Senators coach MacLean: 'Craig Anderson is the No. 1 goaltender'

Ottawa Senators head coach Paul MacLean wasted no time in establishing a clear hierarchy in the club's crease for the upcoming season.

“Craig Anderson is the No. 1 goaltender,” he declared Thursday as training camp began. 

However, MacLean added "(Robin) Lehner has earned an opportunity to play more."

MacLean continued, as per the Ottawa Citizen:

Craig is not going to play 70-plus games. Robin Lehner has played well enough and earned the opportunity to challenge, to play in more games. We’re going to use our goaltenders the best way we can to win more games. Craig is truly a professional. He knows he’s No. 1. The workload he has is going to be important but the workload Robin can provide, that’s going to help us a lot too.

Translation: Anderson will get the nod on opening night, and will be given the initial opportunity to run with the starting gig. If he should falter, MacLean will turn to Lehner with confidence, and in increasing measure if he proves he can handle a bigger load.

Both goalies signed contract extensions this past summer, and the duo is set to share the crease for the next three seasons, barring significant injury or a trade. 

While Lehner's overall save percentage (.913) was a touch higher than Anderson's (.911), the latter outplayed the former at even strength (.925 compared to .919). Both will need to be at the top of their respective games in order to help the Senators compete in the Atlantic Division this season.