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Senators' Lehner on Anderson: 'He is tabbed as the first goalie, but I also have a chance'

Marc DesRosiers / USA TODAY SPORTS

Robin Lehner was not fazed when Ottawa Senators coach Paul MacLean named Craig Anderson the team's No. 1 goaltender heading into the season.

Playing in Anderson's shadow is nothing new to Lehner, who made 36 appearances sharing time with the veteran netminder last season. He sees the tandem as a meritocracy, which motivates him to play better and earn more starts.

"Yeah, he is tabbed as the first goalie, but I also have a chance," Lehner told the Ottawa Sun. "If I play good, and if I deserve to play a game or two, then I will play a game or two, That's the message I've gotten. You never know, but that's what has been said. I think we're having good conversations, and me and Craig are on the same page, too."

Last season was a learning experience for Lehner, who posted one win in seven December starts and was limited to two appearances in January. He spent long stretches of the campaign watching from the bench, which was a major adjustment after being the main option for the Senators' AHL affiliate.

"I didn't like sitting 6-8 games then getting thrown in there," he said. "It's new to me. I tried to learn from it. I've thought about it a lot this sumer, how to stay ready (in) those 6-8 games and try to do something differently. That's the key for me too. That's about being a pro, and I've got to be better at it. Even if you're first goalie or a backup, you just have to do your job, right?"

(h/t: Pro Hockey Talk)

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