"What's wrong with the Sens?"

It's tough to be an Ottawa Senators fan.

I've been a dyed in the wool Sens fan since they hit the ice against Montreal all those years ago. I own more than a dozen jerseys, my office is decorated in all sorts of Senators paraphernalia (much to the chagrin of my Leaf loving wife!) and when the Sens are playing at this time of the season, very little keeps me away from watching the games.

Earlier this evening I was asked by a fellow bowler: "What's wrong with the Sens?" That figures. Nobody was asking that last week.

When the Sens lost two games ago to Atlanta, Dean Brown pointed out that it was only the fourth time since December 23rd that the Senators had lost. In that stretch, the Sens earned 80.7% of all possible points... quite a feat considering what other championship teams in the NHL and other sports manage over complete seasons.

But they lost a third period lead and ended up losing the game. What happened?! They lost. It happens. In the previous six weeks, that happened less than twenty percent of the time!

Then came Sunday against the lowly Chicago Blackhawks. Ottawa lost yet another third period lead (they finished the second period up 3-1) and coughed up another loss in a shootout. They did get a point for their efforts, and this three point game was against a western conference team so not all was lost.

"What's wrong with the Sens?"

Doesn't everyone remember what kind of role the Ottawa Senators played at this time of the year ten or so seasons ago? Spoiler. The underdog always comes out gunning hard for the frontrunner. When the Sens were in Chicago this past weekend, don't you think that Martin Havlat and Patrick Lalime were bearing down for what might be (to them) one of, if not the most meaningful game left this season? Sure they were.

So the Senators have lost their last two games. There's sixteen games left to play and nobody or nothing is on fire. People are looking for bridges to jump off of... fleeting fans are jumping off the bandwagon. But wait - if the Sens put together a two or three game winning streak starting tomorrow against Pittsburgh, these same people will start plotting the Stanley Cup Parade course.

Come on, folks, relax. It's not like we're down 3-1 in a playoff series against the Maple Leafs... yet!

Anyhow, the intent of this third blog of mine is to simply chronicle my thoughts as a rabid Senators fan who, for the most part, has had nothing but unwavering supportive thoughts when it comes to anything Senators-related. I live with a Leafs fan and one of my best friends is one of the biggest skeptics out there. I endure taunts at playoff time and ridicule at just about any time... just for being a Senators fan.

One of these days it'll all pay off. Just when that'll be, however, remains to be seen!