Andrew Hammond Wins Again, Raises Hamburger In Triumph

Andrew Hammond's story is the best in the NHL right now, and the Senators are pushing for a miracle. But I can't shake the sense that the headline here ought to be "Magic hamburger doesn't explode after being thrown onto the ice."

The 27-year-old Hammond, out of White Rock, British Columbia, went undrafted and had appeared in just a single NHL game (in relief) before stepping in last month to replace the injured Robin Lehner as starter for the Senators, who were all but dead. In eleven starts, Hammond has won 10 of them, giving up two goals or fewer in all of them—something that hasn't been done in the NHL in 76 years.

Along the way, Hammond picked up the nickname "Hamburglar," because why not. After stopping the Flyers in a shootout yesterday, one enterprising and satiated fan threw a burger onto the ice. Hammond scooped it up and held it aloft in victory, but that's all.

"I didn't eat it, it was kind of cold," Hammond said.

The Senators are five points back of the Bruins for the last playoff spot, with a game in hand. It seems unlikely, but their goalie has the power of burgers on his side.