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Ottawa Senators: Three Players Who Need to be Better

By Joshua Delorme

DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 21: Ottawa Senators head coach D.J. Smith looks on from the bench during the game between the Ottawa Senators and the Dallas Stars on October 21, 2019 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Steve Nurenberg/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 21: Ottawa Senators head coach D.J. Smith looks on from the bench during the game between the Ottawa Senators and the Dallas Stars on October 21, 2019 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Steve Nurenberg/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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UNIONDALE, NY – NOVEMBER 05: Ottawa Senators Goalie Craig Anderson (41) makes a glove save during the second period the National Hockey League game between the Ottawa Senators and the New York Islanders on November 5, 2019, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
UNIONDALE, NY – NOVEMBER 05: Ottawa Senators Goalie Craig Anderson (41) makes a glove save during the second period the National Hockey League game between the Ottawa Senators and the New York Islanders on November 5, 2019, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

1. Craig Anderson

The last and final name on my list is the Senators’ longtime starting netminder. The reason for Craig Anderson being on this list is quite simple: for the Senators to remain competitive on most nights, they are going to need their goaltenders to make some saves.

Anders Nilsson has probably supplanted Craig Anderson for a little while as the go-to option for DJ Smith. However, Smith had said very early on in training camp that the Senators were more than probably rotate both netminders.

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So far this season, the split between Nilsson and Anderson has been pretty even. Anderson has started nine games while Nilsson has started seven. Nilsson has more wins than Anderson and also has better numbers when looking at the GAA and the Sv%.

Stats don’t always tell the whole story though. I’m not going to sit here and say that the Senators have lost games because of the play of Craig Anderson, but they surely haven’t won games because of Anderson too often.

The 38-year-old Anderson is in the final year of his current contract and he is definitely showing signs of his age. It will be interesting to see how Smith and the Senators handle the goalie rotation throughout the season, but Anderson does need to play better.

Next. Ottawa Senators fans can save tons. dark

Senators fans, we want to hear from you! What players do you think need to play better? Let us know your thoughts about this and anything Senators related in the comment section below!

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