Ottawa goalie Andrew Hammond is expected to make his first start of the season tonight when the Senators host New Jersey.
Hammond suffered a groin injury in early October, forcing him to the sidelines while giving rookie Matt O’Connor a chance to make his NHL debut.
“I feel ready,” Hammond told reporters. “It’s one of those things where you’ve been practicing really well and it’s just a matter of time where you get a chance to put it into a game.”
Hammond -- who signed a three-year, $4.05 million contract extension in May-- was an unlikely savior for the Sens last year, going 20-1-2 with a .941 save percentage.
Tonight, we’ll start to find out if the 27-year-old is more than a one-season wonder.