The trade of Ben Bishop has not only had an impact on the Ottawa Senators, but don’t forget the impact it will have on the AHL affiliate, the Binghamton Senators.
The team that started out the season with Robin Lehner as the #1 and then had a NHL caliber duo of Lehner and Bishop for a time until the lockout ended, probably had the hope of getting Lehner back for the playoffs when Craig Anderson returned from injury. The Bishop trade changed all of that, and now Lehner will definitely be spending the remainder of the season, as long as it lasts, in Ottawa.
Sep 23, 2011; Ottawa, ON, CAN; Montreal Canadiens goalie Nathan Lawson (35) in the second period against the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
Now, the man that was holding the fort until Lehner returned, is now the man who will at least start the playoffs as the #1. But you won’t get too many complaints from Binghamton supporters about the play of Nathan Lawson as of late. He is 10-6-2 in his 20 appearances this season, and the 29 year old’s numbers rival what Lehener put up. He has a GAA of 2.28 and a save percentage of .936 and he now becomes the #3 goalie on the depth chart. He doesn’t have enough minutes yet to qualify in the league leaders, but if he did, he would have the 11th best GAA and 2nd best SP (behind only Lehner).
So the Binghamton Senators are in good hands, having already clinched a playoff berth and running in a 4 team pack for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. Binghamton, Syracuse and Springfield are all trailing Providence by 2 points as the standings look today.