GAME DAY: New York Rangers @ Ottawa Senators :: 2:00pm ET :: Sat. Jan. 18th, 2014

wprager wrote:Didn't say that this is *the* game.  But you cannot argue it was not a hugely important one, potentially, at least.  You said so yourself:

NEELY wrote:Rangers game is huge on Sat, enormous.

Was huge, it's over and the Sens are right in the thick of it still. Saturdays game will not be the reason they missed out and when you play like the Sens played yesterday there is no other option than to come out and play a much more responsible and enthusiastic game next time out. Better than another loss like on Thursday night. Only thing that as been fairly consistent this year is the Sens needing at least 4 goals to win.

wprager wrote:Didn't say that this is *the* game.  But you cannot argue it was not a hugely important one, potentially, at least.  You said so yourself:

NEELY wrote:Rangers game is huge on Sat, enormous.

That's why only hindsight is 20/20, unless you're me. I see all and know all past, present and future. NEELY is only human.

Saying their performance in a big game was poor is certainly not jumping off a cliff. I said if they won (regulation) they'd be in a playoff spot, not that if they lost they'd be be gone. Big difference.

Previous game, also huge. Win in regulation and not only are you (potentially) in a playoff spot (at the time had no idea how Rags/Wings and Caps games would turn out) but even more importantly only 5 points back of the Habs. Who wouldn't prefer a top-six spot instead of one of the wildcards. 5 points back is certainly doable. And then Andy lays a huge egg. The team bailed him out big time, yet also failed him with two breakaways to Plekanec -- it's not like it's any secret this guy likes stepping up for a breakaway pass. But, in any case, after that bad game you'd think Andy would have a better effort --that tying goal, did he even move off the far post? Did his skate get caught? Because it looked like he just kept his right skate on the far post and then waved the trapper at the shot. There was plenty of time to slide across.

For the millionth time this season we are asking -- is it finally Lehner time?

wprager wrote:Saying their performance in a big game was poor is certainly not jumping off a cliff.  I said if they won (regulation) they'd be in a playoff spot, not that if they lost they'd be be gone.   Big difference.

Previous game, also huge.  Win in regulation and not only are you (potentially) in a playoff spot (at the time had no idea how Rags/Wings and Caps games would turn out) but even more importantly only 5 points back of the Habs.   Who wouldn't prefer a top-six spot instead of one of the wildcards.  5 points back is certainly doable.  And then Andy lays a huge egg.  The team bailed him out big time, yet also failed him with two breakaways to Plekanec -- it's not like it's any secret this guy likes stepping up for a breakaway pass.  But, in any case, after that bad game you'd think Andy would have a better effort --that tying goal, did he even move off the far post?  Did his skate get caught?  Because it looked like he just kept his right skate on the far post and then waved the trapper at the shot.  There was plenty of time to slide across.

For the millionth time this season we are asking -- is it finally Lehner time?

Every team gives up chances and the goalie should make a save once in a while... it's his job. So sick of people saying that he didn't have a chance or that was a tough save, yah they are tough saves, that's why you have a goalie.

Anderson loses it and doesn't know how to regain it... that's game to game. Hell if he lets in a stinker you know he's going to let in another and that's probably the worst part of it all. Mid game, he isn't playing well chances are Ottawa is not winning that game simply because you can't count on Anderson. Long term memory on a goaltender is death.

Lehner needs to be given some rope here and given a chance to carry the ball for a bit. Anderson has let the Sens down time and time again this year.

Craig "at least 3" Anderson isn't going to get the Sens into the playoffs and fact is he is losing games for the Sens and has been all year. Yah, he was big for the Sens since coming from Colorado but this is the exact same reason he was had for so cheap from Colorado. You just can't count on him if something goes wrong.

It's a what have you done for me lately league and Anderson is not the future for the Sens and might not be the present. The Penguins are a perfect example of a team that hasn't cut bait with their goaltender and it has cost them a Stanley Cup or two IMO... Ottawa needs to avoid that.

I disagree, he was a big reason we were on a big streak and if we get to the playoffs it will be Andy in nets. I don't see lehner in nets leading us to the playoffs right now. Anderson has been much much better as of late

NEELY wrote:Craig "at least 3" Anderson isn't going to get the Sens into the playoffs and fact is he is losing games for the Sens and has been all year.  Yah, he was big for the Sens since coming from Colorado but this is the exact same reason he was had for so cheap from Colorado.  You just can't count on him if something goes wrong.

It's a what have you done for me lately league and Anderson is not the future for the Sens and might not be the present.  The Penguins are a perfect example of a team that hasn't cut bait with their goaltender and it has cost them a Stanley Cup or two IMO... Ottawa needs to avoid that.

IMO.. the Sens would have won against Mtl & NYR if Lehner was in net.. MTL game.. 3 goals on the first 5 shots + the OT stinker.. NYR game -- two goals from the faceoff circle go in on him again. Teams know to shoot from that spot... Anderson has a lot of difficulty with that..

Lehner's last game was a shutout...

Every team we didn't want to get points yesterday... got points..

Detroit's win was garbage. The NHL officials should be embarrassed..

Ev wrote:I disagree, he was a big reason we were on a big streak and if we get to the playoffs it will be Andy in nets. I don't see lehner in nets leading us to the playoffs right now. Anderson has been much much better as of late

Can't honestly say Anderson has been better as of late because Lehner hasn't had the chance to really play.  Yah, Anderson was solid for a 2 week period but the team was playing pretty close to perfect hockey and Anderson didn't have to be great, just good.  If Anderson doesn't figure out how to work through bad periods and games then he will continue to cost the Sens games and points.  I don't have the stat in front of me but I am sure Anderson has set the record for most 1st shot goals against in a season... in fact I think he has crushed whatever the record was.  

At the end of the day, this season the chances of the 1st shot going in on Anderson is about 1 in every 4 games and him letting in 3 or more is around a 70% possibility... those are horribly bad things for a goaltender.  Also, 7 of Anderson's last 12 games he's had a save % of under 900... not like the Sens were winning because of Anderson.

When I said much much better I meant better than himself, earlier in the year, not lehner.

Fair enough.

just to put this in context Lehner has 11 games in his entire career where he had a save% under 900... 4 were in his first season as a 19 year old.  So the last 3 seasons he has 7 games with a save % under 900.  Anderson has 7 in his last 12 games.  I mean GAA is something that is more of a team stat for sure so I don't really like using it but fact are facts and Lehner stops more shots than Anderson.

Guys, does anyone know how NEELY feels about Anderson?

Honestly, I wish Anderson was playing like a #1 goaltender because if he was the Sens would be in a playoff position right now. They have been playing good to great hockey since the beginning of December now and Anderson has cost them points on more than a handful of occasions. The guy is playing like he was his last year in Colorado still, that hasn't changed. Everyone said it was a bad situation there at the end but clearly he has mental issues if something doesn't go his way and that's a sign of a goalie that can be counted on or trusted.

Can Anderson go off and play 5 games in a row at an all-world level? Absolutely but you still don't know when this Anderson is going to show up and cost his team the game and some points.

The other side of this is how well Lehner has played while being in Ottawa and to be perfectly honest he has been the better goaltender basically the entire season and was playing at an all-star level even last year. There is no reason why Lehner shouldn't be getting more starts and a heavier workload because at the end of the day the season is probably going to rest on these 2 guys and one is CLEARLY outperforming the other.

Lehner has literally stolen games and kept the Sens in games while facing obscene amounts of shots while Anderson has a team that plays well in front of him but he lets them down by letting in the first goal or 3 to 4 goals along the way. He's had a few good games mixed into a Devon Dubnyk type year but that's it.

So, NEELY, where do you stand on the whole Anderson thing?

Seriously if Ottawa didn't have a legit backup or a guy that is just as good as Anderson I don't think I would be spitting venom like this (or at least stating my opinion) but there is no reason why Lehner shouldn't be given some more starts on a more consistent basis.

I don't like the fact the Sens are living and dying by Anderson when they really don't have to.

But the question is, NEELY, where do you come out on the Anderson debate?

Anderson is literally Hitler

As annoying as Anderson's play has been lately.....wtf were karlsson and phillips doing????