammond continues to prove that he is ready to back-up Anderson next year of course.
Anderson has to be #1 until his contract ends so why keep Lehner when you have a guy like Hammond looking like he is ready to handle NHL level games? If we could sign Boston U. goalie Matt O’Connor, we could be good for that position until we get a new up and comer.
Would have to be a pretty sizeable package besides a backup goalie who lost his job, and I dont mean that to come across rude as it sounded, Im just not sure the Sens would have enough or be willing to give up enough in a deal involving Lehner for a “top line center” unless it was a gamble type deal where they were willing to take on a big aging contract, that may not work out, or another deal simmilar to Turris where they took a young guy who “may” develop in to one….the Cap space they have might help land a center from a team looking to shed a contract tho.
first off why trade a sens goalie
they have a good team playing right now why make any changes
I think the NHL needs to adapt the idea that teams must have three goalies around in case of accidents like Florida had
Then the coach has a choice of goalies
right now ride the burger guy till he loses two games
then bring in Anderson and wait till he loses two games in a row, then switch back to hamburger again!
making for a competition for the goalies to play the way a couch should have played his cards
This Sens team should not have traded big Ben either that was a mistake. They should have had it Big Ben and Anderson for now, till Big Ben value went up or Anderson then trade a goalie then bring Robby in instead of trading a good goalie for nothing like they got… that was a bad deal