Perhaps Jake Sanderson was just caught up in the emotion of a brutal loss.
The Ottawa Senators defenceman said Tuesday he apologized to goalie Leevi Merilainen after saying "you gotta make more than 10 saves" following the team's 6-5 overtime defeat to the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.
In fact, Merilainen stopped 13 shots in the loss, a continuation of the Senators' season-long goaltending woes.
"First off, I’m pretty embarrassed. I think that’s the situation where, after a game, you’ve got to take a few more minutes. Take a few deep breaths," Sanderson said to reporters.
"I talked to Leevi after the (game) and apologized. I still feel really bad. Leevi’s a great guy. And I think that’s not what good teammates do. You don’t tear each other down. You build each other up, especially after a game like that. I’m pretty embarrassed."
Head coach Travis Green called Sanderson's comments "overblown."
"Sanderson's one of the best teammates you're ever going to find in the league. It's an emotional game. It's much like my comments after the game as well. I said it's hard to give (Merilainen) a free pass; I feel bad for him. I've said that many times. Maybe a goal or two that you'd like back," Green said.
"I think it was fairly obvious, and I think it was overblown. And it definitely didn't have an effect on our room."
Mid-season signing James Reimer debuted for the Senators on Sunday, one day after the collapse to the Canadiens, but Ottawa dropped another overtime decision in a 4-3 loss to the Detroit Red Wings.
Starter Linus Ullmark, who struggled through the beginning of the season, remains off the roster on a leave of absence he took in December, though he recently rejoined the team.
Earlier Tuesday, the Senators loaned Merilainen to AHL Belleville and recalled goalie Hunter Shepard.
Merlainen has struggled mightily this season after impressing in stints last year.
The Oulu, Finland, native has a 3.51 goals-against average and .860 save percentage in 20 appearances this year.
