Senators, fans await word on rest of season
LOS ANGELES Wednesday’s late game between the Ottawa Senators and Los Angeles Kings could very well have been the last NHL game played in front of fans for the considerable future.
Late Wednesday, the NBA announced the suspension of the remainder of the regular season after a player tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Earlier Wednesday, the NCAA announced its annual March Madness basketball tournament would be played in front of empty seats due to concerns about the spread of coronavirus.
The Columbus Blue Jackets issued a statement saying the club’s remaining regular season home games — including a Thursday contest against the Pittsburgh Penguins — would be played in front of club personnel, media and essential arena staff only. The San Jose Sharks followed up with a statement of their own, saying all events at SAP arena until April 1 would be closed to the public. That includes games against Montreal, Boston and Arizona.
There is no immediate word on the status of the Senators’ remaining home games. The next game is next Wednesday against the Edmonton Oilers. Senators owner Eugene Melnyk issued a statement on the club’s website, outlining enhanced safety measures at Canadian Tire Centre.
“During the emergence of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and this time of uncertainty, we want you to know we are monitoring the situation closely and are working with our various event partners, with Ottawa Public Health and the NHL with your well being as our highest priority,” the statement read. “Nothing is more important to us than our fans and the Ottawa community.”
As for the immediate future, D.J. Smith says the team is following the medical advice they receive.
“We’re going to listen to the people who know what they’re talking about,” Senators coach D.J. Smith said before the game against the Kings. “And we’ll do exactly what they tell us to do.”
Smith says it’s “unfortunate” but he understands that health and safety is the priority.
“We don’t want it to come to that, certainly. Players love playing in front of the fans. Everyone loves playing in front of the fans. But if it’s for the safety of the players and the people (watching), we’ll do what they tell us to do.”
If and when NHL games are played without spectators, it will be intriguing to see if players can create the same energy and enthusiasm as they normally deliver.
“You just go back to the way you played when you were seven or eight years old in front of 15 people or 30 people,” Smith said. “It’s unfortunate if it does happen, but at the same time, guys will still play hard and do what they have to do.”
HOGBERG JUST MAKES IT BACK FROM SWEDEN: Given the sweeping announcement by the U.S. government Wednesday night that all travel from Europe will be suspended for 30 days, Senators goaltender Marcus Hogberg barely made it back from Sweden. Hogberg, who had been in Sweden for undisclosed personal reasons, rejoined the Senators in Anaheim on Sunday and played in Tuesday’s 5-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks. HUMBLE HERO: Anaheim Ducks winger Nicolas Deslauriers was as shocked as any one that he scored a hat trick against the Senators late Tuesday. “I don’t think even when I was a younger kid, I scored more than one or two goals (in a game),” he told Anaheim reporters. “I’m not a guy that takes credit for anything. You can look at the goals. Two great passes from (Carter) Rowney and a lucky bounce.”