SENATORS RELAX AND REFLECT ON MOTHER’S DAY
Some players were facing mixed emotions the morning after Saturday’s huge win
Mother’s Day brought with it mixed feelings for some members of the Ottawa Senators as they took time for rest and relaxation after a dramatic 2-1 overtime victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins to open the East final on Saturday night at the PPG Paints Arena.
Only hours after scoring the winning goal at 4:59 of OT — his second game-clincher in these playoffs — Bobby Ryan woke up and texted his wife, Danielle, to wish her a happy Mother’s Day for the first time, but unfortunately, this was the first time the Ottawa winger wasn’t able to text his mother, Melody Stevenson, who died last summer.
“It’s almost poetic,” Ryan told reporters at the club’s downtown hotel.
“It’s my first (Mother’s Day) without being able to text my mom, but I woke up this morning and I was able to text my wife because it was her (first Mother’s Day). You take the good with the bad on a day like today.”
Not far away in the hotel lobby, goaltender Craig Anderson was sitting on a couch playing with his kids Levi and Jake while waiting to meet with the media. They came to town with their mother, Nicholle, from the couple’s home in Coral Springs, Fla., where she’s been undergoing chemotherapy for a rare form of throat cancer, to take in the game and spend time as a family.
Anderson, who made 27 stops in the club’s victory, was thrilled to have his family in the stands. He last saw Nicholle when the Senators scored a 3-2 overtime win over the Boston Bruins on April 23 at the TD Garden and having the family in the stands meant a lot to Anderson, 35.
“It was exciting. I think they bring definitely an X-factor to the game for me,” Anderson said.
“It’s an exciting time. I haven’t seen the kids in a while. They haven’t seen me play in a while, since I was on TV. They always see it on TV. To be there live was great for them and just exciting.”
This hasn’t been an easy season for the Anderson family.
Nicholle was diagnosed with cancer in late October and Anderson left the team after a game in Pittsburgh on Dec. 4 to be with her and the children for two months while she underwent treatment at a New York-based hospital. He returned in late January, has been with the team since, and has been excellent through these playoffs.
“Mother’s Day is always special,” Anderson said.
Given everything he’s gone through, did this day have a little more meaning?
“I think it’s probably one of the first Mother’s Days I’ve been playing, that’s for sure,” Anderson said. “We’ll take a little time today and reflect on it and spend some time with that and move on.”
The key for Anderson’s success has been his ability to focus on the ice. Perhaps the rink is a bit of escape for him from what’s happening in his world. When the puck is dropped, he’s able to spend those 60 minutes concentrating only on making sure the Senators have a chance to win.
His teammates have marvelled at what he’s been able to do.
“It’s hard to describe, isn’t it? With everything that’s been thrown at him and his family this year, it’s remarkable, I guess,” Ryan said. “I don’t know what word is left to use to describe it. He’s playing like a man possessed right now and he’s giving us a chance every night and he’s stealing them for us.
“He’s winning us games. He’s been our MVP. You look at what Karl does as well, but Andy is the guy back there doing it.”
Coach Guy Boucher has seen that, as well.
“Every individual is different,” Boucher said. “And so some people are able to shut things down and be focused on something for a certain moment and, for other individuals, it’s tougher.
“In his case, what we’ve seen throughout the year is that his ability to focus is unbelievable. I mean, to be able to go from one reality to another and perform, that’s very tough to do. It’s not just his character. We talk about his character, but it’s more than that. It’s the ability to focus and refocus. When you’re a goaltender at this level, that’s usually your biggest asset. He’s displayed it now, not just in terms of hockey, but in terms of his personal life, too.”
For his part, Anderson is just trying to enjoy this ride for as long as it lasts.
“I think it’s widely recognized as a pretty big day for most,” Anderson said.
“We wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for our mothers and I know my kids wouldn’t be the same without their mother. It’s definitely a special day for everybody.”
And this is starting to look like it could be a special spring for the Senators