"When you see the person you love the most on earth and what they're going through, his ability to block it out to focus on his teammates...I don't know how you could put that into words," Dorion told the media on Monday afternoon. "He comes here and he's as good a pro as I've ever seen in my NHL career."
Just one week after Nicholle Anderson's diagnosis was made public, the Senators hosted their annual Hockey Fights Cancer night at Canadian Tire Centre and of course her husband got the start in goal. As a tribute to his wife, Craig chose to wear the #23 on his Hockey Fights Cancer warm-up jersey...her favourite number.
Anderson spent a large portion of the season on leave from the team to be by his wife's side while she underwent cancer treatment and appeared in just 19 games prior to resuming his duties as the Sens' starting goaltender on February 11th. In true Craig Anderson fashion, he shut out the Islanders 3-0 in his return.
His contributions to the Sens success this season are still being felt and now include a first round win over the Boston Bruins. Something he was able to lock down on Sunday evening with his wife in attendance.
"Some of those saves he made yesterday in the third period when we were on our heels...I don't know how many goalies in the game make saves like that," Dorion raved. "And at the same time, his wife is in the crowd and she hasn't seen him in close to three weeks. It just speaks so much about his focus for the game but at the same time his love for his family, his love for his wife and it was great to see her after the game. We're doing this for ourselves and our organization but at the same time for what Nicholle is going through."
