Say what you will about officiating, it is hard to remain unbiased, and people almost always find a way to think their team gets the short end of the stick. But as they say, it evens out in the end.

Through 6 games - each team has had 18 power play opportunities. Ottawa has spent 31:31 with the man advantage and Pittsburgh has been on the power play for 30:55.

If you ask a Sens fan, they can point out Pens infractions that were let go, and vice versa.

It is a big deal that some games haven't sold out.

Specially after Melly names ottawa "Canada"s team"

Its game 6 of ECF....it better loud and crazy...that's a giving.
- Fakepartofme

Meh, I think there is a major misconception concerning the Ottawa senators and their fan base. For starters, the franchize is smack dab in the middle of the two most storied franchises in the NHL, one less than two hours from Ottawa. In other words, the Sens fan base has to compete against two significantly larger fan bases. Secondly, it is the only rink out of all the Canadian teams to be located outside the downtown core. Thirdly, there isn't the level of corporate support other Canadian or American teams have. Ottawa's biggest employer, the federal government, can't even buy tickets for their employees. Compared to other NHL cities in Canada, save Winnipeg, Ottawa is also significantly disadvantaged in terms of its population, being only 900,000 with a few hundred thousand more living on the otherside of the river in Quebec.

Where am I ging with all of this? Well, a smaller rink size would probably be a good start. I mean really, Maple Leaf Gardens only ever held 16,000 and it served a much bigger population. Look at Nashville, their rink only seats 17,100 and in incredibly loud; the same goes for Winnipeg, with a rink capacity of only 15,300. Considering Ottawa's unique situation in terms of its fan base demographics, as mentiond above, a smaller rink located downtown would probably go a long way if you ask me... There is no need to for rink that can hold 18,500; make it for 17,000-17,500 and add standing room if need be...

Meh, I think there is a major misconception concerning the Ottawa senators and their fan base. For starters, the franchize is smack dab in the middle of the two most storied franchises in the NHL, one less than two hours from Ottawa. In other words, the Sens fan base has to compete against two significantly larger fan bases. Secondly, it is the only rink out of all the Canadian teams to be located outside the downtown core. Thirdly, there isn't the level of corporate support other Canadian or American teams have. Ottawa's biggest employer, the federal government, can't even buy tickets for their employees. Compared to other NHL cities in Canada, save Winnipeg, Ottawa is also significantly disadvantaged in terms of its population, being only 900,000 with a few hundred thousand more living on the otherside of the river in Quebec.

Where am I ging with all of this? Well, a smaller rink size would probably be a good start. I mean really, Maple Leaf Gardens only ever held 16,000 and it served a much bigger population. Look at Nashville, their rink only seats 17,100 and in incredibly loud; the same goes for Winnipeg, with a rink capacity of only 15,300. Considering Ottawa's unique situation in terms of its fan base demographics, as mentiond above, a smaller rink located downtown would probably go a long way if you ask me... There is no need to for rink that can hold 18,500; make it for 17,000-17,500 and add standing room if need be...
- krockcfd

What? Eugene is that you?

Stop with the talk about officials. It was a really hard game to officiate with both teams playing on the edge and if both fan bases are complaining about the referees it probably means they got it right.

The goalie interference review was easy to go either way. The puck is in the crease when contact with Anderson is made.
- dragonoffrost

What does that have to do with anything? You can't have contact or push the goalie in the net no matter if the puck is in the crease or not!

They'll be up against it in a sea of yellow, so they need to do as much damage as possible. Last chance so just let it all hang out - hit, slash or cross-check anything that moves. Dish out same as you get.


- sgoodwin

Yeah this is exactly it, except they need to give out worse than they get. Each time Ottawa does this, they have won.

With the playoff refereeing, which seems even worse this year, this is exactly the tack they should take. just go out and do whatever you can to injure anyone on the other team. You probably won't even get a penalty, and if you do it will be worth it anyway. Push the rules as far as the refs will let you. Why not?

I guess I have to change my prediction.... Sens in 7, not 6
- SensnRBs

You didn't realize that before last night?

Still close to a thousand seats left for the game tomorrow in Pittsburgh, in one of the smallest arenas in the league (17K).

OMG!!!! What terrible fans!

Move them to Moose Jaw!

Bah, just doesn't work as well when the team isn't sandwiched between the two most jealous fan bases in the league.

Say what you will about officiating, it is hard to remain unbiased, and people almost always find a way to think their team gets the short end of the stick. But as they say, it evens out in the end.

Through 6 games - each team has had 18 power play opportunities. Ottawa has spent 31:31 with the man advantage and Pittsburgh has been on the power play for 30:55.

If you ask a Sens fan, they can point out Pens infractions that were let go, and vice versa.
- JaredCrozier

Yes, except two things.

Which team benefits by the refs letting everything go? Take an honest shot at that one.

Also, the question isn't really whether or not it evens out, it is that, theoretically some of the best players in the world are playing, and the NHL lets the 4th liners maul them all game unpenalized.

Ottawa needs to push the boundaries in game 7.

They pushed the goalie into the net. That's not allowed in hockey
- nohtingbutnet

When you are hit by a defender it absolutely is.

Still close to a thousand seats left for the game tomorrow in Pittsburgh, in one of the smallest arenas in the league (17K).

OMG!!!! What terrible fans!

Move them to Moose Jaw!

Bah, just doesn't work as well when the team isn't sandwiched between the two most jealous fan bases in the league.
- Charliebox

Where do you guys get this stuff?

There is no way in hell I would trade your position now, your team, your prospects, your coaches and management and your ownership for Toronto's. It isn't even close.

Your window is now, so be it. If you win, enjoy it

Where do you guys get this stuff?

There is no way in hell I would trade your position now, your team, your prospects, your coaches and management and your ownership for Toronto's. It isn't even close.

Your window is now, so be it. If you win, enjoy it
- Aetherial

I am not saying you, specifically. I'm saying the only reason it's such a 'story' about the tickets in Ottawa is because Ottawa is sandwiched between the two biggest, and most jealous, fan bases in the league.

Who trolls the Sens fan base? Leaf and Habs fans.

Who trolls the Pens fan base? MAYBE a couple flyers fans and Rangers fans here or there. Most of them are beyond worrying about hockey and are onto something else.

I am not saying you, specifically. I'm saying the only reason it's such a 'story' about the tickets in Ottawa is because Ottawa is sandwiched between the two biggest, and most jealous, fan bases in the league.

Who trolls the Sens fan base? Leaf and Habs fans.

Who trolls the Pens fan base? MAYBE a couple flyers fans and Rangers fans here or there. Most of them are beyond worrying about hockey and are onto something else.
- Charliebox

That one is tough for me.

On one hand, it is kind of unheard of in this country to not sell out an NHL playoff game and I can't think of another NHL city where that would happen.

On the other hand, I like that it is eye-opening. I am not a big fan of Canadian hockey culture. Some people have noted that as time goes on, we may become less and less obsessed with hockey just from demographics. The U.S. may experience the same with football.

Maybe it is simply that there aren't enough Ottawa fans who are interested in that expensive, frustrating experience. Clearly something is "wrong", in terms of what we are used to but I think it is a bigger issue than "bad Ottawa fans".

That one is tough for me.

On one hand, it is kind of unheard of in this country to not sell out an NHL playoff game and I can't think of another NHL city where that would happen.

On the other hand, I like that it is eye-opening. I am not a big fan of Canadian hockey culture. Some people have noted that as time goes on, we may become less and less obsessed with hockey just from demographics. The U.S. may experience the same with football.

Maybe it is simply that there aren't enough Ottawa fans who are interested in that expensive, frustrating experience. Clearly something is "wrong", in terms of what we are used to but I think it is a bigger issue than "bad Ottawa fans".
- Aetherial

As I said before.....there are only a couple hundred tickets that weren't sold......people act like we have florida/Arizona level attendance issues.

Second, there are lots of reasons there have been attendance problems this year.....least of which are:

Severe issues with the federal government pay system......tens of thousands of fed gvt employees underpaid or not paid at all..... with no end on sight.

A fan base that is sick of lining the pockets of a penny pinching lunatic who doesn't give 2 (frank)s about the fans or the team beyond how much money it makes him

A very inconvenient rink......unless you live in Kanata it's minimum of a 2-3 hour return trip to go to a hockey game.

The fact that ottawa is a government town means they don't have nearly the same level of corporate season ticket sales as basically every other team in the league. Corporate season tix account for at least half, if not more, of the season tickets sold for most teams.

There are other reasons, those are just the main ones......and despite that ottawa is still selling more than 99% of the tickets.

What? Eugene is that you?
- geta02it

Weird...!

I am not saying you, specifically. I'm saying the only reason it's such a 'story' about the tickets in Ottawa is because Ottawa is sandwiched between the two biggest, and most jealous, fan bases in the league.

Who trolls the Sens fan base? Leaf and Habs fans.

Who trolls the Pens fan base? MAYBE a couple flyers fans and Rangers fans here or there. Most of them are beyond worrying about hockey and are onto something else.
- Charliebox

Umm, the Pens are one of the most hated franchises because of Crosby and their success. We get the "Betman wants the Pens to win", "refs favor the Pens", "Crosby is a baby" from all fanbases, when all of that is complete garbage.

Umm, the Pens are one of the most hated franchises because of Crosby and their success. We get the "Betman wants the Pens to win", "refs favor the Pens", "Crosby is a baby" from all fanbases, when all of that is complete garbage.
- cap1681

Pretty sure your fanbase of entitled crybabies has a lot to do with that hate......not all of you, but certainly a disproprortionate amount compared to other teams.

Pretty sure your fanbase of entitled crybabies has a lot to do with that hate......not all of you, but certainly a disproprortionate amount compared to other teams.
- haywoodjablome

Because the Pens are the only fanbase that has a group of a$$hole fans......it's the same with every team.

Because the Pens are the only fanbase that has a group of a$$hole fans......it's the same with every team.
- cap1681

I know that.....i said you have a disproprortionate amount, atleast on this website. And given your teams recent success those ass hats are much louder and more arrogant than the other teams ass hats

People do t hate the pens because of their success......otherwise why wouldn't the hawks or kings get the same level of hatred? They hate the pens because of their fans.

People on this site are pretty dumb talking about attendance issues in Ottawa. Anyone who has been following the news knows that the Federal government's new payroll system is crap with a majority of their staffers not being paid for months. Ottawa is the capital of Canada and home to the federal civil service. I have heard that there are 200,000 federal employees living in Ottawa. It's hard to buy tickets to the games when no pay is coming in.

People on this site are pretty dumb talking about attendance issues in Ottawa. Anyone who has been following the news knows that the Federal government's new payroll system is crap with a majority of their staffers not being paid for months. Ottawa is the capital of Canada and home to the federal civil service. I have heard that there are 200,000 federal employees living in Ottawa. It's hard to buy tickets to the games when no pay is coming in.
- TheUltimateJet

i think there is only about 80,000, with about 20-25% of them experiencing severe pay issues......so like 20,000 people with pay issues. doesn't explain the low ticket sales all by itself but is certainly an important factor. it's not like ottawa had 4000-5000 empty seats a game.....were talking a few hundred to maybe a couple thousand max.........so if even 10% of those gvt employees were sens fans buying tickets, there is half of your attendance problem right there.

I know that.....i said you have a disproprortionate amount, atleast on this website. And given your teams recent success those ass hats are much louder and more arrogant than the other teams ass hats

People do t hate the pens because of their success......otherwise why wouldn't the hawks or kings get the same level of hatred? They hate the pens because of their fans.
- haywoodjablome

Exactly. It's not disproportionate, it's more that they are louder than the other teams a-holes because of the success. But as a Pens fan, it's seems like we have to defend our fandom more than most groups because of the garbage trolls like to spew like the Crosby draft lottery was rigged, or that reffing favors the Pens, or the whole "you almost moved to Kansas City" trash.

Exactly. It's not disproportionate, it's more that they are louder than the other teams a-holes because of the success. But as a Pens fan, it's seems like we have to defend our fandom more than most groups because of the garbage trolls like to spew like the Crosby draft lottery was rigged, or that reffing favors the Pens, or the whole "you almost moved to Kansas City" trash.
- cap1681

i could have gotten behind that except that you guys complain about the refs being against you far more than people say the refs favour you.......hell, your blogger basically just did an entire blog about the refs not treating the pens fairly.

you guys bring it on yourselves.

Exactly. It's not disproportionate, it's more that they are louder than the other teams a-holes because of the success. But as a Pens fan, it's seems like we have to defend our fandom more than most groups because of the garbage trolls like to spew like the Crosby draft lottery was rigged, or that reffing favors the Pens, or the whole "you almost moved to Kansas City" trash.
- cap1681

so you don't have more bumholes, you just have bigger bumholes? not sure that's much better

Pretty sure your fanbase of entitled crybabies has a lot to do with that hate......not all of you, but certainly a disproprortionate amount compared to other teams.
- haywoodjablome