Fisher, 37, announced his retirement Aug. 3 after helping the Predators reach the Stanley Cup Final, where they lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games in June. The Predators captain debated whether to continue his NHL career but decided to retire after 17 NHL seasons and 1,088 games with the Senators and Predators, finishing with 585 points (276 goals, 309 assists).
Asked if he had an unfair advantage Friday, having played in the League six months ago, whereas most other players in the alumni game had been retired for far longer, Fisher laughed and said that he wasn't the most recently retired player on the ice.
That honor went to Team Phillips forward Chris Neil, who announced his retirement Thursday. But Neil, 38, played his final NHL game on May 9.
"He just retired yesterday," Fisher said, refusing to acknowledge he had played for a month longer than Neil. "He was flying out there. He had a game-high six hits."
Neil actually did not have that many hits in a game that was almost devoid of contact, but he did guide a couple of players, including Fisher, into the boards. At one point, he had two Team Alfredsson players, including Alfredsson himself, tied up along the boards as play went in the other direction.
Neil scored a goal late in the third period after the snow had picked up in intensity, and the crowd responded by chanting "Neiler, Nieler."
Fisher's two goals were second on Friday to the four scored by teammate Alexandre Daigle, the forward who was picked by the Senators at No. 1 in the 1993 NHL Draft.
Even with his success on Parliament Hill, Daigle said he had no burning desire to get back into competitive hockey.
"I'm too out of shape for this," the 42-year-old said with a laugh. "I'm all good. It was just so much fun to be out here again with all these guys and share this moment with them. It was an amazing experience. I'm glad I was able to be a part of it."
