Anderson cuts hand making dinner, out indefinitely
The Ottawa Senators face a crucial test as their regular season enters its final stretch with the news that goalie Craig Anderson has seriously cut his right hand (which is his stick hand) in an accident at home.
Maybe Craig Anderson should have just gone out for dinner after the game.
Certainly Ottawa Senators general manager Bryan Murray must be wishing he did.
But Anderson decided instead to make a meal at home after Wednesday’s game against the Washington Capitals, and that decision has jolted the playoff hopes of the Ottawa Senators.
While preparing that meal on Wednesday night, Anderson, the team’s No. 1 goalie, seriously cut his right hand (his stick hand) and had to be treated in hospital.
In a release, the team said he will make a full recovery but will be out indefinitely. Initial speculation is that there could be some tendon damage and he could be out for 10 days to two weeks.
It’s expected that there will be an update following Friday’s practice. Team management declined an interview request on Thursday night.
This is not the first time an Ottawa goalie has had problems with a kitchen knife. Ron Tugnutt missed several games during his time with the team after cutting a hand while trying to cut a bagel.
Murray might just have to ban his goalies from using sharp utensils – especially with the playoffs just around the corner.
Anderson’s teammates expressed their wishes for a speedy return.
Matt Carkner and Chris Phillips were signing autographs Thursday night at a local automobile dealership. Ironically, Anderson was one of the four who was supposed to attend.
“Hopefully it’s not too major and it’s just a flesh wound, and just takes a little time for the stitches to heal up,” said Carkner.
“Andy is a big part of our team and has done really well this year, but we’ve got a good backup and he works hard every day, and is capable of stepping in. When something like this happens, a team usually groups together to get through this type of thing.”
Phillips expressed a similar sentiment.
“Nothing confirmed to us, and all I can say is I hope it’s not too long if he is going to be missing some time,” he said.
“We’ve got Alex Auld who can step in and we feel confident playing in front of him. That’s why we have two goalies; he’s a professional, he expects himself to play well and we have confidence in him, and we’ll play well in front of him.”
Anderson’s absence will mean that Auld, little used this season, will have to shoulder the load.
He has appeared in just 13 of the team’s 62 games and has a record of 2-3-2 with a goals-against average of 3.28 and a save percentage of .883.
Anderson, meanwhile, has appeared in 56 games this season. He has a record of 29-19-6 with a goals-against-average of 2.85.
In just his last four games, the 30-year-old goaltender is 4-0-0 with a goals-against-average of 1.00 and a save percentage of .970. He was on his way to another player of the week award.
The Senators are solidly in seventh place in the Eastern Conference and appear headed to the playoffs, but they have a busy, and difficult, schedule over the next two weeks.
Beginning Saturday against the Boston Bruins and Sunday against the New York Islanders, the Senators have eight games over the next two weeks, five at home and three on the road.
They’ll play the Bruins, the Islanders, the Chicago Blackhawks, the New York Rangers, and the Buffalo Sabres at home, while they’ll play the Bruins, Florida Panthers, and Tampa Bay Lightning.
With 72 points, the Senators need another 22 to reach the 94 that is generally good enough for a playoff berth. That’s a bit more than a point a game from their remaining 20 games so there’s not a large margin for error.
While Mike McKenna is the goalie with the better record in Binghamton, it’s believed that Robin Lehner is on his way from Binghamton and will be here in time for practice.
Lehner, 20, is having a miserable season. He is 8-16-1 with a 3.38 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage.
However, he is regarded as the team’s goalie of the future.
He appeared in one game for the Senators this season, beating the Maple Leafs 3-2 on Oct. 30.
In eight NHL games last season, he was 1-4-0 with a 3.52 goals-against average and a .888 save percentage.
So Anderson cut himself from the team?
Noooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Robin Lehner may be the next Ken Dryden Ken started his NHL carear as a injury replacement.
This really sucks, and could cost the Sens a playoff spot. Or….it could give Auld a chance to step up again and get some important hockey games under his belt, not to mention Lehner who has been getting impatient down in the minors. If he misses two weeks, he’ll get the rest he needs for a playoff push – something he wasn’t likely to get as it was…
This could seriously jeopardize the Senators chances for a play-off berth. Alex Auld does not exactly instil confidence and Robin Lehner is definitely not ready for prime time. I do not want to be the purveyor of gloom and doom but this scenario does not bode well for the Senators or their fans.
Chill everyone, Lehner has got this.
Ottawa finally has some swagger, the same swagger it has when Emery led them to the finals.
We’re fine. We’re in the playoffs.
If there was ever a time for Robin Lehner to prove that he belongs in the NHL, this is it. The team is saying all the right things about Alex Auld, but the upcoming schedule for the next two weeks is going to be a real challenge, and Auld is probably not the goalie the Sens want to be starting against teams like the Bruins and the Rangers. The good news is that Andy injured his blocker hand, not his catching hand (he’d be out a lot longer if he’d hurt his left hand), and the Sens as a team have remained calm and pushed back in bad situations time and again all season. If Lehner (and Auld) can rise to the occasion and perform well over this next two weeks, it will bode very well for the playoffs and for the future of this young team.
now we’re going to find out how the leafs fans feel
Bob – who cares how the Leaf fans feel? No wonder there’s an inferiority complex here.
I cut my thumb on a chopping board and with just two stitches, it took 6 weeks before it felt ready for sports again. With all the money these guys make, they should hire a cook. Hell, I’ll come over and help them out, just to see them make the playoffs. At least when I get injured, there is no impact on the community.
Really…
We are suppose to believe he accidently cut himself while making supper around midnight? My guess is the dressing room knows the real story, like someone probably tossed a skate to the equipment guy and it accidently hit Anderson. It doesn’t matter really how it happened, too bad for Anderson, the Sens and their fans.
Just an opinion, but I’m probably not far off.
I’ve never heard of someone cutting their hand that badly in the kitchen. Was he holding the knife by the blade and trying to cut with the handle or something?
Anderson has done such a great job for us and made so many amazing saves. I could have sworn some of the CAPS shots were going into the net, but Andy had them! We are going to be edgy for awhile. I’m sure glad that I didn’t give up drinking for Lent!!
*cough* Leclaire is a free agent. Despite the history he’s a decent tender.
I am a strong believer in the “Things happen for a reason” school.
Andy has played too many games this season and Auld not enough.
And this team has, in too many games,been playing too sloppily, leaving it up to Andy to save their butts.
Andy being forced out by an “injury” is just what the doctor ordered to remedy the above and it couldn’t have happened at a better time.
We’re close enough to the end of the regular season that the guys can taste the playoffs and will want to play to achieve that end and now is a good time to be tuning up the team for the playoffs.
As far as injuries to a #1 goalie go, all in all, I’d say that this one is about as good as it gets and I’d say the Sens lucked out again.
I feel the same as Mark. I think it’s very unlikely that a goalie who is right handed, somehow cut his RIGHT hand with a knife….considering the knife would be in his right hand at the time of the incident. Doesn’t make sense….with that said, I think the offence has been rocking lately and as long as they continue to put 3-4 in a game as they have been we can put McKenna in nets and still make the playoffs. It’ll be great experience for Auld to play and have a few more games under his belt in case Anderson gets hurt in the playoffs and give Lehner some pressure situation games to show he IS ready for the big leagues as oppose to playing Florida mid-season as he has in the past.
I’m pretty sure he’s left-handed guys.
jay learn to read, i din’t say i cared how the leaf fans feel, i said we’re going to find out how the leaf fans feel, meening we’re now in the same boat as toronto as far as goaltending, we’re just hoping one of these guys can get wins.