BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — If the teary-eyed hugs with his two sons and wife at the Zamboni entrance weren’t hints enough, Sabres goalie Craig Anderson made it official following a 4-3 overtime win against Ottawa on Thursday night. He’s retiring after a 20-year career.
“This is it,” Anderson said after a 30-save performance in Buffalo’s home finale in which he was mobbed by his teammates and celebrated in front of a crowd chanting, “Andy! Andy! Andy!” after Casey Mittelstadt scored to secure the win 1:18 into the extra frame.
“I think I left it all out there. At the end of the day, I did everything I possibly could to make sure that I was competitive and gave the team a chance to win,” Anderson added. “You’ve got to be honest with yourself. And that’s just the way this game goes, Father Time always catches up to you.”
The 41-year-old from Park Ridge, Illinois — who won’t be suiting up in Buffalo’s season finale at Columbus on Friday — closes his career at 319-275-71. He ranks fifth among American-born goalies in wins and games played, and third with 43 shutouts, one behind Ryan Miller.
Tage Thompson scored his team-leading 47th goal, while Henri Jokiharju and Victor Olofsson also scored for Buffalo in a game between Atlantic Division rivals eliminated from playoff contention. By forcing overtime in rallying from a 3-2 deficit, the Sabres assured themselves of finishing 10th in the Eastern Conference standings.
Though extending their NHL-record playoff drought to 12 seasons following a 6-2 loss at New Jersey on Tuesday, the Sabres have 89 points to match their most since 2011-12, and with one game remaining. Buffalo’s 41 wins are also the most since winning 43 in 2010-11.
Claude Giroux achieved a single-season career-best by scoring his 35th goal, while playing in his 1,100th career game, and three days after reaching the 1,000-point plateau. Tim Stutzle had a goal and assist, and Dylan Gamrell also scored for the Senators, who closed their season with a 39-35-8 record.
Rookie Mads Sogaard stopped 32 shots for Ottawa.
The Senators’ 39 wins and 86 points are their most since 2016-17, the last time they made the playoffs.
“It’s not the position we want to be in. We believe in each other and we think we’re a playoff team. But it’s a bad feeling right now, knowing that we were pretty close,” Giroux said. “Personally I’m not ecstatic with the position that we are right now, but saying that, we still did a lot of good things and we’re going to build on this.”
Mittelstadt scored by accepting Rasmus Dahlin’s pass along the right boards, cutting into the circle and snapping a shot over Sogaard’s right shoulder.
The Sabres bench erupted with players racing down the ice to mob Anderson in his crease. Senators players then waited near their bench to congratulate Anderson, who spent 10 season playing for Ottawa. Among the Senators were two of Anderson’s former teammates Brady Tkachuk and Drake Batherson.
“It’s an honor for me to to be a part of their careers, too,” Anderson said. “I didn’t know I had that much influence on those guys. But to this day, they’re still thankful for me being there and being part of their entry into the league.”
His lengthy celebration ended with him hugging his wife and two sons, who eventually joined him in the Sabres locker room.
The Sabres blew a 2-0 lead in allowing the Senators to score three straight times in the second period. Thompson tied the game at 3 by one-timing Jeff Skinner’s pass into the slot for a power-play goal 3:03 into the third period.
ANDERSON’S FINALE!
Anderson, who turns 42 next month, was coy in refusing to talk about his future before the game.
“Who knows. I’ve been very fortunate to play this game for a very long time. I’m just going to enjoy every last bit of it,” Anderson said. “The last few years have been on borrowed life support here.”
Anderson contemplated retirement last year before signing a one-year contract to return to Buffalo.
Anderson’s sons, Jake and Levi, announced Buffalo’s starting lineup in the locker room.
UP NEXT
Senators: Season over.
Sabres: Close season at Columbus on Friday in game rescheduled from Dec. 27 due to snow storm in Buffalo.