By Canadian Press

Condon makes 27 saves, Hoffman scores as Senators shut out Canucks

Nov 3, 2016 | 8:30 PM

OTTAWA — Mike Condon showed his new coach he was prepared to debut with the Ottawa Senators despite the circumstances. 

Condon, who was acquired from Pittsburgh on Wednesday for a 2017 fifth-round pick, made 27 saves as the Senators blanked the Vancouver Canucks 1-0 on Thursday.

Upon learning of the trade, Condon flew from Los Angeles to arrive in Ottawa in the wee hours Thursday morning and managed to grab a few hours sleep before meeting with Senators goalie coach Pierre Groulx in preparation for his first game with the Senators.

“Came as advertised,” said Senators coach Guy Boucher. “I was expecting nervous, but our goalie coach said he’ll be calm and that’s exactly what he was. He was calm throughout the entire game.”

Coincidentally Condon made his first NHL start last year in Ottawa, Oct. 11, as a member of the Montreal Canadiens and posted a 3-1 victory.

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The Senators (7-3-0) couldn’t say enough about Condon’s performance considering the situation over the past 48 hours.

“Coming in yesterday and then playing today I’m guessing wasn’t the easiest scenario for him, but he came in and played a heck of a game,” said Mike Hoffman, who scored the game’s only goal. “He’s a big reason we came out with two points.”

Jacob Markstrom made 23 saves for the Canucks (4-6-1), who have now lost seven straight (0-6-1) and have been shut out in four of their last five games.

The Senators also shut out the Canucks 3-0 just over a week ago in Vancouver.

“It’s disappointing,” said Canucks coach Willie Desjardins. “We played them better this time than we did at home. I thought we had a better effort, but at the same time we’ve got to find ways to score.”

Condon will likely get the nod in goal Saturday against Buffalo as Craig Anderson has taken an indefinite leave to be with his wife, Nicholle, who was diagnosed with cancer.

Andrew Hammond remains sidelined with a groin injury and is expected to miss at least another week.

Despite having played just one period of hockey this season, Condon looked solid by making a number of key saves throughout the game to impress the 13,260 on hand at Canadian Tire Centre. The Senators also helped Condon by blocking 25 shots, including five by Erik Karlsson.

Condon made a number of stops in the third to keep the Canucks off the board, including two on Jannik Hansen and Sven Baertschi.

“I know they’re a desperate team right now and we knew that coming in,” said Condon. “They like to throw pucks at the net from a lot of odd angles and that causes a little bit of chaos, but our defence did a good job boxing out in front of the net and not letting them get second opportunities so it was a good overall effort.”

The Senators relied on Condon early in the second as well as Vancouver dictated much of the play. Ottawa had just one shot on goal through the first ten minutes of the period.

“We played a really good game and created enough chances for a couple (goals), but that’s been the story so far this year,” said Vancouver’s Henrik Sedin. “We realize it’s only game 11 and we have to keep working and doing the same things and know it’s not a lack of chances.”

Ottawa made the most of an Erik Gudbranson turnover at the 14-minute mark of the second period as Markstrom tried to play the puck, but instead left a wide-open cage for Hoffman to score the game’s only goal.

A penalty-filled first period made it difficult for either team to get anything going.

This was the final meeting between the two teams this season.

Notes: RW Mark Stone missed the game due to a neck injury, while D Chris Wideman was a late scratch due to an upper-body injury. LW Max McCormick and Fredrik Claesson were recalled from Binghamton and were in the lineup. Vancouver RW Jack Skille and D Alex Biega were healthy scratches.

Lisa Wallace, The Canadian Press