Andersons OK with taunts from NHL fans in Nashville
When you’re an NHL goaltender, you’ve got to learn to accept verbal jabs along with praise.
Just ask Ottawa Senators netminder Craig Anderson and his family, who heard it from loud and proud Nashville Predators fans at Bridgestone Arena, where the Senators lost 5-2 on Monday night.
At various points, chants included “Anderson sucks” and “It’s all your fault” after Predators goals.
It just so happened that Anderson’s wife, Nicholle, and sons Jake and Levi chose to take in the action in the building known for suffocating and intimidating noise.
“Hopefully, they didn’t take too much abuse up there,” Craig Anderson said with a smile immediately following the game. “It’s one of those things where they came and saw and got to experience a new building. It’s just another experience in their books.”
Clearly, the Andersons have learned to roll with the punches.
When some Senators fans took to Twitter to criticize Predators fans for their behaviour, Nicholle Anderson responded in a somewhat surprising manner, essentially saying, if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the rink.
“Jake thought the cheers were funny and said, ‘ Why can’t the Sens do that?’” she offered in a tweet of her own Tuesday afternoon.
“The passion, spirit and pride their fans bring are amazing. The arena is electric and a must experience.”
In a followup tweet, she summed up the roller-coaster ride of a goaltender’s life.
“The position is a love-hate relationship,” she offered. “Everyone always blames the goalie. Can’t take it personally.”
Craig Anderson credited the Predators’ fan base for inspiring and motivating their team.
“I’ve been (in Nashville) plenty of times and I know what to expect and you enjoy the moment,” he said. “Make it a game within a game. Their fans are passionate. Give them credit. At the same time, for me, it’s a game where you’re trying to keep them from talking.”
Just the same, the Andersons are likely happy the Senators play in Nashville only once every season.