It took just two games, but finding themselves in an 0-2 predicament has led Ottawa Senators head coach Dave Cameron to make a few hasty decisions. In time for game 3, Craig Anderson will be between the pipes to take on Montreal Canadiens Carey Price, and tough guy Chris Neil will suit up and take his spot on the fourth line, replacing big winger Alex Chiasson.
Senators bench Andrew Hammond, turn back to Craig Anderson in net http://t.co/f6YtPvIPqV pic.twitter.com/J3spevQILI
— HockeyNightInCanada (@hockeynight) April 19, 2015
This season, Hammond became one of the biggest stories in the second portion of the year, posting a 20-1-2 record to help the Ottawa Senators in their push to make the playoffs despite being as far as 14 points back in the new year. However, his struggles have started to show in the post-season, allowing 7 goals on 81 shots during his two games against the Canadiens and arguably a few soft shots have managed to beat the netminder, who is popularly referred by his nickname of the Hamburglar. In a desperation attempt to turn things around, Cameron spoke with Hammond this morning to notify him that Anderson would get the start in game 3, and Hammond has supported the decision.
Anderson, 33, has played in just four games since January and won just one. A record of 14-13-8 this season after just 35 starts, the Park Ridge native is coming in cold. After injuring his hand and paving the way for Hammond to become the starter, Anderson would play four more times before season’s end, posting a 3.42 goals against during that final stretch. Cameron will hope for Anderson to reach his 2013 form, when he went 4-1 in the opening round against the Canadiens, posting a .950 save percentage.
In for 6’4 Chiasson is Chris Neil, a player that is synonymous with the word tough. In 35 games this season, Neil has posted 7 points (4 goals, 3 assists) and 78 penalty minutes. The fourth line plug has lost a step at this stage in his career and at 35 years of age, many question the decision of him replacing a younger Chiasson, despite the forward struggling in the first two games of the series. Neil still provides a bit of energy and playing on the fourth line, his duties will mainly involve crashing and banging opposition to wear them down. His warning to PK Subban was made before game two, a game he did not dress in, so it will be interesting to see what happens, should these two players be on the ice at the same time.
Alex Chiasson has been held off the scoresheet in both games and hasn’t been noticeably effective in either encounters. Another name that has been popping up as of late has been Bobby Ryan, who has looked uninterested every time he plays a shift. While Ryan remains in the line-up, mainly due to his skill set and the hope he wakes up, Neil in for Chiasson will provide the toughness the Senators require to settle down the Canadiens and give confidence to the younger forwards in the top-6.
