Craig Anderson is taking another leave of absence from the Ottawa Senators to spend time with his wife. It was learned recently that Anderson’s wife was diagnosed with cancer, and that the Senators starting goaltender would be given time to spend with his wife throughout the season.
UPDATE: Craig Anderson has left the team to be with his wife Nicholle and will not play tonight. Unsure when he will return to the team.
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) November 3, 2016
The Senators recently acquired goaltender Mike Condon from the Pittsburgh Penguins for a fifth-round draft pick. The deal came after the Senators stated that the team would be rolling with three goaltenders this season to help relieve the load for Anderson and allow him to take care of his personal business.
When Anderson first returned to the team following his initial leave of absence, the hockey world tuned in intently to see how he and the Senators would do. In one of the greatest hockey moments in recent history, Anderson recorded a shutout in his first start since learning of his wife’s diagnosis; a moment that sparked tears from Anderson and fans alike.
Kyle Clifford Receives a Warning for Fight After Leaving the Bench
According to John Shannon of Sportsnet, Los Angeles Kings forward Kyle Clifford will not receive any discipline for fighting after leaving the bench on a line change, but he will be receiving a warning from the league regardless via a phone call.
No supplementary discipline for Kyle Clifford, but will be call by NHL, warned about leaving the bench to start a fight, on a line change.
— John Shannon (@JShannonhl) November 3, 2016
Normally, NHL players are not permitted to leave the bench to partake in a fight under any circumstances. In the case of Clifford, however, timing, was key. When teammate Devin Setoguchi was leaving the ice for a line change, Clifford jumped onto the ice to fight Ducks’ defenseman Kevin Bieksa.
In 2013, then-Toronto Maple Leafs forward David Clarkson jumped to the defense of his teammates – off the bench – to fight with then Sabres’ forward John Scott. Due to the NHL taking measures to ensure safety in the league, fighting off the bench resulted in a 10-game suspension for Clarkson.
Carey Price Responds to Nathan Beaulieu’s comments
Despite the Montreal Canadiens playing at a top level and rolling along in the early weeks of the 2016-17 season, the team still feels there’s work to be done. After shutting out the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday, Habs’ defenseman Nathan Beaulieu declared the game a “wake-up call” to which franchise goaltender Carey Price had a pretty strong, and honest response.
Q: Beaulieu called this game a "wake-up call" for the team. Do you see it that way?
Price: I'm pretty awake #Habs— Douglas Gelevan (@DGelevan) November 3, 2016
There’s been no denying Price’s play in the early parts of the season. In fact, both Al Montoya, the teams’ backup, and Price have both been very good to start the year (Montoya started the season in place of Price due to an illness). According to TSN’s John Lu, team captain Max Pacioretty had an opinion on his own individual, as well as the team’s collective effort – Price excluded.
“Carey played great but it’s hard to look at yourself in the mirror after and say you did everything to help the team win,” Pacioretty said.
In six games so far this season, Price is 6-0 and has only allowed seven goals – good for a 1.17 goals against average, as well as a 0.964 save percentage and one shutout.
As it stands, the Canadiens’ rank first in the NHL with 19 points in 10 games. The team also leads the NHL in goal differential with a plus-20 mark and hold a 9-0-1 record. This season also marks just the fourth time in the history of the Canadiens’ franchise that the team has earned points in each of the first 10 games of the season.
Robert Bortuzzo Placed on Injured Reserve
St. Louis blues defenseman Robert Bortuzzo has been placed on the injured reserve with a lower-body injury. The injury occurred when the Blues took on the Detroit Red Wings on Oct. 27.
https://twitter.com/TodaysSlapshot/status/794162720266293248
The former third-round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins from 2007, Bortuzzo has played in 170 NHL games and has recorded seven goals and 25 points. Though he’s not a major point contributor, Bortuzzo has always been known for his defensive play and has fit in well in St. Louis as a complementary piece since the 2014-15 season.
In place of Bortuzzo will be Brad Hunt who the Blues called up from their AHL affiliate the Chicago Wolves. The 28-year-old Hunt has played in only 21 games in his career so far (spread across three seasons with the Edmonton Oilers) after being signed as an undrafted free agent in 2013. Hunt joined the Blues on a one-year, two-way deal as an unrestricted free agent last offseason and will get another chance to try and break into the NHL while Bortuzzo recovers from injury.
Odds and Ends
– Typically, The Hockey Writers reserve all of its content for hockey. In certain situations, there’s reason to break the mold and mention things from other sports. For the first time in 108 years, the Chicago Cubs are World Series Champions. After a thrilling game seven against the Cleveland Indians, the Cubs won their first World Series victory since the 1908 season – one the city of Chicago won’t soon forget.
– Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun will stay with the team beyond nine games this season.