Mike Fisher excited about Ottawa game
But former Senators forward is happy in his new hockey home in Nashville
It may be a year late, but Ottawa is finally getting a chance to give Mike Fisher a proper send-off.
A Senators fan favourite for 11 seasons, Fisher was traded to Nashville on Feb. 10, 2011, while the team was on the road. There was no time for any goodbyes.
So it's no surprise that a Fisher love-in is expected when the veteran forward makes his return to Scotiabank Place with the Predators on Thursday (7:30 p.m. ET).
Chris Phillips has never really given much thought to stats during his career, but even he admits being a little overwhelmed by the fact Thursday's game will be his 1,000th in the NHL.
"I guess it's longevity," said the Ottawa Senators defenceman. "I'm definitely proud and it's a sign that you didn't only make it, but you were able to stay."
Phillips will now join a very select class in the NHL. He becomes only the 46th player in league history to play 1,000 games with the same team and the 270th player overall to reach the milestone.
Phillips arrived in Ottawa in 1997 as a 19-year-old rookie with high expectations heaped upon him as the first overall selection at the 1996 draft, and while he has lived up to those expectations his debut wasn't so easy.
Over the years Phillips has earned the reputation as a hard-working stay-at-home defenceman, but many might be surprised to know that during that first year Phillips was often asked to play as a forward. His first goal was scored against the Florida Panthers as a forward.
Phillips has since become an anchor on the Ottawa blue-line. His overtime goal in Game 6 of the 2002-03 Eastern Conference finals against the New Jersey Devils as well as the team's 2007 Stanley Cup run against the Anaheim Ducks rank as career highlights.
After 999 games Phillips has 60 goals and 250 points, and he would love nothing more than to get his first goal of the season in game number 1,000.
The Senators will honour Phillips prior to Saturday's game against the Edmonton Oilers. Part of the celebration includes the Senators painting Phillips's No. 4 behind each of the nets.
— The Canadian Press
"I'm excited, but a little nervous at the same time," said Fisher. "I have so many great memories of my time in Ottawa. It's going to be nice to see a lot of friends and the fans."
Fisher, who has 16 goals and 32 points in 46 games this season, will try to help the Predators post their 33rd win of the season. At 32-17-5, Nashville has climbed into fourth spot in the NHL Western Conference while enjoying a 11-2-1 run since Jan. 7.
Fisher has nine goals and 16 points during that stretch, while his old club looks to snap a seven-losing streak that has dropped the team from third place to eighth in the East with a 27-22-7 record.
Nashville is 10-0-1 in 2011-12 when Fisher scores a goal and 18-2-1 when he records a point.
'The trade was hard, but if I had to go anywhere this was a great place to go. The team and fans have been great.' — Mike Fisher on his near-year tenure with the Predators
The Fisher deal came as a shock in Ottawa. General manager Bryan Murray even admitted at the time he didn't really want to make the trade.
Murray accommodates Fisher
In an effort to soften the blow, Murray dealt Fisher to Nashville so he could be closer to his new wife and country music superstar Carrie Underwood.
"Nashville has been very good to me," said Fisher. "The trade was hard, but if I had to go anywhere this was a great place to go. The team and fans have been great."
But even a year later, the void Fisher left is still felt.
"Me personally, I wish he was still here because we went through a lot together," said Ottawa captain Daniel Alfredsson, who notched his 18th goal of the season and fourth in nine contests in a 3-1 loss to St. Louis on Tuesday.
While Alfredsson understands the trade as a business move, he admits it didn't make it any easier to lose his teammate.
"I think everybody knew what Fish brought on and off the ice," said Alfredsson. "He's a guy that embraces the community and helps people any way he can."
Fisher, Colin Wilson and Sergei Kostitsyn each had a goal in Tuesday's 4-3 six-round shootout loss to Northwest-leading Vancouver.
Predators goalie Pekka Rinne surrendered three first-period goals and saw his win streak halted at 11 games.
"When we get down, we know how good Pekka can be," Fisher said. "He can shut the door, and we just seem to be able to relax and play."
Involved in community
Fisher, 31, played 675 games for the Senators but also donated countless hours to local charities.
He was also a role model for other players. Ottawa forward Nick Foligno said Fisher took him under his wing and helped him learn the ropes in the NHL.
"I definitely missed him after the trade," said Folingo.
Fisher offered support as Foligno's mother battled cancer. After her death, the two wore patches sewn inside their hockey pants in memory of Janis Foligno.
"He's such a genuine guy and really got involved and I think the fans really appreciated everything he did," said Foligno. "I think everyone was so proud that he got so involved in the community and in this locker-room. He was a big leader in this room."
Fisher admits it will be strange not to be in the Sens dressing room on Thursday.
"For so many years I was on the other side and I'm sure that just walking into that visitors room will be strange," he said. "Once the game gets started I'm sure it will be fine."
Ottawa forward Jason Spezza says it will be nice for Fisher to make his return, but at the same time the Senators will be looking to play their best.
"You always kind of compete a little harder, a little differently when you're facing someone that you played with for such a long time. It's fun to compete with those guys," said Spezza, who has 20 goals and a team-best 51 points this season.
The Senators have been outscored 23-9 during the losing streak.
Craig Anderson was pulled by the four-minute mark in Tuesday's setback after giving up two goals on four shots in his 18th consecutive start.
"The biggest thing is to make sure we're sticking together," said backup netminder Alex Auld, who stopped 13 of 14 shots in relief versus the Blues but couldn't prevent Ottawa's fourth loss in a row on home ice.
With files from The Canadian Press