UPDATE: [3:36 PM] GM Pierre Dorion met with the media and announced that Craig Anderson's wife, Nicholle, has been diagnosed with cancer and they are waiting on a decision on treatment. Anderson will fly back to Edmonton Saturday at the urging of his wife to re-join his team and may start for the Senators Sunday in Edmonton. Our thoughts go out to the Anderson family and the Senators at this point in hopes of a successful battle for Nicholle Anderson.
As if the Ottawa Senators goaltending situation wasn't already precarious enough, they are now fielding their AHL duo for the near future.
Andrew Hammond, given an opportunity once again to make a run for the starting job after Craig Anderson left the team for personal reasons on Wednesday, lasted 20 minutes. He left after the first period with what looked like it might be a hip injury.
As a result, Matt O'Connor has been recalled from Binghamton ahead of Sunday's game in Edmonton to join Binghamton teammate Chris Driedger. Not exactly the team you want to be icing minor league goalies against.
As for the game, after a slow start and falling behind 1-0, the Senators actually looked in good shape after 20 minutes following a couple of power play goals from Erik Karlsson and Kyle Turris. Then, things changed when Hammond didn't come out for the second and Dreidger assumed his spot in the crease.
Ottawa still limited the Flames to 19 shots on the night, but Driedger looked shaky and rattled on Sam Bennett's goal that evened the score, was the victim of a deflection off Marc Methot's leg on Dougie Hamilton's second of the game, and had no chance on Sean Monahan's one-time blast from the slot after he came in from the bench and nobody picked him up. Michael Frolik added the insurance marker and prevented a potential Senators comeback.
A couple of former Senators were difference-makers for the Flames, as Brian Elliott stood strong in the Flames' net. He was aided by the fact that the Senators seemed to abandon the game plan that had gotten them two goals in the first period and stopped trying to screen the Flames' goalie, especially on the ensuing two power play opportunities. Alex Chiasson, who was dealt away in the off-season for Pat Sieloff (whose claim to "fame" so far is the hit that re-concussed Clarke MacArthur), set up the Bennett tying goal and also recorded and assist on the Monahan goal.
So the Senators head north to Edmonton to finish off this eventful road trip on Sunday night, with no timetable for the return of either goalie. Pierre Dorion will address the goaltending situation with the media later this afternoon.