Craig Anderson couldn't help but feel touched as the fans in Ottawa chanted his name when he was named Saturday's first star.

"It's definitely emotional," the Senators goaltender told TSN's Brent Wallace after recording a 33-save shutout against the New York Islanders in his first game since Dec. 5.

Anderson had been away from the club attending to his wife, Nicholle, who was diagnosed with cancer in late October.

"The crowd has just been outstanding," he added Saturday.

"The city of Ottawa, the organization, it's just been a dream come true the way they've handled everything and allowed me to be a husband and to be a dad. (They understand it's) family first, and they've really hammered that home. I can't thank the city and the organization enough."

Anderson previously took several brief absences before deciding the situation required a more extended leave.

Nicholle tweeted earlier Saturday that she couldn't be happier to see some normalcy back in their lives, and her husband agreed when asked about that after the game.

"That's key for myself to get into a routine and get her into a routine, and (for) the kids," he said.

As for Saturday's first-star honors, clearly it's not a one-game achievement in the Anderson household.

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