Senators to get some relief

Hammond almost ready to return, take start in goal

Ottawa• The end of the streak could be near for Craig Anderson.

Anderson, who has started 14 straight games in the Senators net — mercifully lifted by coach Dave Cameron early in the second period of Saturday’s 3-1 loss to Montreal — could finally receive a break this week with the expected return of Andrew Hammond.

Hammond, who hasn’ t seen NHL action since defeating Vancouver 3-2 on Nov. 12 due to a concussion, played Friday and Saturday for the Binghamton Senators of the AHL.

While the B- Sens lost both games — 4- 3 to Springfield and 5- 3 to Hershey — the primary goal of the conditioning stint was to give Anderson’s back-up some live action after missing a month.

Anderson is expected to start Monday against Los Angeles, but Hammond could return to the net either Wednesday in Washington or Friday, when San Jose visits the Canadian Tire Centre.

The Senators No. 1 goaltender says he agreed with coach Dave Cameron’s decision to replace him with Chris Driedger early in the second period Saturday.

“I had a lot of mixed emotions going on there,” he said following the game. “It was the right play, considering the situation and the body language that I was giving off and the frame of mind we were all in.”

Anderson, who leads the NHL in shots against and ranks second behind Nashville’s Pekka Rinne in minutes played, could challenge Patrick Lalime’s single- season Senators record of 67 appearances, set in the 2002- 03 season.

“I have always said he is one of the best goalies in the league,” said Lalime, now a commentator for TVA Sports. “When he gets on a roll, when he is on, you can’t score on him. He reads the play so well.”

If he gets enough rest between games, Lalime says Anderson has the proper makeup to break his record.