TORONTO - If Eugene Melnyk does win a Stanley Cup, he's already had the biggest victory of his life by getting a second chance.
The Senators' owner is recovering from an eight-hour liver transplant surgery he had Tuesday at the Toronto General Hospital but the hope is he'll be able to get back on his feet in the next few days and if all goes well he'll be released from hospital in the next couple of weeks to slowly begin returning to normal life.
Dr. Atul Humar, the program medical director of the multi-organ transplant unit of the University Health Network, believes Melnyk, 55, is fortunate his public plea -- started only nine days ago -- was a success with an anonymous donor willing to donate approximately 70% of their liver to save his life.