First Heatley, now Spezza!

What a difference an owner can make. How he's going to balance the books and stay under the salary cap in the next six or seven years is beyond me.

The news that Jason Spezza has been signed to a seven year contract extension is phenomenal. Knowing that he and his partner in crime Dany Heatley will be there for the better part of this decade will make being a Sens fan lots of fun for a very long time.

Eugene Melnyk is proving that he wants the Senators to be winners for a long time. It was a really cool and memorable experience to be able to be there for a Stanley Cup final game for the first time last year and it seems that I might have another shot at getting to see another... sooner rather than later.

Buckle up, boys - we're in for one heck of a ride!!!

Another Heatley goal, Gerber DOES have a new mask!

Another goal for Mr. Heatley! It's great to see that we have him signed through to 2014! Here's hoping he keeps showing that determination and exerting the same effort level in the weeks, months and seasons to come.

Just watching the game on SportsNet - nice to see that Gerber actually does have a painted mask out there. While I'd like to see him wear it, the way he's been playing, I'd be shocked to see him make a change as long as he keeps playing the way he is. The ironic thing is that if Emery comes back sooner than later, Gerber's finally made himself look good to potential suitors and he might not have a long period of time to wear that new mask! ...or might the Sens decide that they don't want to make any pre-Christmas deals, regardless of how Emery performs when he finally comes back!?

In the meantime, who cares - the team's clicking just nicely and as we get close to the half-way mark towards the end of the first 10 game segment, it's proving to be one enjoyable ride!!

Havlat hurt again!?!

Man... as every month goes by, I'm happy the Ottawa Senators let Martin Havlat go the free agency route when the time came. Chicago's six million dollar man hurt himself last night again, supposedly while throwing a punch in a scrum in the third period.

The guy has played 74 games in the last two seasons and hasn't played more than 68 games since his second season in the NHL, back in 2001-02. Now he hurts himself in game one of 2007-08.

Havlat has talent, don't get me wrong - coming back from his serious injury in his last season with the Senators, he scored four goals. Impressive. What's not impressive about our old #9 is durability. It's too bad - I loved watching him play and I own a jersey with his name and number on it.

The problem is, he fancies himself as being a superstar, probably in the Pavel Bure, John Leclair or Dany Heatley category. He likely sees himself as a potential 50 goal scorer in the NHL. He probably can be - only he has to stick around long enough to make those shots and pot those goals.

I don't think the Ottawa Senators missed a beat when Havlat left... after all, he barely played in the last season where he wore the team's colours. We've been to the Cup finals and have run the table thus far in 2007-08. Will the Sens win 82 games? Maybe not!

But they've got a solid core of players who should see action through the majority of the games - and that's more than Havlat can say for himself. I hope he gets himself in order and strengthens up and becomes a great player over his career. In order to do that, though, he's got lots of work to do.

Opening night... another journey begins!

So here we are, minutes away from the drop of the puck for the 2007-2008 season. It wasn't so long ago we sat, eagerly anticipating the Ottawa Senators' first game in franchise history against the Montreal Canadiens. Much has happened since that night... spectacular regular season wins and losses, adrenaline pumping playoff series wins and crushing defeats.

Last year, we got to ride the wave right to the bitter end - and it was a bitter end.

I just watched TSN's intro to the season - the standings are zeroed out and players come on one by one proclaiming that they believe this will be their season, that everyone's in first place (except for Anaheim and Los Angeles, I guess!) and that tonight, anything and everything is possible.

It's tough to watch and think about what's happened to recent Stanley Cup finalist teams... Edmonton and Carolina didn't make the playoffs last year, nor did the pre-lockout finalists. Anaheim has lost some key players in the weeks that have gone by since they got to skate around with the Cup, but Ottawa has strengthened itself somewhat - inking Dany Heatley to a multi-year contract extension is a key move that secures Ottawa's future... and this season especially.

Ray Emery's on the shelf while his injury that never goes away heals. How he managed to play most of last season with it being hurt and now having to sit there and wait and wait must be tough.

But isn't this both Martin Gerber and the Sens organization's dream come true? If the team's goal was to move Gerber but nobody wanted to take him because of his performance to start 2006-2007 and his salary, this is a perfect opportunity to showcase his abilities in the coming days and weeks. Once Emery comes back, and if he proves himself, someone will see Gerber's an OK player and will take him and his salary off the Senators' books. If and when that happens, a couple more moves will be possible for GM Bryan Murray.

"WE BELIEVE" - nice slogan or motto, TSN. Here's to a new season - and who knows... we never thought at this time last year that we'd make it where we did. Now we know we can do it - let's go, boys!

GO SENS GO!!!!

07-08 is just around the corner... attended pre-season game last night

So the short summer is finally over and the Sens are ready to embark on a new adventure. Where the hockey gods will take them this year, no one can know... but we can be assured of suspense and drama, that's for sure.

There are a few changes at ScotiaBank Place this year. The highlight, I guess, is the removal of some of the advertising spots on the second ring in each end of the rink. Replacing them is another length of the same kind of electronic display found on the first ring, mostly used for A/V presentations and some advertising during play. Removed were the old "black and white" indicator boards above sections 308 and 322 - ad space replaced them.

With all the talk about ad space, I have to wonder why so much of it was removed (though the electronic board can do a great job at providing more dynamic advertising opportunities)... and whether it was removed because selling it is proving to be tough this year. Two sides of each of the eight revolving signs on the main scoreboard were blacked out, as were I'm sure dozens of signs throughout the rest of the arena. It looked odd - but maybe contracts are signed with stipulations that they'll come into effect on opening night. We'll see.

The Lone Star will have one or more concession stands - what they'll offer should be interesting to see! And finally, the "Silver 7 Brewhouse" or whatever the facility is over behind sections 320-324 (or thereabouts) I think has been re-branded as a Local Heroes or something like that.

On to the team itself... I had a hard time getting to like the white away jerseys while watching highlights the other day. Watching the red home sweaters last night was odd at first, but by the end of the game, it was less about the players' clothing and more about the 5-4 win after being down 3-1! The only thing about the jerseys that I don't like is that I can't help but have the feeling that there's more about marketing (as opposed to the safety factor the NHL is trying to sell) - I have a dozen or so jerseys I've bought in the fifteen years the Sens have been around and I won't be rushing out to replace them.

Does this season bring us hope of returning to the finals? Sure... but let's remember - two years ago we were "sure" to get there and we didn't even get close. Does anyone remember how likely a trip to see Stanley was back in November 2006?

Let's enjoy the ride and see where we're taken. It should be a dandy trip!

Luke Richardson to Ottawa - that's nice, I guess!

He's an Ottawa boy. That's good. He's going to be paid $500,000 - that's not bad. There's a minor league clause in the contract, if media reports are to be believed... that's OK.

The problem? He's 38, played only 27 games in Tampa last season and has scored but two goals since the end of the 2002-2003 season. Exactly how much can he be expected to contribute to the Sens' bottom line in 2007-2008?!

Sure, GM Murray and Coach Paddock are acknowledging that Luke Richardson will be the "seventh defenceman", but it's the minor league clause that gets me more where I live. Why? I believe that the AHL should be a training ground for young players who are just a little bit shy in the skill department. It's a place for guys to get that last bit of seasoning before making it to "The Show". It shouldn't be a place for someone whose star lacks the lustre it once had, a holding place for a guy to toil, waiting for an injury to happen.

If Richardson is going to be the seventh defenceman, what happens to Lawrence Nycholat? I thought he was going to be the seventh defenceman. Didn't he get re-signed to a two year deal only a few weeks ago?

The Senators don't have the depth on defence it once had - and based on what we saw last year, there are few NHL-ready defencemen down there in Binghamton.

I'm hoping that I'm wrong and that Richardson brings some of the grit and determination he once showed. He never was a point getter, so he won't turn into one here. Will he inspire some of the younger players like Grant Ledyard did while he was in town? Maybe... if he's not four hours south of Ottawa playing with the junior Sens.

Peter Schaefer heading out of town!

I've just received an e-mail from Eklund stating that a deal has been made trading Peter Schaefer to Boston for Shean Donovan.

Donovan is 32 and has 100 goals in 774 career games along with a -81 plus/minus rating.

Schaefer is 30 years old and has 89 goals in 493 games, including 53 in four seasons with the Senators (47 in the last three years.)

Is this going to be a great trade for the Sens? Time will tell - as always - but it seems that this is a money trade, saving Ottawa a little under $1.2 million in cap space.

A prelude of things to come? Here's hoping!

Randy Cunneyworth for coach!

What more needs to be said? Randy Cunneyworth is a former Ottawa Senators captain and he was the epitome of perseverance when he led the team into battle night after night. The benefits of "bringing Cunneyworth home" would include his obvious ability to develop and get the most out of players.

The Buffalo Sabres have had the benefit of having him run their AHL team for several years and his effect on the franchise certainly was seen as plain as day this past season. Because of this, his intimate knowledge of the Sabres organization would be an asset as the Senators try to improve on what was their best season ever in 2006-07.

Other people being considered for the position are intriguing - while it would certainly be interesting to have Pat Quinn behind the Sens' bench, I'm not sure he's the right sort of fit. I'm sure that Brian McGrattan wouldn't mind Quinn coming in as he'd get more ice time - something I'm not against, of course!! Some have considered Dale Hunter. He hasn't been retired for that long and I'm not sure that his experience amounts to as much as Cunneyworth's. Would Pat Burns work out here? Maybe, but it looks like he isn't going to leave New Jersey anytime soon - with the respect that Lou Lamoriello has shown during Burns' bouts with illness, I doubt that Pat Burns is pining for the Ottawa job much. Having said that, he did say last night on a local radio station (104.7FM) that he'd certainly be interested in talking with Bryan Murray should he call...

Randy Cunneyworth has a history here in Ottawa. He's been through some of the lowest moments in Ottawa Senators history, it's time for him to participate in one of the best. He's proven himself in the AHL - it's time to bring this expertise to Ottawa.

Come on home, Randy!

No way, Gandler - Yashin's not likely to be a Senator again

I don't know if Mark Gandler is a few bricks short of a load or if he truly believes that Ottawa Senators fans will overlook the holdouts and the contempt that both he and his client showed for the city that gave Alexei Yashin his start in the National Hockey League.

Years ago I gave Alexei the benefit of the doubt when he had his first contract dispute. He was relatively young and certainly was impressionable, considering he was in North America in a thriving capitalist society for the first time in his life. It wasn't impossible that he was getting bad advice from a bad advocate. When it happened a second time, this time it was on him. He truly was in it for himself, putting himself before the team at any given opportunity.

Eventually he was traded to the Islanders for Zdeno Chara, Bill Muckult and a draft pick that turned out to be Jason Spezza. That day was a turning point in the Ottawa Senators franchise.

Fast forward to the present day and Alexei has worn out his welcome yet again. Once again, he was the team captain... only this time, it was the team that was "breaking the contract", so to speak. Good on Alexei - how do you like being on that end of the stick?

Then yesterday his "super agent" Mark Gandler has the gall to say that Ottawa is one of the teams that Alexei Yashin would like to play for and that fans who have booed him over the years will get over it, because that is what they do nowadays. Suuure. Do they both think that Ottawa fans are that stupid?

The Senators don't need Alexei Yashin right now - he's a centre and who would he displace? Spezza? Fisher? Vermette? McAmmond? Comrie? In case they haven't noticed, Ottawa has an excess of centres. I'd rather re-sign Comrie than to get Yashin back.

Get real, boys... and good luck finding a team. What goes around comes around - you both thought you had it good 5-6 years ago. Well guess what - it's not so good anymore, is it?!

The fat lady's warming up...

Well, there's 9:30 left in the third period and it's looking like the Senators' season is done like a nice roasted duck breast.

Early reports today had players swearing that they would bring their all to tonight's game. It hasn't looked like it so far. The first period looked rather uninspired... and how about that Chris Phillips goal in the second? Brilliant. That one goofy moment pretty much summarized the whole series for the Sens.

The dominant effort put forth by the Sens in the first three series just hasn't been there. Some might blame the nine game layoff, but Anaheim had to sit through six of those days... big deal.

Who knows - maybe the western conference really does play a different kind of game. There have been so many Stanley Cup Final series that have been one-sided. With the exception of a huge performance by the Sens in game three, Anaheim has all but obliterated Otawa, and at times has forced Sens players to change their game and make stupid mistakes time after time.

It's been a hell of a run... from the lows in the early part of the season to the progressively higher highs as the Penguins, Devils and Sabres were obliterated on Ottawa's run to the finals.

We'll some day look back at this year as a turning point in the Ottawa franchise history. For now, all we can do is sadly watch the last half-dozen minutes left in this year's final... and hope that we get another chance - and sooner rather than later.

I get the awesome memory of having attended game 3 and seeing the Sens soundly beat the Ducks. Hopefully it won't be my last positive Stanley Cup memory...

Thanks, Sens! Here's to next time.

Remember Jersey?

Four years ago the Senators gave the New Jersey Devils a 3-1 head start in the Eastern Conference Finals. They won game five at home and then took game six in New Jersey to force a seventh and deciding game.

I completely forgot about that! Sure, I remember being in the stands and watching my Stanley Cup Finals dream die in the final minutes of the game... but the fact that I was sitting there - minutes from the Finals - was remarkable in and of itself.

If we did it then, we certainly can do it again. The Senators need to dig themselves out of a rather big hole, but they've done it before. Hopefully that experience (digging out of the hole) was a learning experience, and if it happens again, they can use that experience to overcome that one last little thing they didn't do in '03 - finish the opposition off and win that seventh game.

Only this year, winning that seventh game wins us the holy grail of the National Hockey League.

The first step is playing three solid periods and winning tonight's game... here's hoping!

Oh, what a night!!! - Part Two

Once the puck was dropped the intensity level at Scotiabank Place was incredible. It didn't take long for the insane happy state of the 20,500 people in attendance to wane a bit, though. Five minutes into the game Anaheim scored. I couldn't help but wonder if it was going to be "another one of those nights".

The Senators came back with a goal late in the period to send everyone to the concession stands in the same giddy state of mind in which they entered the building only an hour or so earlier. The rollercoaster ride that I wrote about before the series started was magnified in Ottawa's first Stanley Cup Final home game - the score went back and forth with five goals in the second period!

I can remember playoff series where it took five or six games before five goals were scored! OK, I'm exaggerating a bit, but it has felt that way - and having lived through game two only a couple days earlier, I couldn't be blamed for being shocked at the offensive outburst in the second frame.

Thanks to Dean McAmmond the Sens headed to the locker room once again up a goal after period number two. I remember calling my father and a friend to tell them how incredible the game was thus far and how being at a Stanley Cup final game was unlike any sporting experience I had ever lived through.

Highs and lows were to be found in the third period as well, with Dean McAmmond getting smoked by Chris Pronger. To this day I still can't believe that Pronger is a repeat offender dirty player. He has been recognized on several occasions for being the best defenceman in the NHL. I remember fighting friends over Pronger in various pools over the years. Sure, he's good, but it seems that he is also a massive liability.

With McAmmond in the locker room only minutes in the third period and the Senators holding on to a one goal lead, the crowd's anticipation only grew. When Anton Volchenkov scored and gave the Senators the insurance goal they needed, we knew that the win was within our grasp.

The last ten minutes flew by, and before we knew it, the Ottawa Senators had won their first final round game. Ottawa was back in the series. People in my section were high fiving each other... random people were high fiving each other in the stairwells... the unthinkable had happened and we'd never been there before.

The temperature and humidity had moderated outside and the twenty minute walk back to Costco was an experience in itself. People running up and down Palladium Drive, cars passing by with people hanging out the windows while drivers honked horns and passengers high fived pedestrians as they drove by... even the traffic control cops were into it!

After having watched the Sens blow game seven against the New Jersey Devils a few years ago, being there for a Stanley Cup Final playoff game win is something I'll never forget. My mother is the person who made it possible - merci!!

Now... we lost the first two games. We've taken our first and now trail 2-1 in the series. Let's hope our one "fun and unbelievably enjoyable" game day experience is repeated... if it is, man - it'll be one heck of a memorable season!

GO SENS GO!

Oh, what a night!!! - Part One

The one thing that was missing from the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals for Ottawa Senators fans was: fun. After watching the Sens go through the motions in the first two games of the series, the only "fun" the Sens fans had had to that point was watching them get to the finals, not be in the finals. They didn't even score a goal in game 2!

When the scene shifted to Ottawa, however, things were in for a huge change.

I have been to close to 175 NHL games. Up until the lockout year, I had been to every single home playoff game in "modern Senators history". I was there for the first ever playoff game. I was there when Ottawa clinched its first playoff series win at home. Leaving the Corel Centre that day was unlike any other sporting experience for me to that point.

Until last night.

I am fortunate to have a mother who seems to be even more into this playoff run than I am. She seems to be more addicted to everything Senators more than I am this year. Not bad for someone who still splits her allegiance between the Habs and our Senators. There we were, driving to Scotiabank Place last night, eagerly anticipating the biggest Senators home game in "modern history".

The parking lot I always park in was closed off about 6-7 cars before I could make it in. It turns out we waited about 20 minutes in line for nothing. Undeterred, I opted to head east on Palladium Drive to see what I might come across. The lineup to get into the eastern-most parking lots was long and I didn't want to wait. Further east I went. I figured that the Costco would be closed by then and, being a member, surely there wouldn't be a problem parking there. My Escape being secure, it was time to make the trek back west to the "Greatest Arena on Earth" - do we still call it that?!

The walk was reminiscent of a walk I took some ten years ago when I attended the Palladium "open house" - the arena was still five months away from opening night. The enthusiasm for the new building was too exciting for words. I remember standing at the bottom of what would become section 301, looking out at where ice would some day be. Last night, we sat in row P of section 304 and were shocked to see the arena was already pretty much at capacity - and the warmup wasn't quite done yet! Something special was happening - and we were there.

After a rather impressive light and A/V show, Lyndon Slewidge took to the ice to sing the national anthems. I don't know what it is, but it seems that every time he pulls the mike away to let 20,000+ people "carry the tune" and I'm standing there singing O Canada along with each and every one of them, it's almost emotionally overwhelming. The unity - the unquestioned patriotism (for once) of each and every fan in the stands and throughout the arena is almost tangible. I love it - it's an experience in itself.

And finally, the drop of the puck. Let the games begin!!!

More to come later today - off to the golf course!!

The sky isn't falling yet, folks! GO SENS GO!!!!

Another game, another loss... another opportunity for people to jump off the bandwagon. The team's toast - that's it. Watch the Sens blow the Ducks away 4-0 tomorrow and see those people fall all over each other to jump back on.

Was it an easy game to watch last night? Nope. It reminded me of one of those 1-0 playoff games the Ottawa Senators played against the Toronto Maple Leafs all those years ago. People wonder why I'm so tense and silent when watching playoff games. I sometimes can't seem to handle the emotional pressure that comes with the ups and downs!

Apparently only three teams have come back from 2-0 deficits in the Stanley Cup finals. The last team to do it, according to the Team 1200 yesterday, is the 1971 Montreal Canadiens. I haven't checked to see if they lost those first two games on the road or not. The good news for the Senators is that the two games they lost were on the road. Isn't the goal to try and split when you open a series on the road anyway? Doesn't that mean that losing the first two games is a distinct possibility?

Maybe this is a series where home ice is going to be the big advantage. Not because of the fans, building or ice surface - but because of the "last change". The coaches can make last second tweaks to get their desired match-ups on the ice.

The point most often discussed on Tuesday and Wednesday was that the Sens obviously didn't "bring it" in game one. I suppose we can now all agree that they didn't yesterday either. The bright light in all of this is Ray Emery's play. If he doesn't get Conn Smythe consideration like Giguere did a few years ago, I don't know what else he could possibly do. It is solely because of Emery that the Ottawa Senators were even in games one and two.

I'm hoping that Coach Murray will pound the players over the head with video of the first two games of this round. I hope that he follows it up with video from the first three series of this postseason. These professional hockey players should be able to see the subtle nuances of what was a few weeks ago and what seems to be today. They then should be able to adjust accordingly... it seems to work for pro golfers and baseball players when their swing goes south.

Am I worried? Of course. Am I ready to throw in the towel? Nope - tons of teams have come back from 2-0 deficits... maybe not in the finals, but it is crystal clear that the Ottawa Senators have not played to their potential in this series. If they can come out banging tomorrow night and score an early goal to get Anaheim players back on heels, the Senators speed and skill can overcome whatever the Ducks try to throw around.

Being down 2-1 with a game two days later, again on home ice, is not a bad place to be. Going back to Anaheim 2-2 is exactly what we want now, and if that happens, it's not inconceivable that the magic we saw in the Sens' season only a few days ago will reappear and people will start to believe again.

But first... Saturday. It's up in the air as far as whether the "real" Senators will show up... but it's clear that I will be there. I finally snagged a pair of tickets last night and I'm looking forward to doing my part to ensure the Sens get back on track. Riiight. Well, who knows - every little bit counts, right?

The rollercoaster ride begins

That was somewhat disappointing! OK, it was VERY disappointing.

While our Sens held two one-goal leads at times during the game, it was clear that the Ducks were hustling more than the Ottawa players were. It seemed like they were hitting more, skating harder and just plain playing better.

The question that will be asked throughout the series and forever if the Ottawa Senators don't bring the glory home was asked a million times last night: was the long break in between game five of the Eastern Conference Final and game one of the Stanley Cup Finals responsible for a less than stellar effort?

As the post-game show host pointed out on Team 1200 last night, had the second Anaheim goal not gone in and had the final score been Ottawa 2 and Anaheim 1, nobody would have spent more than twenty seconds on the issue. We're now going to beat that horse flatter than any other point through to tomorrow's final buzzer.

Should we be concerned as Senators fans? Of course not - it's just one game. Good old Toronto fans announcing the game for the CBC last night pointed out that the winner of game 1 of Stanley Cup Finals have won 60% of the series... that's not too far off from 50-50, really. So take that stat and shove it, Neale and Cole.

Last night was the fourth loss in sixteen games played by the Sens in the postseason. They're now 12-4 with a .750 winning percentage. Last night was a one-goal decision - we didn't get blown out 7-1. Nobody's going to suggest that Gerber be brought in to play game two because of the big-time gaffes made by Ray Emery.

So let's continue enjoying the fact that we are one of only two teams competing for hockey's greatest trophy - we still have 2+ weeks of fun to come...

On to game #2!!

HERE WE GO!!!!!!!

Fifteen years of dreaming.

Ten years of frustrating playoff runs (or whatever they could be called a few of those years!)

Good times, bad times.

Well they're all behind us - this is it - this is NOW! Today is the day that the Ottawa Senators compete in game one of the Stanley Cup Finals. Who would have thought?! Bruce Firestone, Cyril Leeder and Randy Sexton did. And after around twenty years of blood, sweat and tears, their dream is finally coming true in front of their very eyes.

Our dream.

It's tough for me to get extra excited about the fact that "we're there". Don't get me wrong, I'm ecstatic - my office is decorated with Stanley Cup series "art". Up until the end of the season prior to the "season that never was" due to the lockout, I was a season ticket holder. Up until last year, I had never missed a playoff game at the Corel Centre. The lockout then happened - I noticed that there was more to do on Thursday and Saturday nights than to head west to the greatest arena on earth. Then I had to save up money for a wedding last year. I just recently recovered from that expense.

That meant that a ticket package for this year was not a possibility for me. That means that I am one of the fans on the outside looking in right now. I've been fortunate to be able to go to one game in each of the series thus far, but no matter what angle I take, I have been unable to get tickets for the biggest round ever. Members of the media reasoned with fans calling into local radio programs that it's the team's duty of sorts to help support those who have supported it this season. I do understand that - but what about those who were there through the lean years where the Sens couldn't even muster up a season win total in the double digits? What about those who were there for the last seconds of the season before the lockout transformed the league?

I know, this is a world of "what have you done for me lately" kinds of attitudes.

So, I have decorated my apartment's front window, I have decorated my office and I have been wearing nothing but Sens jerseys I bought in the past and other Sens-themed clothing I have purchased more recently. I will keep trying Capital Tickets in the hopes that a ducat or two frees up some time before Saturday night rolls around. I will also keep trying to get a pair of tickets on eBay in spite of continued threats from Senators officials who claim to be "retracting" them. Thanks for looking out for me, guys, but if it's the only way I can get some, what am I supposed to do!?

So let's go Sens - the moment is now and it may never come back... so starting at 4:30pm this afternoon when I can bust out of the office, it's no holds barred, all Sens, all the time... and whether I can get to ScotiaBank Place or not, it's time to get caught up in this wonderful story and see where it takes us.

GO SENS GO!!!!!!!

FRUSTRATION

I set myself up at 9:23am to access the capitaltickets.ca website in order to be prepared to join the mad dash for tickets at 10:00am. Instead of accessing the intended site, I was relegated to some "please hold" web page. It promised to keep trying to get me to my destination while warning me that I am not guaranteed tickets.

As the minutes ticked by I waited for the magical screen transformation - 54 minutes later, no such luck.

Maybe the phone will work. The lines must be so overwhelmed I can't even get a busy signal - all I get is thrown back to a dial tone!!!

OK - I'm almost resigned to the fact that I won't be able to attend the game without paying $1,000 for a ticket from the pigs... I mean scalpers outside ScotiaBank Place. Well, maybe not quite - I've made a $450 bid on a pair of tickets for game 4 on eBay. Fat chance I'll get them for under $500, but I'll try.

Maybe another shot at the phone number? Nope. Dial tone boomerang. Come on web site... Even TicketMaster wasn't THAT bad in the past. I often wonder exactly how robust capitaltickets.ca really is.

Follow-up: I finally got onto capitaltickets.ca at 10:35am. Surprise - no tickets available... not one. No wonder the site became available.

Holidays can be tough on a blogger

My last post was "on the eve of game 5 of the Eastern Conference semi-final". As we know by now, the Sens beat New Jersey in that fifth game, earning them a spot in round three.

I went on holidays that day. I got back yesterday.

As we also know once again, the Ottawa Senators disposed of the Sabres in five games. In the process of doing so they managed to vanquish the ghosts of playoff seasons past. Daniel Alfredsson has proven himself to be worthy of the Conn Smythe trophy.

After years of disappointment, the Ottawa Senators are finally the fourth round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs! As of today, we are four days and change away from game one. We've never been there before. I have been on the roller coaster since day one, so I'm going to enjoy every moment of the coming weeks.

Now that I'm back I want to re-commit myself to documenting the days and weeks to come - one can never know if we'll ever be in this position again.

Who knew?!

So here we are, on the eve of game 5. The fifth game of the eastern conference semi-final. And we're one win away from putting the Devils to rest for the summer. Who knew that the Ottawa Senators would be in this position?

And such a glorious position it is.

So glorious that a seasoned veteran like Martin Brodeur resorted to sandbox tactics on Wednesday night, deflecting attention on his bad play of late by criticizing Ray Emery for his weak play. That's hard to understand, given that Emery has lost only twice this post season, compared to five losses on Brodeur's resume thus far.

But that's OK - I see mind games like this every week out on the golf course. My father gave me mental strength training over a decade or two, ensuring that I am in some sort of "mental vault" if and when an opponent attempts to psyche me out when trying to make a critical shot or sink a game-clinching putt. I wouldn't have expected it from a guy like Martin Brodeur, and I wouldn't expect it would have any effect on Ray Emery or anyone else on the Senators team.

Will we win tomorrow night? Maybe. Hopefully. It's one game at a time now, and if we stick to the program, we'll be fine. In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy the good times we're having so far in the 2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs. After all, only one team will prevail, and it will be that team's fans who get to bask in the glow of success through the summer months. I know all too well what it's like to face disappointment, so carpe diem!

GO SENS GO! Bring the series win home tomorrow night, boys!!

Sens to try and take strangle hold of New Jersey series

I remain cautiously optimistic.

Most people I know have asked me what I think about the playoffs so far. I knew after watching game one of the first series that Ottawa stood a great chance of winning the series because I had seen the Senators in their playoff infancy. Optimism was everywhere, but when push came to shove, it was too tough to overcome any given obstacle.

When it was determined that the Senators would face the New Jersey Devils, I was immediately thrown into a whirlwind of thought, not quite knowing what to think. Fortunately, it wasn't like the last time we were to face Toronto (who have failed to make the playoffs again for the second year in a row, but I digress...), where I knew it was a chance to put the Leafs in their place once and for all - but what if we lost? I didn't enjoy watching that series, because I knew that if we lost, the same emotions would come back once again. They did. I hate losing to the Leafs.

Will the Ottawa Senators manage to exorcise the Devils? A win tonight will go a long way to ensuring they do... but until the Devils are defeated once and for all, I will do nothing more than hope for the best. Anything else would be setting me up for disappointment, as Martin Brodeur and the veteran team from the Swamp can perform miracles - they have before.

At the end of the day, the Senators have been outplaying the Devils in this series. If they can keep it up, they will win. But until they do win, nothing else can be discounted - Brodeur will see to that.

It feels different this year, as compared to past ones, so who knows what might be around the corner.

GO SENS GO!!! And Scotiabank Place, watch out... tonight, I'M BACK!!!