Ottawa Senators rookie goaltender Andrew Hammond will take a shot at history on Thursday night versus the Boston Bruins.
Hammond has a chance to break Hall of Famer Frank Brimsek’s 77-year-old record if he and the Senators can hold the Bruins to two goals or less.
Brimsek allowed two goals or less in his first 12 NHL starts in the 1938-39 season with the Boston Bruins. Hammond tied Brimsek’s record in the Senators’ 2-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night.
Although Brimsek’s family are proud of his long-standing record, they’re pulling for Hammond to set a new mark.
“I hope he wins because my uncle Frank has passed,” Tom Brimsek told the Ottawa Sun.
“God bless him (Hammond),” Brimsek’s nephew added. “If he gets that record, wherever his career goes after this he’ll be able to have it his whole life.”
Tom Brimsek says Hammond’s rise in the wake of an injury to Senators number one goaltender Craig Anderson mirrors the beginning of his uncle’s career.
“When he first started, he replaced a guy named Tiny (Cecil Ralph) Thompson (also a Hall of Famer). He went on to post six shutouts in his first seven games.”
Frank Brimsek played 10 seasons in the NHL with the Bruins and Chicago Black Hawks.
Hammond is 11-0-1 with 1.35 goals-against average and .956 save percentage in 13 appearances this season.
