Senators’ Anderson not expecting Leafs’ fans to offer Phaneuf reprieve

Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson won't experience the reaction first hand, as an injury will prevent him from making the trip to Toronto, but he still chimed in on the topic du jour in Ottawa on the eve of Dion Phaneuf's highly anticipated return.

And let's just say he's not forecasting a loving embrace.

"I think it's going to be a hundred times worse in Toronto," Anderson said, when comparing his new teammate's previous return trips to Calgary, via Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun. "Maybe that will fade over time, maybe not. It didn't fade for (Daniel Alfredsson) - every time he was there it seemed to get worse. You never know."

The former Maple Leafs captain - maligned throughout his largely unsuccessful tenure - hasn't resigned to the same conclusion, telling Garrioch he isn't really sure how he'll be received.

But he was adamant his primary focus lies elsewhere.

"I've been through that before," Phaneuf said of the emotions in returning to face an old team. "To be completely honest with you my focus is in our room here and what we have to do to get our game back to the level we expect."

Phaneuf's Senators are seven points back of the final wild card position after consecutive losses to the St. Louis Blues and Tampa Bay Lightning this week.

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