OTTAWA — Back to Craig Anderson.

No, there wasn’t really much chance he’d come out of the net, but coach Guy Boucher confirmed after making 33 stops in a 3-0 victory over the New York Islanders Saturday the veteran netminder will make his second straight start Tuesday night with the Buffalo Sabres in town.

With four games in six days, it will be tough to ease Anderson, who suited up for the first time since he left to be with his wife Nicholle for her treatment for throat cancer on Dec. 5th when he faced the Islanders, back into his No. 1 role with the Senators.

However, Boucher is going to be careful about not leaning on him too heavily with Mike Condon as the backup.

“Without being careful (you have to be) smart,” Boucher said. “You want to give him his rest that he wants but you want to make sure maybe at first you give him a reasonable about of games to be able to recuperate.

“I hate to say in advance this guy’s going to play because that’s not the way I do things. I always wait until the day (of) and then we’ll see. Just like I had one time with Andy. I wasn’t going to play him (against the Rangers) in a back-to-back and he says, ‘I want to be in there.’ OK, let’s go.

“At some point, they don’t decide who plays but when your top players show you that they want it, you usually have a tendency to go towards that direction because it’s part of leadership also and you don’t want to crush their enthusiasm. That’s probably the No. 1 ingredient for great play.”

Boucher will make one change by inserting winger Chris Neil into the lineup likely in place of defenceman Freddy Claesson. Neil has sat two straight games but Boucher noted the veteran has handled the new role as a player in and out of the lineup with class.

“He’s been outstanding,” said Boucher. “He’s had a terrific attitude off-ice and on-ice. He’s coming into the gym and doing the same thing he’s been doing. Even gamedays coming in and encouraging guys when they come back in the room. He’s been outstanding.”

SETTLING IN

Winger Tommy Wingels, acquired from the Sharks last month, brought his family in from San Jose so he’s starting to feel at home in his new home.

Not only is life finally settled off the ice, it’s going pretty well on the ice as well and he’s starting to look more comfortable with the Senators.

“The easiest way to get adjusted (is hockey-wise),” said Wingels. “You see your teammates everyday, you learn about them quickly, you try to fit in on the ice and the more repetitions and the more you’re around, the more comfortable you feel. In that sense, it’s been great.

“The more difficult one is family and moving into the area and getting your outside hockey things in order. This weekend we really solidified all that. The family is here, we’ve finally moved into our place and in that sense we’re very comfortable. Now, the focus is on hockey. It’s been a very good transition.”

Wingels said on the ice it’s taken awhile but he’s comfortable.

“The coach has been very up front in what he expects out of me and what kind of role (Boucher wants him to play),” Wingels said. “That’s to provide depth for this team. Whether it’s playing the fourth-line, filling in on other lines, playing 10-to-12 minutes a night, helping the penalty kill. All things I think I can do to help this team.

“I think it’s been good. Winning is all that matter.”

THE LAST WORDS

It looks like winger Curtis Lazar will be a scratch for the fourth straight game Tuesday. GM Pierre Dorion was asked about what’s going to happen to the club’s No. 1 pick in 2013 in an interview with TSN 1200 Monday after the skate. “I think with Curtis sometimes when you’re playing golf and you’ve missed every four-footer in the last seven holes and then you put one in and you make everyone after, I think once he gets his first one the weight will be lifted off his shoulders,” Dorion said. “Curtis cares a lot. I think he’s putting a bit too much pressure on himself but I still have a lot of faith in what Curtis can do. Maybe Curtis won’t be a first-line player like we thought when we drafted him but I still think at the end of the day Curtis was a big part of us when we made that big playoff run with (Jean-Gabriel) Pageau and (Erik) Condra and I still think he can definitely help when he’s in the lineup.” ... The Senators were joined by the Jets De La Lievre peewee hockey team on the ice after practice Monday as part of CBC’s Hockey Day in Canada celebrations. The Jets, who received Ottawa jerseys from the players, were randomly drawn to skate with the players and coaching staff because they’ll be participating in shinny games on the Rideau Canal on Feb. 18th as part of Canada’s 150th anniversary.

bgarrioch@postmedia.com