THRILLING VICTORY TAKES PLACE IN FRONT OF MANY EMPTY SEATS
The whole country has to be shaking its head at this embarrassing display
Hundreds of empty seats stood out like very sore thumbs at the top of the upper bowls at Canadian Tire Centre on Thursday night, a fact that is sad, disgraceful and embarrassing for both Ottawa and the Senators organization.
It also likely led to very sore thumbs for arena employees who, eight minutes after the opening faceoff, were ordered to walk around picking up all the extra souvenir wave towels. Make sure nobody gets two, right? Save them for Saturday.
Seriously, what’s going on here people?
How is it possible that the first game of Round 2 was not sold out? Did we forget to mention only eight teams remain in the hunt for the coveted Stanley Cup? Or did you believe coach Guy Boucher’s proclamation from a day earlier about the Senators not having a chance against the mighty New York Rangers.
He didn’t mean that, by the way. It’s called head games.
Those high up seats were being sold for $100, which doesn’t seem like too much to ask. Rangers fans are probably piling in cars right now to cash in on a deal for Game 2.
Is it the parking thing? I could see that. When you raise your ticket prices for playoff games, it’s because the product you’re selling has improved and the stakes are higher.
But demanding 10 more bucks for folks to park their car is ridiculous. It’s still the same old lots. No wash has been included.
Another excuse being floated at the Postmedia end of the press box: too many games scheduled in April.
The Senators are supposed to be vying with the Edmonton Oilers to become Canada’s Team right now, but the whole country has to be shaking its head in disgust at all the unused seats at CTC for the start of the Eastern Conference semifinal.
Hockey Country is not supposed to be so wasteful.
STARTS AND STOPS: And on the ninth day, God apparently created Henrik Lundqvist. At least it sure looked that way until Ryan Dzingel finally beat the Rangers superstar goalie late in the second period with the Senators 33rd shot ... You had a feeling what kind of a night it was going to be when Lundqvist robbed Mike Hoffman and Mark Stone before the five minute mark. After stopping all 21 shots he faced in the first period, The King had to be polishing his crown during the intermission, knowing he was in the heads of his opponents ... The fleet footed Michael Grabner could have had two goals in the first period, even though he still had no shots on goal by the intermission. His initial chance was a quick shot from the left wing circle that beat Craig Anderson glove side but hit the post. His second was on a short-handed breakaway, when he shot wide ... Grabner’s speed led to the Rangers second period goal, as Cody Ceci had to haul him down after he’d been beaten. Ryan McDonagh scored with Ceci in the box ... What you don’t see at the rink — a quality replay. If Chris Kreider didn’t deflect the McDonagh shot, something else must have made the puck change directions. Otherwise, it was a bad goal on Anderson.
CHECK THIS OUT: Really, is there anything Erik Karlsson does that surprises you anymore? His winning goal from the right wing corner boards had to be on a perfectly placed shot ... The Senators starting six defenceman had a combined 116 games of playoff experience heading into the night. Meanwhile, the Rangers top pairing of Ryan McDonagh and Dan Girardi had 206, while the Blueshirts entire blue line had 360. Thrown in Lundqvist as the last line of defence, and it’s tough to imagine Ottawa scoring many goals this series ... At 35, Lundqvist’s hands are still as quick as ever. Either that or Dzingel shot it right into the goalie’s trapper on a third period break. THINGS I THINK I THUNK: Dzingel picked a fine time to play the best game of his young career ... Remember when Chris Kreider ran into Craig Anderson on Feb. 21, 2013, knocking the Senators out of the lineup until April 7 with a sore ankle? The Senators need a Chris Kreider ... Could someone please put a moratorium on mayors making stupid bets regarding the outcome of a playoff series. Who gives a crap if Jim Watson has to walk around in a Rangers jersey? The idea of putting Clarke MacArthur-Derick Brassard-Bobby Ryan together was born in the summer. Now it is the Senators best line ... Anderson had them on their feet with a glove save off Brendan Smith with six minutes left in the third ... Is it just me, or has there been way too many too-many-men-on-the-ice penalties in these playoffs?
DID YOU SEE THAT?: When MacArthur tested Lundqvist early in the third, it left Ben Harpur as the only Senator without a shot on goal ... Tommy Wingels turned in a solid game for the Senators ... Another gem from Lundqvist was the breakaway stop he made off Viktor Stalberg in the second period ... Anderson may look calm and cool in post game interviews, but was the puck was knocked out of the Senators zone with time ticking away to the final buzzer, you could see him literally jumping up and down with excitement. Indeed, it was a big in a game that for the longest time, looked to be headed for a different outcome.