I know I make fun of the Ottawa Senators a lot (with good reason). But I thought I would start the NHL season off this year with an olive branch to Sens fans.
They did go to the finals two years ago. They do have a great first line. They have made an effort to get rid of some of the problems they had last year.
It’s not right to hate on a team so much. So with that being said, here were my top five favourite Ottawa Senators moments of the 2007-2008 season.
5) Chris Neil takes on Donald Brashear in a game on Dec. 29, 2007.
Good for Chris Neil to stand up to Brashear. The pounding he took was only slightly less hurtful than the pounding the Sens took in an 8-6 loss.
You can also point to this game as the team’s turnaround from Stanley Cup contenders to a team that choked the rest of the season. This loss was only they team’s second regulation loss in December, but it went downhill from there.
But good on Neil for trying to fight the good fight.
4) Gary Roberts takes on the entire Sens roster (about 7:30 into the video).
Game 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Ottawa is down 4-0 on the score sheet with about 30 seconds left. Gary Roberts has already scored two goals, when the Senators decide to challenge Roberts to a fight. Well, all those who were on the ice, anyways. Roberts didn’t back down, waiting for each one to come at him, although none did not.
Good on the Sens for trying to change their playoff fortune by yapping at a 42-year-old near the end of a winless game.
3) We’re coming back!
The Sens are down 2-0 halfway through the third period against the always great Montreal Canadiens. That’s when a Sens fan decides to cheer his team on with his prediction of a Sens comeback. Montreal scores three seconds later, and go on to a 3-0 win, and clinch the division title.
Good on the fans though, for never giving up and always supporting your team, even if it makes you sound silly.
2) Another comeback
Montreal took a 7-1 lead after two periods, and took the third period off. Ottawa came back to make it 7-5. Good on them for finally showing up for the period Montreal took off. Most teams would have licked their wounds and waited for another night. But not the Sens. They decided to make a lopsided loss look more like a decent loss. Good for them.
1) Meet the Spartan
Good for Ottawa to try and get fans engaged in the playoffs, even though they didn’t show up for the first two games in Pittsburgh and were down 2-0 in the series. Glad to see them try to get the fans going, even though most fans were, 1) confused, and 2) decidedly more calm after the introductions. Nothing says Ottawa Senators more than something screwing up.
So there’s my olive branch, Sens fans. I hope you accept it. It would be better if we were friends. I would hate for us to be bitter with one another when the Habs are hoisiting the Stanley Cup in June. We might even let you hold it, but just for a minute.
