At this point, making a change in the Ottawa Senators’ net, would be pointless.
So, it’s no surprise Anders Nilsson will make his third straight start as the Senators face the Carolina Hurricanes Monday night at the PNC Arena in Raleigh to close out this two-game series that started with Ottawa’s 4-1 victory Saturday night at the Canadian Tire Centre.
Nilsson, who has won his last three starts, made 38 saves in the victory over the Hurricanes and coach D.J. Smith has maintained since the start of the season if somebody was able to get hot he’d leave that goalie in so Craig Anderson will have to play the waiting game.
Smith noted at the start of the year both would share the duties and with four games this week then Anderson will return fairly quickly.
“We don’t want anyone to sit too long,” Smith said Sunday before the club left for Raleigh. “If a guy’s going good, we’ll keep rolling him.”
Nilsson was outstanding in victory over the New York Rangers (6-2 last Monday) on Broadway, a 3-2 overtime decision against the Los Angeles Kings Thursday at home and, of course, with his effort against the Hurricanes. He’s been reliable and has returned to the form that made him successful after he was dealt here from Vancouver last January.
This hasn’t been an easy road for Nilsson because he didn’t have a very good training camp, but more recently he’s been reliable. The 29-year-old has a strong work ethic and has posted a 4-3-1 record this season with a 2.66 goals-against average along with a solid .930 save-percentage.
“When he’s on his game, he hasn’t got happy feet in the net, he’s calm and he’s controlled,” said defenceman Dylan DeMelo Sunday. “He’s been a rock for us. I think his practice habits carry over in a game for us. He works with (goalie coach) Pierre Groulx on the ice and with (Craig Anderson), he’s been great for us.
“You appreciate him more on a day-to-day basis, especially playing in front of him, and he’s got great fundamentals to his game.”
DeMelo said Nilsson and Anderson have helped with the club’s confidence.
“It’s huge anytime you have goalie that’s hot and playing well and dialled in like that,” DeMelo said. “I’m not going to say it gives the guys a little more freedom but maybe a little more confidence in front of them. If you make a mistake he’s there to back you up, but even with (Anderson) we have that comfort level.
“We know that there’s going to be points in the season where we have to rely on them going forward. We have a great one-two punch and right now Nilsson has the hot hand. I would say we have No. 1A and No. 1B, I don’t think we have No. 1 and No. 2. Both guys have been great for us, Nilsson has just been dialled in for sure recently.”
WHITE FEELING GOOD
Centre Colin White played 16:22 in his return for first time in eight games Saturday and he’s fully recovered from a hip flexor/groin injury that had him sidelined.
Actually, his effort Saturday was the best anyone has seen from this season because he tried to play through the ailment and he wasn’t himself. White looked confident with his stride after suiting up Friday night for the Belleville Senators on the road and he felt just fine after the club’s skate Sunday in Ottawa.
“I feel really good,” White said. “It was a back-to-back for me but getting that rest in the afternoon and just continuing to move my feet and this morning I felt really good.”
Smith was impressed with he saw from White.
“He’s skating in the middle of the ice and he’s holding onto the puck,” Smith said. “Shean Donovan skated him throughout this injury process because we were on the road and really did a nice job. (White) came back fast and in shape.
“One of things is when you get hurt you, and the training staff, have a responsibility to make sure you return to play and you’re ready to go. He’s better than when he left.”
THE LAST WORDS
The two goals by Vladislav Namestnikov and Jean-Gabriel Pateau in four seconds were the 10th time in the history of the league that a team has scored twice in that span or less … Rookies J.C Beaudin and Jonathan Davidsson both had their first NHL points with assists on Filip Chlapik’s first period goal against the Hurricanes. Smith tossed them both pucks after the game which will be treasured souvenirs. “They each got a puck for their first point,” said Smith. So, who got the real puck? “That’s on the trainers, they just hand them to me,” added Smith. Each game puck is now marked with the date and the logos of both teams that participated with the location. Beaudin nearly had his first NHL goal in the third period but hit the post behind James Reimer … This is the seventh time in franchise history the Senators and Hurricanes have faced off in a back-to-back series. It’s only the fourth time since the franchise moved from Hartford to North Carolina in 1997-98. The Senators have a 6-7-0 record in 13 games after the win Saturday.
Twitter: @sungarrioch
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