‘An honour’ for Anderson to see wife drop puck
Craig Anderson will have the ultimate viewpoint Saturday.
Anderson’s wife, Nicholle, will be part of the pre-game festivities for the Senators Hockey Fights Cancer ceremonies before the game against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Nicholle Anderson successfully battled a rare throat cancer late last year and early this year and has been named the NHL’s Hockey Fights Cancer ambassador.
She will be joined by 10-year-old Ryan Mercer before dropping the ceremonial first puck.
Mercer was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma when he was nine and has undergone chemotherapy and radiation sessions ever since.
“It’s an honour for my family to be part of this,” said Anderson, the Senators’ goaltender. “You take the cards as they come and play them as best you can. My wife has been very strong with what she has been dealt and able to battle through. To be recognized here is a true honour. Very many other people could be honoured and dropping that puck, too.” CAPTAIN KARLSSON WILL TAKE FACEOFF: “Not a chance,” said Anderson, when asked if he would skate from the crease to be involved in the draw. “But I would have been one for one for my career.” FROM ONE CREASE TO THE OTHER: Anderson can’t help but be impressed at how Vegas has withstood its run of goaltending injuries. “Any time injuries occur, it brings an opportunity for another guy to fulfil a role,” he said. “They’ve been a solid team from the get-go. From a goalie’s standpoint, it’s remarkable for a guy (Maxime Lagace) to step in and have that confidence, but it seems like he has been handling it really well.” NO CHANGES FOR SENATORS: Defenceman Dion Phaneuf took another day off from practice Friday, but is expected to play Saturday. “He’s just managing it, so that he is able to play the game and not worry about it,” said Senators coach Guy Boucher. “It’s not an injury, it’s just a nagging thing. He managed it well (Thursday). He played great, so we want the same thing (against Vegas).” ... Mark Borowiecki, who has missed the past two games with a virus, will stay away Saturday, too. RODEWALD IMPRESSES: Three games into his NHL career, Jack Rodewald’s confidence is growing. After seeing 12 shifts and 8:53 of ice time in the Senators’ 3-1 win over Detroit on Thursday, he believes he held his own. “It was nice to get going, get a bit more minutes and I’m feeling more comfortable with each game I’m playing,” said Rodewald, who played primarily with Nate Thompson and Alex Burrows
on a fourth line. “We spent more time in their zone than in ours, created a few chances and got on their defence.” Boucher liked what he saw. “It gives us an identity on a fourth line. He learns fast because he’s really smart. He’s got the speed. He’s got the size. He’s very strong. He has a lot of NHL attributes. I’m not afraid to put him on the ice.”
AGRICULTURAL REPORT: In terms of defensive depth on the farm, there is good news and bad news. Thomas Chabot, who has missed the past three games with Belleville of the AHL due to a groin injury, returned Friday against Charlotte. Christian Jaros, who took an elbow to the head in Belleville’s home opener Wednesday, is out with a suspected concussion.
PROSPECT PATROL: Logan Brown, the 19-year-old centre who began the season with the Senators, has three goals and five assists since returning to Windsor of the AHL ... Alex Formenton, who also started the season in Ottawa, has one goal and five assists in five games with London ... Drake Batherson, the Senators’ fourth round selection (121st overall) in June, has 17 goals and 12 assists in 16 games with Cape Breton of the QMJHL.
WHAT GOES AROUND ...: Dylan Ferguson, who will serve as the Golden Knights’ back-up goaltender Saturday, has a connection to Senators. Ferguson was drafted by Dallas in the seventh round (194th overall) of July’s draft. He was then traded to Vegas, along with a second round pick in 2020, in the deal which saw Marc Methot go to the Stars. Methot originally went to Vegas in the expansion draft. While Methot has no goals and no assists in his first 13 games in Dallas, his steady stay at home play is missed on the Senators blue-line.