Ottawa Senators goaltender Andrew Hammond will be out for at least two weeks after he sustained a groin injury on Thursday.
"Andrew Hammond is out for two weeks," general manager Bryan Murray told the Senators website Friday. "Probably at least two weeks with a groin problem. It's not a tear, it's a pull."
Hammond did not play against the Montreal Canadiens in a preseason game Thursday after he injured his groin during the morning skate.
Craig Anderson started for Ottawa, who recalled Matthew O'Connor from Binghamton of the American Hockey League to be the backup. Murray said O'Connor would be the backup to start the NHL season.
"Definitely a little surprised, but I feel prepared so that's the nice feeling," said, O'Connor, who was on the ice in Binghamton for 20 minutes on Thursday before getting called up. "I think I've been working hard at camp. Obviously I've really only been with the organization for half a day. Unfortunate to hear that Hammond got injured but I think I'm ready to help the organization as much as I can."
Murray said Hammond would be re-evaluated in a few weeks.
"With Andrew coming off the year he had, the finish that he had ... it takes a while to get back from [the injury]," Murray said. "We know that, so we'll have to address it as he gets closer to returning to the lineup."
Hammond signed a three-year, $4.05 million contract May 20. He was 20-1-2 with a 1.79 goals-against average and .941 save percentage after he was called up from the AHL in February following injuries to Anderson and Robin Lehner (traded to the Buffalo Sabres on June 26).
Nicknamed "The Hamburglar," Hammond helped the Senators, who were 14 points out of a playoff spot last season, earn the first wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference.
NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. NHL, the NHL Shield, the word mark and image of the Stanley Cup, the Stanley Cup Playoffs logo, the Stanley Cup Final logo, Center Ice name and logo, NHL Conference logos, NHL Winter Classic name, and The Biggest Assist Happens Off The Ice are registered trademarks and Vintage Hockey word mark and logo, The Game Lives Where You Do, NHL Winter Classic logo, NHL Heritage Classic name and logo, NHL Stadium Series name and logo, NHL All-Star logo, NHL Face-Off name and logo, NHL. TV, NHL Premium, NHL After Dark, NHL GameCenter, NHL GameCenter LIVE, NHL Network name and logo, NHL Tonight name and logo, On The Fly, NHL Awards name and logo, NHL Draft name and logo, Hockey Fights Cancer, Because It's The Cup, NHL Green name and logo, NHL Vault, Hockey Is For Everyone, NHL Thanksgiving Showdown name and logo, NHL Centennial Classic name and logo, NHL Centennial Season logo, NHL100 Classic name and logo, NHL Global Series name and logo, NHL China Games name and logo, and Don't Miss A Moment are trademarks of the National Hockey League. All NHL logos and marks and NHL team logos and marks depicted herein are the property of the NHL and the respective teams and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of NHL Enterprises, L.P. © NHL 2018. All Rights Reserved. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. The Zamboni word mark and configuration of the Zamboni ice resurfacing machine are registered trademarks of Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. © Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. 2018. All Rights Reserved. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.