Ottawa Senators: Give Anders Nilsson More Starts In Net

It’s time for the Ottawa Senators to consider a change in the goaltending department.

Acquired in a trade from the Vancouver Canucks on January 2nd, Anders Nilsson has impressed in his 10 games with the Ottawa Senators.

His record may be average (6-4-0) but his statistics are not, boasting a spectacular .937 SV% and a solid 2.21 GAA, along with one shutout.  He has now won two straight games in net for the Sens and has won four of his last five starts.

With no first round pick this year, the Sens aren’t joining in on the “Lose For Hughes” competition. So, with nothing to lose, why not give Nilsson more starts going forward, seeing as how he is the hot hand in net.

What Do the Sens Have to Lose?

Yes, Pierre Dorion has stated that Craig Anderson is the team’s “cornerstone in net” and reiterated that he isn’t going to be traded. But Dorion and head coach Guy Boucher have to see that Nilsson is the better of the two right now.

An excuse could definitely be made for Anderson’s play, as he has faced the ninth most shots in the NHL and is also top ten in saves made. He has played admirably behind one of the worst teams in the NHL. But his 3.55 GAA is still a problem, and if the Sens want to win games, maybe it’s time to give the 37-year old some rest.

Nilsson has been great for the Senators in his short amount of time with them. After two straight 40-plus save performances (Including a 45 save shutout of the Anaheim Ducks), Nilsson is riding a wave of momentum that the Sens should capitalize on.

It doesn’t have to be every start, and It probably won’t get the Senators to the playoffs, but it may stabilize the team for the remainder of the season.

Oh, and also prevent the Colorado Avalanche from potentially getting the first overall pick from the Ottawa Senators. That would count as a huge win for the team in a season that doesn’t have enough positive storylines.