Sens’ Anderson faces youthful Hart
With apologies to Ernest Hemingway, you could be tempted to call Saturday’s NHL matchup featuring Ottawa and Philadelphia The Old Man and The Kid.
The game will pit 38-year-old goaltender Craig Anderson and the Senators against 21-year-old Flyers netminder Carter Hart.
Anderson proved he still has something left while keeping the Senators alive early in Wednesday’s 5-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers.
Without his strong first-period performance, a comeback wouldn’t have been possible.
Hart, meanwhile, has saved his best for fans in Philly. In home games, he has gone 7-1-2, with a 1.48 goals-against average and .944 save percentage. Next week, Hart will celebrate the first anniversary of his first NHL start.
Here are five more things to watch in Saturday’s game:
1.
Fighting to the end
After leaving Ottawa on Nov. 28, the road trip finally comes to an end. With a victory in Philly, the Senators could come home with a 2-3 record after a miserable start to the trek.
2.
Loosening the stick grip
After a few lengthy goal-scoring droughts ended in Edmonton — hello Connor Brown and Artem Anisimov — some pressure has been removed from forwards expected to produce offensively.
3.
Young and restless
After a strong stretch in late November, rookie centre Logan Brown is feeling the heat again. He played only 5:28 against the Oilers and if he doesn’t showcase a solid two-way game, he’s in danger of joining Erik Brannstrom in Belleville with the AHL team.
4.
Energy of Philly fans
The Flyers have lost in regulation on home ice only twice this season — including a 3-1 loss to Arizona on Thursday — and Philly fans certainly love a winning team. Meanwhile, the Senators need to avoid the slow starts they displayed in Edmonton and Vancouver to keep those Flyers fans from getting into the spirit.
5.
Remembering the past
The Flyers lost only twice in regulation in November — their 24 points in the month tied a franchise record — but one of those setbacks was a 2-1 decision to the Senators at Canadian Tire Centre on Nov. 15. That victory was all about goaltending and penalty killing.