The Senators got a backup goalie for Craig Anderson by signing Alex Auld, and they inked 32-year-old Francis Lessard to a one-year, two-way contract. These are not moves that are going to make the Senators a better team.
NOTES: There were only four penalties called in the game. Two came in a would-be fight between enforcers Francis Lessard of Ottawa and Eric Boulton of Atlanta. They dropped the gloves but wound up skating around each other for several seconds, both cautious about throwing the first punch. Finally, B
Due to trades and injuries (regulars Daniel Alfredsson(notes), Sergei Gonchar(notes), Chris Campoli(notes) and Jesse Winchester(notes) were out Friday), the Senators lineup Friday included Erik Condra(notes), Andre Benoit(notes) and Colin Greening(notes), a trio which had a combined two games of NHL experience before Friday. Tough guy Francis Lessard(notes), whose last NHL experience came during the 2005-06 season, also played.
22 he wore with Ottawa belongs to RW Shawn Thornton. ... Senators D Andre Benoit played his first NHL game. RW Francis Lessard, who was recalled along from Binghamton of the AHL along with Benoit, made his Senators debut. ... Leclaire has missed 25 games in a row because of a lower-body injury. He
Forwards Colin Greening, Francis Lessard and defenceman Andre Benoit have been brought up from Binghamton in the AHL. Benoit has yet to play in the NHL, while Greening could be making his home debut after playing a game in New Jersey earlier in the month.
Right wing Francis Lessard(notes) will arrive to fill the spot Senators general manager opened when he traded left wing Jarkko Ruutu(notes) to the Anaheim Ducks for a sixth-round draft pick (which was previously acquired from Phoenix) on Thursday.