Tampa Bay Lightning founder Phil Esposito on Tuesday said an autopsy showed his daughter, Carrie, died of an abdominal aneurysm.

Carrie Selivanov, who was married to former Lightning star Alex Selivanov, was 43 when she died Jan. 30 at her home in Krefeld, Germany. She left her husband and three children: Dylan, 18; Nikko, 13; and Rocco, 9. Dylan was Carrie's from a previous marriage.

"Alex is devastated," said Esposito, who with wife Bridget recently returned from Germany. "It was a good thing Bridget and I were there. The kids really needed her and Alex needed me."

Esposito reiterated that Carrie about 10 days before her death had "coughed up some blood," but declined to see a doctor. "She basically bled to death internally," Esposito said.

Esposito, a radio analyst for the Lightning, will return to the booth for tonight's game against the Senators after missing the team's previous four home games.

"It helped me tremendously," Esposito said of his time in Germany.

He said he saw Nikko and Rocco practice and play some hockey and heard more about Dylan's plans to study hotel management. There also is a tentative plan to enroll Nikko at a Canadian school that specializes in hockey instruction, Esposito said.

"Your life goes on," Esposito added. "You have to keep moving forward."