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Ottawa’s super strength is in goal

Ottawa Senators v Tampa Bay Lightning

TAMPA, FL - APRIL 09: Goalie Craig Anderson #41 of the Ottawa Senators defends his goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the game at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on April 9, 2013 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images)

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When you think of the Ottawa Senators your thoughts don’t generally turn toward who is in goal. With the current team, you’re more likely to think about Jason Spezza or Erik Karlsson. Craig Anderson and Robin Lehner would like to change your mind about that.

Last season Anderson battled injury (like most of the rest of the team) and started in just 24 of 48 games. In those games, however, he was brilliant. He put up league-leading numbers in save percentage (.941) and goals against average (1.69) while going 24-12-9 leading Ottawa to the fifth seed in the East.

Numbers like those will usually put you at the front of the list for the Vezina Trophy. It’s that sort of effort that has to make Sens coach Paul MacLean breathe easier when it comes to who to play in net. Of course, it’s not as simple as it seems as he’s also got a hot shot youngster in Lehner as his backup.

Lehner’s numbers in the AHL with Binghamton the past two seasons weren’t the kind to make you think he was a top prospect, but when he took over the backup job in Ottawa last season he took off.

Lehner went 5-3-4 in his starts last season with a .936 SV% and a 2.20 GAA. If you have that kind of action to spell your starter, you’re going to win a lot of games.

No wonder people are looking at the Senators as Cup contenders. Scoring on them might prove to be impossible.

Follow @JoeYerdonPHT