Andrew Hammond must be thinking "this NHL stuff is pretty easy".
The stats going into last night's game pretty much said that Hammond needed to be nearly flawless - LA had allowed 2 goals or less in each of their last 5 games, so there wasn't much margin for error.
Hammond answered the bell, and in what is a most improbable run, Hammond remained perfect for California, making 35 saves for the shutout just one night after he blanked the Ducks in a 3-0 win.
Four career starts - four wins including 2 by shutout, and a streak of 172+minutes without allowing a goal. That is how you start your career as an undrafted free agent who earlier this season made headlines in a different way - allowing three goals in a span of 21 seconds in the first minute of an AHL game just over two months ago.
And all of a sudden, the Senators wake up this morning just 5 points behind the struggling Bruins for the final playoff spot, with a game in hand and two remaining games against Boston. They also have 2 and 3 games in hand respectively on the other two teams they would need to pass as well, Philadelphia and Florida.
Still highly unlikely, but for the one person who expressed his displeasure (and there were probably more than that) about this team winning and climbing up the standings to probably net a lower pick, I say no way. You don't want to fail for the sake of failing and you don't want to have a tradition of losing among the players you have on your young roster in order to net a player that you don't have.
It is still very improbable that the Senators make the playoffs, but tying a season-high winning streak, watching Hammond's remarkable run and the team in front of him coming together is all a good thing for the future. They are certainly making things interesting.
Hammond and the Senators got the benefit of a quick whistle during the second period, as Justin Williams picked up a loose puck and put it past Hammond, but the referee was on the opposite side of Hammond and had blown the play dead.
Mike Hoffman's 21st of the season early in the third was the difference as a nice forecheck by Mika Zibanejad picked up a loose puck along the boards and found a streaking Hoffman in the slot.
It could be a much more interesting trade deadline day on Monday if Ottawa can beat San Jose on Saturday and the Bruins should lose both of their games on the weekend and all of a sudden the Senators are 3 points out with 22 games to play. Bryan Murray interviewed during the first intermission of the Kings game and said there aren't plans to add a rental, but he has said pretty much all season that he thought this was a playoff team. IF there was a piece out there that would help this season and into the future, the trigger might be pulled.
Still lots of IFs, but a winning streak and seeing the young team start to "get it" is far better for the psyche of the team going forward than a losing streak that gives them a better pick, because they weren't going to fall far enough to get McDavid or Eichel without winning the lottery anyhow.
For all of the frustration that you as Sens fans have endured over the season so far, just enjoy this ride for as long as it lasts.