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Encore? Hammond makes some history

Andrew Hammond

Andrew Hammond

AP

One of the interesting storylines that hasn’t really been explored much this season is what Andrew Hammond will do for an encore. Last night though, we got a reminder of just how good he was last season and what kind of potential he has in 2015-16.

Hammond was solid against the Detroit Red Wings, allowing just one goal on 30 shots to put his rough return from a groin injury on Oct. 22 behind him. Friday’s contest also marked Hammond’s 21st victory in 27 career games, which is an NHL record, per the Elias Sports Bureau and the NHL Communications Department.

Remarkably, Hammond still has just one career loss in regulation time.

It would be a stretch to expect him to live up to the standard he set last season when he came out of nowhere to help guide the Ottawa Senators to the playoffs against all odds, but that still doesn’t answer the question of what they’re going to get out of him. Now that he’s healthy, will he prove to be a solid backup for Craig Anderson? Can he challenge for the starting gig? Or alternatively, will the 27-year-old completely fall back to Earth?

Ottawa inked him to a three-year, $4.05 million deal that starts this season, which has the potential to be a great move. Only time will tell, but if nothing else, Hammond has his name in the record books.