Getty Images If there was any doubt that Craig Anderson is the Ottawa Senators’ top goalie, he might have already erased it.
The 31-year-old netminder improved his 2013 record to 5-0-1 as Ottawa beat Montreal 5-1 on Wednesday despite missing key players Jason Spezza and Sergei Gonchar. Anderson stopped 31 out of 32 shots.
It’s not as if Anderson has enjoyed a cushy start, either. As well as the Senators have been playing, he’s faced a little more than 30 shots per game on his way to some outstanding stats:
Anderson: 5-0-1, 0.99 GAA (six goals allowed in six games) and a .967 save percentage.
Also impressive: Anderson didn’t show the ill effects from back-to-back games; he made 31 out of 33 saves in a 3-2 win over the Washington Capitals last night.
For more on Anderson’s strong start, see this video:
Big backup Ben Bishop, 26, was in net for the team’s lone regulation loss as the Senators dropped a 6-4 decision to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Jan. 25. Perhaps Bishop (and 21-year-old prospect Robin Lehner) will eventually challenge Anderson in the future, but the veteran goalie has a strong hold over the No. 1 job right now.
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- nygdriveforfive - Jan 30, 2013 at 10:14 PM
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Anderson is picking up where he left off last year. The guy is a Vezina candidate and the Sens are not going away. This team is good and with Anderson playing like he is capable off I predict this team goes far in the playoffs. Alfie is going out with the Cup!
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- valoisvipers - Jan 30, 2013 at 10:36 PM
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Yes indeed friend,the Sens are again this year a pleasant surprise.I wish them well.
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- bigbadbruins77 - Jan 30, 2013 at 11:07 PM
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Would love to see Alfie go out a champ…
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- ryanw822 - Jan 30, 2013 at 11:32 PM
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Florida 2x, Jets, Montreal, Washington?
Wake me up when they beat someone worth a damn.
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- einjzmolf - Jan 30, 2013 at 11:50 PM
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it was funny to see and hear more habs fans in the building than sens fans. i think the crowd cheered louder for the canadiens goal than the 5 sens ones haha.
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- nygdriveforfive - Jan 31, 2013 at 10:38 AM
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It’s always that way when habs play in Ottawa. That’s why it’s so important for the Sens to beat down the habs and shut there fans up. Like last night.
