It’s Been a Long Road of Recovery For Senators’ Anton Forsberg

The Ottawa Senators edged the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 in their preseason lid-lifter Sunday afternoon.

Tim Stützle notched a pair of goals, his second coming 55 seconds after Alex Steeves tied the game at two late in the middle frame. Brady Tkachuk opened the scoring for the Senators 9:59 into the game, jamming home a rebound at the edge of the crease off a Josh Bailey shot. And with a newly minted contract extension in hand, Jake Sanderson added two assists in 27:01 of ice time.

But the story of the day was the return of goalie Anton Forsberg. Playing a full 60 minutes, Forsberg made 36 saves in his first game since sustaining MCL injuries to each knee on February 11 versus Edmonton.

While it was only an exhibition tilt, don’t tell that to Forsberg.

“Obviously it’s been a long road and there was lots of emotion coming out there for the national anthem and all that. I’m so happy and grateful I’m back and feel good. I’m just going to enjoy it,” said the Senators’ netminder.

It’s been a long road of rehab for the 30-year-old, who’s starting his third full campaign with the team since being claimed off waivers from the Winnipeg Jets in March 2021.

It was a tough grind leading up for Forsberg in making his return.

“From Day One, I was happy that it was kind of was what it was. So, I kind of felt the whole time, it hasn’t been hard, because I know it could have been a lot worse. So I’ve kind of tried to stay positive and just work toward this day, and that way I couldn’t feel it was super hard. Obviously, it’s tough, lots of days you’re here by yourself. You’re not with the team, and all that.  So that that’s probably the toughest part.”

The game was without incident for Forsberg, who received a scare in the second period as Maple Leafs forward Kyle Clifford crashed into the prone goalie, drawing an interference minor. But the goaltender wasn’t worse for wear.

“I feel strong and I have no doubt that my knees are back to where they were before if not stronger. And in that way, I haven’t since Day One starting skating hesitated about anything. I’ve been out there, working myself through everything,” noted Forsberg.

The importance of the game for Forsberg wasn’t lost on his Senators’ teammates. Jake Sanderson told Full Press Hockey, “I’m really happy for him. He’s been grinding all off-season and it was pretty scary to see what happened last year with him; he’s just starting. He worked so hard, so he deserves it.”

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Associate coach Jack Capuano, filling in post-game for ailing head coach D.J. Smith praised Forsberg for the hard work put in to get to this point.

“You know the mental toughness that you have to have. You know what kind of a person he is, how he trains off the ice and, just to see him, you know, both knees and injuries that he had. So credit to him for the work that he did this summer that he put in with the trainers. And it gives him confidence to obviously to come back and then go through a game like that and he got tested – you know, in this game and he seemed to battle and recover really.

Senators’ fans will likely have to wait until Wednesday for the debut of goalie Joonas Korpisalo, but knowing Forsberg is back to full strength is a load off the organization’s mind as the team heads to opening night on October 11 in Raleigh against the Carolina.