The Three Best Moments of Chris Phillips’ Career
On February 18th, 2020 the Ottawa Senators retired #4, worn by the team’s all-time games played leader Chris Phillips. The defenceman will join Daniel Alfredsson’s #11, and Frank Finningan’s #8 in the rafters of the Canadian Tire Centre.
Phillips had the fortune of playing for some of the best Ottawa Senators teams ever throughout his seventeen seasons in the league and was part of some of the biggest moments in franchise history. In honour of his career, let’s look at the three best moments of Chris Phillips’ career.
#3: Game 6 OT Winner vs New Jersey (05/21/2003)
For the second straight game, the Ottawa Senators were up against elimination from the Eastern Conference Finals. After Radek Bonk and Joe Nieuwendyk traded goals in regulation time, Ottawa knew they’d have to score in overtime to keep their dream of a Stanley Cup Final appearance alive. Up steps Chris Phillips.
After a classic puck protected rush to the goal from Marian Hossa, Martin Brodeur kicked the puck right to the top of the crease. A pinching Chris Phillips was at the right place at the right time to pot the rebound and let the Senators live to fight another day. This was by far the biggest goal Phillips scored as a Senator, and an iconic moment in the team’s history despite being unable to complete the series comeback in game 7.
#2: Phillips Scores 2 Goals in his 1000th Game (02/09/12)
Sometimes in hockey and life, things just have a fantastic way of working out. Despite only scoring 71 regular-season goals in 1179 games, the stay-at-home defenceman broke out of his shell for the special occasion of his 1000th game.
With the Nashville Predators in town, Phillips made two outstanding jumps into the play, scoring his 1st and 2nd goals of the season, including the game-winning goal in a 4-3 Senators victory. He will never be remembered for his goal-scoring, but this game is likely the best he ever played across his long NHL career.
What makes this game even better is the pure emotion Phillips shows, and how excited the entire team was for him. Even Dean Brown and Denis Potvin struggled to find the right words for the moment. Truly one of the funniest and best moments in Senators history.
#1: Becoming the Senators’ All-Time Games Played Leader 02/05/15
In his 36th and final appearance of the 2014-15 season, Chris Phillips surpassed Daniel Alfredsson to become the Ottawa Senators all-time games played leader. What should’ve been just an average Thursday tilt against the Washington Capitals, quickly became one of the more emotional games in recent Senators history.
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It’s remarkable for any player to be a part of 1179 games, in the NHL, but to do it with one team, and with Phillips’ style of play, was remarkable. This was a great chance for a packed building to show their appreciation for a fan favourite, and one of the great Senators to have played in their brief history. Ottawa’s appreciation for the ‘Big Rig’ was emphasized through the many standing ovations Phillips received that night.
As a player and person, Phillips will always have a fantastic legacy in the Senators organization, as well as in the city of Ottawa. This was a fitting tribute for a great player, that can only be bettered by retiring his #4.