My last post documented the rise of the first generation of Ottawa Senators fans and how, despite the traditional grip on the National Capital by the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadians, fans of the Ottawa Senators are finally being heard. We are like the little brother who everyone has ignored until now. It has taken close to twenty years for us to rock ScotiaBank Place on a nightly basis, but at least now, it’s a building that we can call our own. With that thought in mind, it only makes sense then, that I write about something similar. This time– let’s talk about the worldwide spread of Sens Army.
I did some reading on HFBoards and discovered a thread where a poster by the name SensItComing asked for the location of Sens Fans around the world. It’s a cool idea and one I thought I’d explore a little more. The problem with his idea was that most people spelt out where they lived. Since no one really wants to read about where you live. Another poster, this time by the name of ROMANS12_12 created a Fan Map where people could post the general location of where they lived. Now we’re talking! I just want to thank them for the idea. I think its a great one.
I can focus on what the Ottawa Senators need to do to win game 3 and 4. I can break down all the little things, and all the big things, that Paul MacLean and his staff need to address: power play, penalty kill and discipline. The list goes on and on. I can also talk about how Karlsson has been underwhelming or how Jean-Gabriel Pageau is now a hero, how Cowen is constantly getting beat or how Anderson needs to steal a game. But instead of doing that, I’ll let other bloggers and analyst do it and concentrate on something that everyone in the Ottawa Valley seems to have forgotten– us. The fans.
Who needs a number one centre anyway? The Ottawa Senators don’t. At least not yet. For a team without its best offensive weapon, the Sens have done remarkably well. The rookies have really stepped up their game thus far– they have either scored the game tying or game winning goals in all four of the Sens wins over the Habs. Now that Round One is over, the task is about to get a little harder for the Cardiac Kids, but don’t worry, we might just see the return of Mr. Giggles
War of the words. You have to love them at this time of year. It’s all part of what we like to call playoff hockey. Attacks are personal and comments are serious. Fans and players alike will go to great length to gain a physiological advantage. Anything to throw the opponent off their game. After being insulted by the fact that Coach MacLean of the Ottawa Senators refereed to Diaz, the Habs defencemen who made the suicide pass to Lars Eller, by his number, Brandon Prust went on to call the man Sens fans call Paulrus, a bug-eyed fat walrus. When Sens fan use Paulrus, we attach endearment to it. When Prust used it, it was meant as an insult.
Brendan Shanahan’s decision to suspend Eric Gryba for two games is certainly interesting. What do I think of it? Well first off, let me say that I hope this injury will not affect Eller in anyway down the road and that he makes a quick and full recovery. As passionate as I am about winning and competing for Lord Stanley, it’s not easy to see players get hurt. Having that said, it’s a shame that Gryba was suspended. I simply don’t agree with the league decision.
