Hammond looks to rekindle the magic
Hamburglar days distant memory for Senators goalie
At times, the Hamburglar days must seem like a dream to Andrew Hammond. Or a role he played in a sports movie.
It was real, though, as real as the sleet pelting the Canadian Tire Centre at game time.
For a two-month stretch in 2015, Hammond was the hottest goaltender in the NHL and hands down its best story. Undrafted and unloved (hockey-wise) out of Bowling Green State University, Hammond came north from the American Hockey League, where he was playing so-so. Thrust into an emergency starters role with Craig Anderson and Robin Lehner injured, this soft-spoken puck stopper became the Hamburglar (an old college nickname) while putting up a 20-1-2 record, 1.79 goals-against average and .941 save percentage.
Hammond, suddenly elevated to cult figure status in this market, carried the Senators into a playoff position, although the bubble burst on him in a quarter-final series against Montreal.
Still, he earned an NHL contract out of that stretch run. And ever since has been met with catastrophe. A groin injury in training camp in the fall of 2015. A November concussion caused by repeated shots to the mask. While he appeared in 24 games last season, his overall numbers were not Hamburglar-esque (7-11-4, 2.65 GAA, .914 save percentage).
It was back to the drawing board at this year’s training camp, again with the prospect of backing up Anderson for a full season. But no. In just his second start of the season, Hammond suffered another groin injury versus Calgary in late October. Then in a Dec. 18 game against the New York Islanders, he twisted awkwardly and endured a high ankle sprain.
When he came on in relief of Mike Condon in Buffalo Saturday, Hammond was appearing in his first game since Dec. 18 and just his fifth of the season. With Anderson back practising with the team, there was a thought that might be Hammond’s last appearance with the Senators. Then he learned Monday he would get another shot.
Tuesday evening, four days before his 29th birthday, Hammond got the call against the St. Louis Blues and rediscovered a bit of the old magic.
While his teammates were finding their legs in the first period, Hammond was laying down the law with point blank stops on Jori Lehtera and Kenny Agostino, who was in alone. Paul Stastny wheeled and fired a shot through a crowd that Hammond corralled.
After 20 minutes, the Blues had outshot Ottawa 13-5, but the score was 0-0 thanks to Hammond. But he ran out of miracles in the second period as the Blues scored a pair.
Even a solid performance by Hammond guarantees little, so much has the landscape changed in the past couple of months. Hammond is no longer secure in the backup position as Condon, acquired out of desperation when Hammond was hurt, has been solid while filling in for Anderson. Until his recent return, Anderson was on personal leave to be with his wife Nicholle, who was receiving cancer treatments in the U.S.
What is ahead for Hamburglar now is anyone’s guess.