Your absolutely useless Classic Stat of the day

by Ryan Classic on Oct 21, 2010 2:07 AM EDT

Ever hear of Simon Lajeunesse? The Ottawa Senators drafted him in 1999, 2nd round, 48th-overall. He was competing against Mathieu Chouinard for goalie of the future, but unlike Chouinard he actually got a game in with the Senators.

On March 7, 2002, the Ottawa Senators found themselves down and out in a game against the San Jose Sharks after starter Patrick Lalime allowed five goals on twenty-one shots. Lajeunesse played the final 23:30 of the game and didn't allow a single goal, giving him a save percentage and goals-against average unmatched in team history.

Enter October 2010. The Ottawa Senators, already down Pascal Leclaire, find themselves with no alternative but Brian Elliott. When Elliott's skate breaks at the start of the third period on October 16, 2010, rookie netminder Robin Lehner (drafted 2009, 2nd-round, 46th-overall) is forced into action for 4:42 and makes three saves on three shots. Two days later, Brian Elliott was pulled midway through a game after allowing five goals on twenty-two shots against the Pittsburgh Penguins, and again Lehner took the reins. Once again, Lehner was perfect, making seven saves on seven shots over 29:28.

Let's compare the numbers:

GAA: Lehner 0.00, Lajeunesse 0.00

Save percentage: Lehner 1.000, Lajeunesse 1.000

Games played: Lehner 2, Lajeunesse 1

Seconds played: Lehner 2070, Lajeunesse 1410

Shots against: Lehner 10, Lajeunesse 9

Saves: Lehner 10, Lajeunesse 9

Drafted: Lehner 46th, Lajuenesse 48th

Based on this massive sample size, I think we can safely say definitively that Robin Lehner is at this point the best goaltender in Ottawa Senators history. Save us, Robin Lehner.

This FanPost was written by a member of the Silver Seven community, and does not necessarily reflect the beliefs or opinions of the site managers, editors, or Sports Blogs Nation, Inc.

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Comments

Lehner may be the best ever, but I hear rumours that the Sens organization is really high on some kid named Mathieu Chouinard in next years draft. I hear he’s a real stud.

by LeTigre on Oct 21, 2010 4:01 AM EDT reply actions

Already drafted him twice.

Easy Bake Snake - Silver Seven

by Ryan Classic on Oct 21, 2010 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Third times a charm!

Almost as bad as the Rough Riders drafting that dead guy.

by LeTigre on Oct 21, 2010 6:41 PM EDT up reply actions

He retired years ago

Easy Bake Snake - Silver Seven

by Ryan Classic on Oct 21, 2010 7:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Shame

I really did want to see Ottawa go for the trifecta

by LeTigre on Oct 21, 2010 10:41 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't believe you can draft the same player three times

Back then, if a player was drafted and couldn’t come to terms with a team, they could re-enter the draft two years after being picked the first time. I think if another holdout occurs, you’d become a UFA. Now I think it’s holdout two years and then you’re a UFA, no re-entering the draft. Blake Wheeler is the most prominent case of this.

Easy Bake Snake - Silver Seven

by Ryan Classic on Oct 22, 2010 1:34 AM EDT up reply actions