Ottawa Senators have heated goaltender competition to start season
By Cory Buck
The Ottawa Senators don’t have a ton of forwards with which to make a dent on the Eastern Conference playoff race. Their blue line beyond Erik Karlsson might even be a question mark. But their goaltending situation? Solid, almost to the point of controversy. Between incumbent starter Craig Anderson and surging youngster Robin Lehner, the Sens are all set in goal.
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“First of all, our goaltending is in great hands,” Senators head coach Paul MacLean told ESPN’s Pierre Lebrun. “We really feel that we have really good goaltending with two goaltenders who work hard at the game; and they’re both great teammates and great people. So we feel we’re in good shape with our goalies”
MacLean added that just because both are good, doesn’t mean the more established guy, Anderson, doesn’t have the inside track on the starter’s minutes — for now anyways.
"“At this point in time, Craig is our No. 1 goalie. In the past he was used to playing 60 to 70 games. He’s not doing that this year. Robin Lehner has earned the opportunity to play more games. If and when he earns those games again in the season, he’s going to get to play. The pleasure the coaching staff has, and the team has, is that we can play one of them and have a tremendous amount of confidence the outcome of the game is going to go our way.”"
A healthy, motivated Craig Anderson would be tough to beat for Robin Lehner, but Anderson has struggled with health in the past, which could open the door for more minutes on Lehner’s end. Either way, the Senators can at least know their goaltending is all set as they turn to the rest of their roster.
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