Craig Anderson will get the nod on Monday against the Florida Panthers. Anderson turned aside 27 of 28 shots in Ottawa's 4-1 victory on Saturday. It was a bit ambiguous as to who Senators coach Paul MacLean regarded as the team's number one goaltender going into the season, but it certainly looks like it's Anderson's job to lose.

Craig Anderson turned aside 27 of 28 shots in a 4-1 win against the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday. Anderson allowed a power-play goal in the first period, but he kept the Senators in the game and they bounced back. Anderson should get a healthy number of starts this season, but the Senators have some pretty appealing alternatives if he struggles.

Craig Anderson will serve as the Ottawa Senators' starting goaltender on Saturday. That's not too much of a surprise, but Senators coach Paul MacLean previously raised the possibility of going with Ben Bishop or Robin Lehner instead. Bishop and Lehner are both inexperienced at the NHL level, but threats to steal the starting job from Anderson. The Senators have signed Anderson through 2014-15, so that does provide him with some security, but he might still lose the starting gig if he struggles early on.

Craig Anderson said he feels ready to start for Ottawa in their season opener on Saturday afternoon against Winnipeg. "Absolutely, there's no better time to get back in it than now," he said. "I've had plenty of rest, so it shouldn't be any issue of being tired." Coach Paul MacLean commented that he hasn't decided who will get the nod of the team's three goaltenders. However, it will likely be Anderson since he has already been named as the team's number one netminder.

Ottawa coach Paul MacLean has already anointed Craig Anderson as his starter for the 2013 season, but he wouldn't say if Anderson would be between the pipes for Saturday's opener versus Winnipeg. "Well, Craig has earned the right to be the No. 1 goalie, whether or not that means he starts the game Saturday or Monday here (against the Florida Panthers) or starts (the following) Thursday or Friday," MacLean said. "We're going to make sure he's ready to go when we get him in the net." During practices, Anderson is working at one end of the ice, while Robin Lehner and Ben Bishop are splitting time at the other end. If Anderson isn't deemed to be ready then the Senators could start the year with three goaltenders, with Lehner likely getting call on opening day and Bishop backing him up. "If we have to do that (take three goaltenders), we have to do that," said MacLean. "It's not the best equation, but certainly starting out, it wouldn't be a bad idea, maybe."

Craig Anderson is excited for the season and competition he'll receive from a few others in net. Robin Lehner, especially, but Ben Bishop, too, have been excellent in the AHL this season, while Anderson has not played in anything but a few charity events. Both will be up to fight for jobs once training camp starts. "I think it's always good when you get guys playing well and pushing each other," Anderson said. "It's just going to make everybody better around them. I think it's all a positive and whoever comes up, whichever it may be, everyone is going to push each other and make everyone better, and the team overall will just be a better team." It'll be tough to trust Anderson in even the deepest of leagues this season.

Craig Anderson will start the season as the team's number one goaltender. Ben Bishop will likely be given the back-up role in Ottawa. "The best guy is going to play no matter who that is," coach MacLean said. "The best players are going to play." Anderson remains a fringe No. 2 netminder in fantasy leagues with the upside to be a little more - he's just tough to trust because he's very inconsistent.

Craig Anderson left the warm climate of Florida to head up to Northern Canada for John Chabot's three-game charity tour of Yellowknife, Inuvik and Whitehorse. "Ah, dress warm and have some fun with the guys," he said. "I'm excited to learn and see what the culture is all about and I would really like to do some dogsledding, if I can. When we were in Denver (playing for the Colorado Avalanche), we were going to go on dog tour, but my wife was pregnant and we missed out on the opportunity." Anderson participated in a charity game last month in Chicago that raised $330,000. 10 NHL players are taking part in this experience, including Ottawa skaters Chris Phillips, Chris Neil, Zack Smith, Marc Methot, Guillaume Latendresse and Peter Regin.

Craig Anderson may have to wait to play overseas because there aren't many European teams that want to give up import spots in their lineups to goaltenders and the situation has to be secure. "There is a lot of risk in going over," said his agent Justin Duberman. "There's a lot of great things about going over as well from a hockey standpoint, but you have to make sure you protect yourself from an insurance standpoint to make sure it's a great opportunity." Duberman said after scanning the landscape for the past six weeks that there aren't many teams looking for a goalie right now.

Craig Anderson made 27 saves, but it wasn't enough as the Ottawa Senators were sent home after their 2-1 loss to the New York Rangers in Game 7 on Thursday night. Anderson can't be blamed for this series loss, as the keeper finished with a 2.00 goals-against average and .933 save percentage, with the highlight coming on a 41-save shutout in Game 5. Looking ahead to next season, Anderson remains a fringe No. 2 netminder in fantasy leagues with the upside to be a little more - he's just tough to trust because he's very inconsistent.