Silver Nuggets: Craig Anderson's improvement
by Adnan on Jan 13, 2012 1:00 PM EST
in Silver Nuggets
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PrintYou are likely aware that the Ottawa Senators have gone 10-1-2 in the last 13 games. You may also notice that checking the NHL goals against average or save percentage leaders, one has to click on the next page button to find the Ottawa goaltender. Not counting shootouts, Ottawa has scored 46 goals in this 13 game run and allowed 32. The Senators have scored four goals or more in all but three of the ten wins. So while it isn't fair to say that Craig Anderson is carrying the team, the Senators are certainly not winning despite their goaltender any more.
For the first time this season, Craig Anderson has a goals against average under 3, sitting at 2.99 right now. His save percentage, having been in the .890 range for much of the season is up to .906 after last night. It is no wonder that the Senators have gone from hanging around a playoff spot to opening up a sizeable lead. In the last eight games (after Anderson's disaster against the Canadiens), the Senators have gone 7-0-1 with Anderson starting the last seven of those games and playing the majority of the eighth in relief. Anderson has played 478 minutes in that span allowing 13 goals on 250 shots. That is a .948 save percentage and a 1.63 goals against average. He has allowed two goals or less in six of the eight games.
Ottawa is not winning simply because of its goaltending (although last night they did), but Craig Anderson is now contributing to the team's success. Anderson had a lot of regressing to the mean to do and he is almost there. His overall numbers for the season are still below average, but can he continue to give the Senators excellent goaltending, or at the very least give them not terrible goaltending?
Last game
- Recap from last night's win. (Silver Seven, Blue Shirt Banter, Ottawa Sun, Ottawa Citizen)
- Scoring chances from last night. Second line was good, first line was not. But the first line scored all three goals anyway. (The 6th Sens)
- The average age of the nine players who see more ice time than Erik Karlsson is 28.55 years. Plus, Craig Anderson has improved his save percentage every month this season. (Senators Extra)
- Nikita Filatov is happy to pick up his first point in the KHL this season. (RT)
- The Binghamton Senators will play the Syracuse Crunch tonight, the same opponent against which Robin Lehner absolutely lost it. Lehner is eligible to play tonight but there is no word on whether he will. (Press & Sun-Bulletin)
- Bruce Garrioch writes about former Senator Brian Elliott making the all-star team. (Ottawa Sun)
- Interesting article here, that first line players are not more likely to get into better scoring areas, but they are better at scoring on them. Essentially "shot quality' is the same for most players. Is that what you would expect? (Arctic Ice Hockey)
- Bob McKenzie writes a lengthy piece about the big trade between Montréal and Calgary last night involving Rene Bourque and Mike Cammalleri. (TSN)
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Good winning formula...
Seems like all the stars are aligning great goaltending, solid D and top 2 lines of balanced scoring. Seems like the rebuild is obviously light years ahead of schedule.
I wouldn’t say they played poorly. There was a lopsided ~10 minutes or so, but after that, Ottawa was playing even with (and arguably better than) the Rangers. Don’t forget that (yet again) we took more penalty minutes, too.
Adnan posted this link:
http://the6thsens.com/2012-articles/january/scoring-chances-game-45-new-york-rangers.html
Scoring chances were 9-2 for the Rangers after 12 minutes, but 17-14 in favor of the Sens thereafter.
So if no one would trade Karlsson for Crosby...
…would you trade him for Ovie?
by RogerTheShrubber on Jan 13, 2012 1:45 PM EST reply actions
Tough call...
Certainly in terms of Best Player wins the trade, it’s gotta be Ovie. He’s struggling, yes, but he’s still Ovie.
That said, I’m at the point where I like where our offence is going to be in the next few years. Karlsson is key to the future strength of our defense. Cowen looks to be a top pairing guy in the future, but none of our other young D fit that bill, and it’s hard to even imagine a great 2nd pairing guy coming out of our young D. Lee, Boro, Weircioch… They all seem like 3rd pairing guys to me (though what do I know). We would positionally be trading from our weaker area to shore up our stronger area.
Karlsson has the youth factor, too. Granted, Ovie’s no old man, but I think Karlsson has a good 4 or 5 years on him, if I’m not mistaken.
Basically… I have no idea. I doubt Washington would do it, though. They’ve got a similar defenseman in Mike Green (though I’d argue that Karlsson is better in every way) and are unlikely to ever give up Ovie. The phrase “from my cold, dead hands” comes to mind.
by spez_dispenser on Jan 13, 2012 2:26 PM EST up reply actions
Good points
Let’s leave reality aside though and not trouble ourselves with the issue of whether Washington would do it.
by RogerTheShrubber on Jan 13, 2012 2:46 PM EST up reply actions
i think it's a bad move
look at a team like NYR – they are scoring by committee and despite have a ‘big name star’ in Richards, their offense really doesn’t rely on him. it seems like a reasonable enough model for success in this NHL to have offensive depth as opposed to all your eggs in one basket like an Ovie.
Now, having that exceptionally talented back-end to move the puck up the ice, break the trap, good outlet pass, marshalling the power-play, etc. Personally, i think that makes Karlsson the more valuable commodity. I think we would miss him more than we would gain from getting an Ovie.
Well...
they do have asome dude named Gaborik – but I think your point still stands. There is not many players out there that I would trade straight up for Karlsson, even if we got wind he wanted his next contract to be gigantic.
by Carl Weathers on Jan 13, 2012 3:32 PM EST up reply actions
This is crazy
Are we Karlsson obsessed?
Any neutral would trade Karlsson for Crosby or Ovie in a heartbeat. Also. we all know that neither Pittsburgh nor Washington would do this trade. But no one on here would do it either.
And I’m with you.
And I blame Adnan for all of this.
by RogerTheShrubber on Jan 14, 2012 3:17 PM EST up reply actions
I would trade Karlsson for Ovechkin actually.
I love soft players (especially Europeans) that play on the perimeter. Enigmas are awesome. Grit and heart-and-soul are red flags.
Erik Karlsson is better than your favourite player.
Twitter: @sens_adnan
Would you have traded him for pre-concussion Crosby?
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
I would hate myself, but yes.
I love soft players (especially Europeans) that play on the perimeter. Enigmas are awesome. Grit and heart-and-soul are red flags.
Erik Karlsson is better than your favourite player.
Twitter: @sens_adnan
Hold that thought though. Wouldn’t trade Karlsson for Weber.
I love soft players (especially Europeans) that play on the perimeter. Enigmas are awesome. Grit and heart-and-soul are red flags.
Erik Karlsson is better than your favourite player.
Twitter: @sens_adnan
I don't know if I would, either, considering how Cowen seems to be developing
I’d have to really think about it.
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
Nobody should be drinking Adnan's Karlsson Koolaid
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
Crosby is skating again
No word on the 78 other injured Penguins players.
The other 78 are complaining about not being talked about everyday
by whatsinaname on Jan 13, 2012 3:52 PM EST up reply actions
So why said "no word on the other 78......"?
by whatsinaname on Jan 13, 2012 4:30 PM EST up reply actions
No word *today*
And it was a joke… there may well have been updates on the other Pens injuries today.
Last 10 Games
In regulation, looks like 22 goals against for a 2.2 GAA. Since I have focused on this earlier as a cause for concern, I have to say this looks a lot better, and still includes the whipping last time by Montreal. The phrase regressing to the mean was used in the write up, and that’s what we need to temper expectations with here. Until shots against improve, and scoring chances reduced, the odds are that, over time, goals against will bounce around and trend back to 3. Keeping up our elite offensive numbers, while cutting down on chances against, do not go naturally hand in hand, so more discipline, structure and engagement in our own end will have to suffice.
It’s great to be a fan of this team again. After two really lousy years, it’s exciting to watch the games, imagine the possibilities, witness the growth of young players and dream big. The parade should start at the Cow Palace…
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