A misnomer in hockey is that the job of a backup goalie is an easy one. However, it’s actually quite the opposite according to current TSN analyst Jamie McLennan - who knows this role very well.

McLennan served as an NHL backup, playing in 254 games over 11 seasons for six different clubs.

“It’s very tough when you don’t play three weeks to a month, [but] that’s the gig, unfortunately,” McLennan told Sporting News Canada. “When you have a starter that has some durability to him, your job is to absorb those minutes and give good minutes when the starter needs a night off, mentally and physically. It’s a challenging position. The backup position is more challenging than people think."

McLennan’s words ring true; case-in-point, Mike Condon was waived by the Ottawa Senators Wednesday after a disastrous outing Tuesday in Glendale.

Making only his second start in 23 days, the 28-year-old appeared hesitant from the onset. His indecisiveness whether to cover or play the puck at the side of his crease resulted in a Coyotes goal. Moments later while killing a penalty, Derek Stepan sent a shot from his own blue line that squeaked through Condon’s pads. His night was done after just 15:30.

“We’ve all been there. If you’ve been a goaltender, you’ve been in that position. Every goaltender that watched [what] Mike went through felt for him,” said McLennan.

Condon’s misplay left Senators’ coach Guy Boucher no option but to replace the beleaguered goalie with his no.1 Craig Anderson. Having faced a 53-shot barrage in Vegas two nights earlier, and with the team set to play seven games in 11 days, Anderson wasn’t able to receive a much-needed evening off.

Following the game, and because he played, Condon did not meet the requirements to accept a conditioning stint to the Senators AHL affiliate in Belleville. So general manager Pierre Dorion elected to take the drastic measure to waive his struggling goalie.

However, the move came with the little risk of another team making a claim, mainly due to Condon being in the second of a three-year, $7.2M contract, of which the backstop is slated to earn $3M in actual salary in 2019-20. Condon signed the deal after a successful 2016-17 campaign.

Dorion acquired the former Montreal Canadien as a stop-gap in a swap with the Penguins for a 2017 fifth-round pick in November 2016. Anderson had just left the club to be with his wife, Nicholle who was battling cancer and Andrew Hammond suffered an injury mere days earlier.

Anderson returned but left again in December. Condon held the fort during his absence, starting a Senators' franchise record 27 consecutive games. The Cape Cod resident earned 19 victories, keeping the club in the playoff race.

However, like his team, Condon faltered last season, winning only five of his 26 starts. Two subpar performances out of the gate in the early-going this season were too much for Senators management.

No stranger to waivers himself, Anderson certainly knows what Condon is going through. Growing up in the Chicago area, Anderson was waived by his hometown Blackhawks and claimed by the Bruins. He was then waived again and claimed by the Blues, before returning to Chicago during a 17-day span in 2006.

“It’s tough. It’s not something I thoroughly enjoyed, [but] at the same time, it gives Mike an opportunity to go and go play games, get his confidence back,” Anderson stated. “We feel for him, but you have to get back on that horse and start riding again.”

While Condon attempts to get his game back on track in Belleville, 35-year old call-up Mike McKenna relishes his newly-found opportunity.

“It’s just hockey...I may not have played in the NHL a lot, [but] I’ll try to do everything I’ve done before," McKenna beamed following Thursday's morning skate. "I’m happy to be here. Whether you’re 20 or 35, you want to be in the NHL, especially at this stage.”

The Senators have given up a league-high 38.5 shots-per-game with Anderson facing more shots (430) than any NHL goalie making ten or more starts.

McKenna, a St. Louis native, was thrust into action quickly Saturday - spelling Anderson after the Sabres notched three goals in the opening frame. He “absorbed” 46 minutes, allowing six markers himself in a 9-2 thrashing - more of a result of poor Senators d-zone coverage than that of goaltending.

However, with McKenna entering the crease Saturday afternoon, Boucher will now be able to tab Anderson as his starter at home versus the Lightning Sunday evening.

For McKenna, it was only his 25th NHL appearance in 14 pro seasons - 15 of those coming with Tampa in 2008-09.

“I think I can still play,” added McKenna. “I’d like to think I’m here for a reason for what I’ve done in the past.”

How long he lasts in Ottawa is still to be determined, but there’s no doubt Condon will return at some juncture in the next few weeks.

Until then, the team is relying on a 37-year old to carry the bulk of the load. Starting 11 of 13 games to date, Anderson believes he’s more than capable, “I’m a guy that just comes to work – puts on the hard hat and be ready to go when called upon.”