What's the best-ever run by a Sens goalie? With Andrew Hammond in the midst of a record run, TSN's Ian Mendes looks at where the 12-0-1 start to his NHL career ranks among the other hot streaks that Ottawa Senators goalies have found themselves on over the years. Is Hammond's the best ever or was another hot spell even more spectacular?

There are days where I can’t figure out if Ottawa is a goaltending graveyard – or a goaltending factory.

This season alone, we’ve seen examples of both, as Craig Anderson and Robin Lehner have been felled with freakish injuries, giving credence to the whole goalie graveyard-thing. But then there has been the emergence of Andrew Hammond, which makes me think that perhaps this city is better at churning out quality goalies than we think.

And so with that in mind, I figured it might be good time to blog about the best runs ever by an Ottawa Senators goalie. Is Andrew Hammond’s run the best-ever? Hammond definitely has the best human interest story of the bunch, but in my mind, he actually comes in at No. 4. Here’s my list of the top runs by Sens goalies in franchise history:

No. 1

Goalie: Craig Anderson

Season: 2012-13

The run: When the lockout-shortened 2012-13 campaign was set to begin in January of 2013, there were some concerns about how rusty Craig Anderson would be – considering he spent most of his time during the work stoppage down in south Florida. But Anderson put any worries to rest by coming out of the gates and establishing himself as the best goalie in the NHL in the early part of that season. Anderson was not only being mentioned as a Vezina Trophy favourite, but as a Hart Trophy candidate, as well, after posting a 1.57 GAA and a .950 save percentage in his first 16 starts that season. However, Anderson suffered a high-ankle sprain after he was bowled over by Chris Kreider in late February and missed six weeks of action. He did return in the playoffs, where he outdueled Carey Price and was likely the main reason why the Senators advanced past the Canadiens in the first round. I don’t believe the Senators have ever received that type of goaltending in a single season from anybody else.

No. 2

Goalie: Dominik Hasek

Season: 2005-06

The run: Dominik Hasek’s time with the club was brief – but spectacular. The Dominator posted a 28-10-4 record before the Olympic break and guided the Senators to the best record in the league. Hasek’s .925 save percentage was leading the league at the time and, while that figure might not be overly impressive, remember that was the first year after the 2004-05 lockout and the new rules saw a massive increase in scoring. The Senators may not have ever played with more confidence than they did for those 43 games with Hasek as their goalie, but of course, he infamously injured his adductor muscle at the Turin Olympics. During the club’s second-round playoff series against the Buffalo Sabres, the Senators players pleaded with Hasek for him to return – knowing that he likely was the key to a Stanley Cup championship. Instead, Hasek never played another game for the Senators. I know a lot of people will quibble with the placement of Hasek so high, but ask yourself this question as a Sens fan: Did you ever have more confidence in a goalie than you did with Hasek that year?

No. 3

The goalie: Patrick Lalime

Season: 2001-02

The run: Patrick Lalime’s performance against the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round of the 2002 playoffs is one for the ages. After losing a 1-0 game in overtime in the opener, Lalime promptly shutout the Flyers in three consecutive games – becoming just the fifth goalie in NHL history to accomplish that feat in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Lalime set the NHL record for fewest goals allowed in a five-game series as he surrendered just two on 135 shots faced, as the Sens ultimately won the series 4-1. Lalime’s 0.40 GAA and .985 save percentage in that one series are numbers that will be tough to be matched by a goalie in a single playoff series. And because Lalime’s brilliance came under the pressure of the Stanley Cup playoffs, I have to give it the slight edge over Andrew Hammond.

No. 4

Goalie: Andrew Hammond

Season: 2014-15

The run: It’s tempting to choose Hammond’s run as the best-ever by a Sens goalie because it’s happening right now and it’s at the top of our minds. The 12-0-1 run by Hammond has almost single-handedly lifted the Senators back into playoff contention and, aside from allowing four goals on Thursday, he’s been nearly unbeatable. His .950 save percentage and 1.50 GAA are an indication of just how dominant he’s been since taking over the starter’s job last month. Tying Frank Brimsek’s 76-year-old NHL record – albeit an obscure one – for allowing two or fewer goals in each of his first 12 career starts is a testament to how rare this run has been.

No. 5

Goalie: Brian Elliott

Season: 2009-10

The run: You probably remember Mike Brodeur starting the Senators on an improbable 11-game winning streak when he came in relief and won his first NHL start at Madison Square Garden. What you may have forgotten is that Brian Elliott was the goalie who carried the mail for the bulk of that winning streak – posting a victory in nine consecutive starts to set a new franchise record. In those nine wins, Elliott never surrendered more than two goals – posting a .958 save percentage and a sparkling 1.22 GAA. In terms of small windows, that run by Elliott was pretty much as good as anything we’ve seen by an Ottawa goalie.

No. 6

Goalie: Ray Emery

Season: 2006-07

The run: Ray Emery is a polarizing goaltender amongst the Sens fan base, but he does need to be included on this list since he was the only goalie to actually backstop the club to the Stanley Cup Final. After wresting away the No. 1 job from Martin Gerber during the regular season, Emery posted a 12-3 record in the first three rounds of the playoffs – recording a shutout in each series. Emery was actually very good in the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final, as well, but lost both games in Anaheim. The wheels fell off for him in the final three games of that series, as he allowed 12 goals and posted a .803 save percentage against the Ducks.