Senators start Robin Lehner against Leafs
Robin Lehner will be between the pipes for the Ottawa Senators as they take on the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Place Sunday night.
Robin Lehner will be between the pipes for the Ottawa Senators as they take on the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Place Sunday night.
“I’ll try and get my first win at home — it’s nice,” the goaltender said after an optional morning skate. “I’m excited.”
The team has also recalled winger Nikita Filatov from Binghamton after Daniel Alfredsson suffered a head injury Saturday afternoon against the New York Rangers, but he won’t get into the lineup.
There was some speculation that the team thought Zenon Konopka might be suspended for a borderline hit on the Rangers’ Artem Anisimov, but there was no indication he would miss time.
With Alfredsson out with a head injury (there was no update on his condition). Bobby Butler re-enters the lineup. He hasn’t played since he injured a groin on Oct. 13.
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More Sunday morning notes:
— Senators coach Paul MacLean’s explanation for starting Lehner: “It’s four games in six nights.”
— No word from the league or general manager Bryan Murray on Konopka’s status. The consensus among observers was that he didn’t deserve and supplementary discipline for the Anisimov hit. As for Wojtek Wolski’s head shot on Alfredsson, MacLean wasn’t offering much. He said he felt the right call was made in the game and it was in NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan’s hands now.
— Interesting assessment by Lehner regarding Nikita Filatov: “He doesn’t belong down there (in the AHL)…he could score a little bit whenever he felt like it. He’s a great player with great skill, can score. Just try to find a groove up here and see what happens. I think he can contribute here.”
SENS currently have a winning formula, now with Butler and Filatov coming back and two other players like (Carkner and Regin) who do you replace, you wish you can play them all, its going to be tuff to decide, as all these players are playing hard to earn a spot. Have a good game against the leaf, the team everyoned loves for the SENS to beat
go sens go.
He got in at 3 am and needs to watch the system from the press box. Let him switch with Butler and get some regular practise in before playing. But sure as hell don’t send him down without proving himself at least in practise and in a game.