Sens only beat Montreal because they can't seem to find offense without Radulov. Rangers Defence has looked steadily more inconsistent the last 2 years. Their offence revolves around an aging Nash, a Stepan that never really became the player people thought he would and character guys like Zuccarella who really isn't top line matterial. Karlsson has had some health comcerns but the goal tonight shows that it takes more than that to keep him from being the best defender on either team. Phaneuf isn't what he use to be and hate him if you want but he is still better than anything the Rangers are putting out on the blueline.

Then it comes down to goalies. Lundqvist is an elite goalie. Before this year I would have said top five. He was a healthy scratch for 10 games. He can still be the goalie he was. Those years aren't behind him yet and that means he can steal games but Anderson is also an elite goalie, much more underrated but he seems like the stronger of the two right now. Granted only by a slight margin. This series will be close but I don't service the Rangers getting more goals than they will give up.

That is simply not true. There were rows and rows of empty seats. All on the upper tier, but still empty. It is sad. But not surprising, since the Sens only sell out games when the Hab, Leafs or a star comes to town. Could you imagine this happening in any other Canadian city?
- BernardShakey

You are probably right but I mainly ask myself: why would someone pay 100$ for a game you can also watch with your buddies in the pub? In Holland I pay 25 euros for the semifinals of the Europa League (soccer), and this is only one of (maybe) four homegames. Ridiculous. Imo anyone who pays 100$ or more for a game has too much money to spend or is mentally ill

Sens only beat Montreal because they can't seem to find offense without Radulov. Rangers Defence has looked steadily more inconsistent the last 2 years. Their offence revolves around an aging Nash, a Stepan that never really became the player people thought he would and character guys like Zuccarella who really isn't top line matterial. Karlsson has had some health comcerns but the goal tonight shows that it takes more than that to keep him from being the best defender on either team. Phaneuf isn't what he use to be and hate him if you want but he is still better than anything the Rangers are putting out on the blueline.

Then it comes down to goalies. Lundqvist is an elite goalie. Before this year I would have said top five. He was a healthy scratch for 10 games. He can still be the goalie he was. Those years aren't behind him yet and that means he can steal games but Anderson is also an elite goalie, much more underrated but he seems like the stronger of the two right now. Granted only by a slight margin. This series will be close but I don't service the Rangers getting more goals than they will give up.
- Hall Fan

Written like the pro you are

You are probably right but I mainly ask myself: why would someone pay 100$ for a game you can also watch with your buddies in the pub? In Holland I pay 25 euros for the semifinals of the Europa League (soccer), and this is only one of (maybe) four homegames. Ridiculous. Imo anyone who pays 100$ or more for a game has too much money to spend or is mentally ill
- DutchSenators

I agree. I would never pay that much money to watch a game when you can watch it at home for free. But that is not the issue. In the rest of Canada and in most US markets, arenas are packed. Heck, in Edmonton, fans pay $50 to watch the game in the concourse. Now that is a team with real fans. Same in every other Canadian city.

If buddy wants to stress that the Sens game was in fact, sold out. Then buying and then not attending the game actually looks worse. Although, I find it hard to believe, entire rows of people all decided not to show up. Sens Army? JOKE

Sens only beat Montreal because they can't seem to find offense without Radulov. Rangers Defence has looked steadily more inconsistent the last 2 years. Their offence revolves around an aging Nash, a Stepan that never really became the player people thought he would and character guys like Zuccarella who really isn't top line matterial. Karlsson has had some health comcerns but the goal tonight shows that it takes more than that to keep him from being the best defender on either team. Phaneuf isn't what he use to be and hate him if you want but he is still better than anything the Rangers are putting out on the blueline.

Then it comes down to goalies. Lundqvist is an elite goalie. Before this year I would have said top five. He was a healthy scratch for 10 games. He can still be the goalie he was. Those years aren't behind him yet and that means he can steal games but Anderson is also an elite goalie, much more underrated but he seems like the stronger of the two right now. Granted only by a slight margin. This series will be close but I don't service the Rangers getting more goals than they will give up.
- Hall Fan

Not sure you know what elite means

I agree. I would never pay that much money to watch a game when you can watch it at home for free. But that is not the issue. In the rest of Canada and in most US markets, arenas are packed. Heck, in Edmonton, fans pay $50 to watch the game in the concourse. Now that is a team with real fans. Same in every other Canadian city.

If buddy wants to stress that the Sens game was in fact, sold out. Then buying and then not attending the game actually looks worse. Although, I find it hard to believe, entire rows of people all decided not to show up. Sens Army? JOKE
- BernardShakey

nope, like I said you were right, I was misinformed and was not sold out.

I guess it is well known that the Senators have a smaller fanbase than those other teams (quite logical since the city is smaller and they exist for a shorter period of time), but still you would expect a play off game to be sold out.

Written like the pro you are
- 21peter

With all of this fake news floating around it's refreshing to read something like that

I agree. I would never pay that much money to watch a game when you can watch it at home for free. But that is not the issue. In the rest of Canada and in most US markets, arenas are packed. Heck, in Edmonton, fans pay $50 to watch the game in the concourse. Now that is a team with real fans. Same in every other Canadian city.

If buddy wants to stress that the Sens game was in fact, sold out. Then buying and then not attending the game actually looks worse. Although, I find it hard to believe, entire rows of people all decided not to show up. Sens Army? JOKE
- BernardShakey

We have to drive 45 (frank)ing minutes to get there, that's without traffic on a week day. We pay 20 to 30$ of parking on top of that and beer is not cheap. This market is mostly government employees and our pay system is (frank)ing us in the ass right now. Plus it's a week day and not a payday. So paying 100 a tix plus 20-30 parking plus beer and food on a day you have little money to spend...it's hard to pay for a resale tickets. This will be history when they move to Breton flats downtown.

Saturday will be jampack. I have my truck packed with BBQ, cooler and beer TAILGATE party time!!!

With all of this fake news floating around it's refreshing to read something like that
- Cptmjl

We have to drive 45 (frank)ing minutes to get there, that's without traffic on a week day. We pay 20 to 30$ of parking on top of that and beer is not cheap. This market is mostly government employees and our pay system is (frank)ing us in the ass right now. Plus it's a week day and not a payday. So paying 100 a tix plus 20-30 parking plus beer and food on a day you have little money to spend...it's hard to pay for a resale tickets. This will be history when they move to Breton flats downtown.

Saturday will be jampack. I have my truck packed with BBQ, cooler and beer TAILGATE party time!!!
- SENSpatriot

Good to here Saturday's game, scheduled conveniently on Saturday will be "jampack".
It just goes to show you collectively Sens fans are baaruutall. Could you imagine Hab, Leaf, Jets, Canuck fans having a team in the 2nd round using every lame excuse in the book for not attending a playoff game? Nope. Sens Army is a J. O.K.E.

Good to here Saturday's game, scheduled conveniently on Saturday will be "jampack".
It just goes to show you collectively Sens fans are baaruutall. Could you imagine Hab, Leaf, Jets, Canuck fans having a team in the 2nd round using every lame excuse in the book for not attending a playoff game? Nope. Sens Army is a J. O.K.E.
- BernardShakey

Bud, half the city doesn't even cheer for the Sens.

In the early 90's, they plopped a hockey team in between the two biggest hockey markets in the world. They tried to steal fans from the two most storied franchises in hockey history.

It didn't work.

The Sens are going to have to grow organically.

Right now, anyone who is a diehard hockey fan in Ottawa who is over 45 is likely not a Sens fan. Anyone over that age was a fan of another team before Ottawa came to town and they weren't going to switch. The Sens were left picking up the scraps (fair weather fans) and marketing to kids.

Everyone in Ottawa who are in their prime money making years are either:
1. Fans of other teams
2. Not hockey fans
3. Fairweather Sens fans (the types who complain about driving or weather or prices).

The only true fanbase the Sens have are people under 40 and unfortunately, people that age don't have money to spend on going to multiple playoff games.

I was there last night, and I went to round 1. I am done. I'm tapped financially on Sens games for now. Those two games cost me almost a grand, combined for me and my wife. It's tough as a 35 yr old with a young family to afford to go to a bunch of these games.

Good to here Saturday's game, scheduled conveniently on Saturday will be "jampack".
It just goes to show you collectively Sens fans are baaruutall. Could you imagine Hab, Leaf, Jets, Canuck fans having a team in the 2nd round using every lame excuse in the book for not attending a playoff game? Nope. Sens Army is a J. O.K.E.
- BernardShakey

All those markets you mentioned have their arenas in the centre of their city, have easy public transit access to the venue, and have a ton of corporate support with free giveaways to help fill the building.

The venue is a huge problem here. Would Canucks fans go to the edge of Surrey to watch a game knowing it would take an hour and a half to get home? Would Leafs fans if the arena was in the north end of Newmarket? Would they sell out their games if they had hundreds of thousands of employees in those cities not being paid by their employer and relying on lines of credit? Detroit went through similar situation when the auto sector crashed, no one said anything then when the Red Wings couldn't fill the Joe.

Notice that none of this has been an issue in Ottawa in the past. Prior to this season, when was the last time you heard of Ottawa not selling out a playoff game? Prior to this season it's never happened before.

Compare apples to apples before you spout off on the passion of a fanbase.

We have to drive 45 (frank)ing minutes to get there, that's without traffic on a week day. We pay 20 to 30$ of parking on top of that and beer is not cheap. This market is mostly government employees and our pay system is (frank)ing us in the ass right now. Plus it's a week day and not a payday. So paying 100 a tix plus 20-30 parking plus beer and food on a day you have little money to spend...it's hard to pay for a resale tickets. This will be history when they move to Breton flats downtown.

Saturday will be jampack. I have my truck packed with BBQ, cooler and beer TAILGATE party time!!!
- SENSpatriot

Hi there,
What colour is your truck?
Is the end gate locked?

The Canadian Tire Center is in a terrible spot. Traffic is horrible and the area surrounding area is very lame as it is basically all car dealerships and grassy fields. That said, the marketing and sales departments need a wake up call. If the city isn't hyped with this team and it's superstar captain, there is something seriously wrong with the promotion machine. I've seen this city go absolutely nuts in the past and I'm hoping this is just the calm before the storm.

Truth is most people think this team can win it all and are saving their money for the next two rounds.

If I was a betting man I'd say Rangers in 6.... but I think it's going to game 7. I'll take the Sens.
- AlfieisKing

`
make sens...

It was sold out. Empty seats doesn't mean that the tickets weren't sold. But yeah, thinking must be very hard for you.
- DutchSenators

ya no just no...pitifull fans

Sens in 7 games which will have a total 10 goals scored in the series and go down as one of the most boring series in the history of the NHL.
- Rinosaur

LOL I'm ok with that...but, if you actually watched last game, you'd noticed it was still a good game to watch. Good offensive plays on both ends and good D. Those are the two things you need to win in playoffs.

Good to see Ontario's team moving on. Still I pick the Rangers in six.
- justsaying

Hopefully Team Ontario can sell out game 2....

We have to drive 45 (frank)ing minutes to get there, that's without traffic on a week day. We pay 20 to 30$ of parking on top of that and beer is not cheap. This market is mostly government employees and our pay system is (frank)ing us in the ass right now. Plus it's a week day and not a payday. So paying 100 a tix plus 20-30 parking plus beer and food on a day you have little money to spend...it's hard to pay for a resale tickets. This will be history when they move to Breton flats downtown.

Saturday will be jampack. I have my truck packed with BBQ, cooler and beer TAILGATE party time!!!
- SENSpatriot

Dude. It's game one of the second round of the NHL playoffs and there were 2000 empty seats. Not sure how the cost of tickets on the resale market affects that...give 'em away to a couple schools, or charity, or to all these poor bureaucrats you referenced. Not selling out a playoff game is an embarrassment.

All those markets you mentioned have their arenas in the centre of their city, have easy public transit access to the venue, and have a ton of corporate support with free giveaways to help fill the building.

The venue is a huge problem here. Would Canucks fans go to the edge of Surrey to watch a game knowing it would take an hour and a half to get home? Would Leafs fans if the arena was in the north end of Newmarket? Would they sell out their games if they had hundreds of thousands of employees in those cities not being paid by their employer and relying on lines of credit? Detroit went through similar situation when the auto sector crashed, no one said anything then when the Red Wings couldn't fill the Joe.

Notice that none of this has been an issue in Ottawa in the past. Prior to this season, when was the last time you heard of Ottawa not selling out a playoff game? Prior to this season it's never happened before.

Compare apples to apples before you spout off on the passion of a fanbase.
- ahjnkn

Dart Guy drove from Waterloo to Washington. Yes.

We're not talking about a Tuesday game in October. Game 1. Round 2.

Has anyone noticed that you can still put your ICQ number in your profile? When was the last time Hockeybuzz had a significant design update?