From: simpson@bnr.ca (Scott Simpson)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.hockey
Subject: SENATORS NEWS: Bunch-O-Schtuff from Game 1
Date: 9 Oct 92 17:18:09 GMT
Organization: Bell-Northern Research, Ottawa, Canada

Whew!

First off, I'll just say that I got my tickets for the game a couple
of weeks ago, thanks to a guy at BNR who foolishly planned his
honeymoon for this week (the man should get his priorities straight,
I figure :-)).  Anyway, I bought the pair for $140, knowing full well
you can't get a bad seat at the Civic Centre.  

Well, on our way in, there were scads (yes, actual scads) of people 
asking for tickets.  Some had signs "TWO TICKETS WANTED", etc., others 
shouting "I'll give anyone $300 for a pair of tickets *anywhere*".  The
largest offer I heard was $200 for a single seat.

Yeesh.  

Anyway, so we get inside, and everyone in attendance got a cheesy 
certificate saying they were *there* opening night (the certificates,
by the way, are not unlike the ones you get for passing Pedal Pushers
bicycle school, or for being a participant in a spelling bee).  Yes,
they are that impressive.  Plus everyone got a souvenier coin encased
in clear plastic to comemmerate the event.  This would be kinda nifty, 
but on one side there's the Senators' logo and on the other is a Coca Cola
logo.  But, hey, it was free.  [I only bring this up, 'cuz I know when
San Jose had their first game, they got groovy, dare I say "classy"
lapel pins (Thanks Nancy!).]

Geez, perhaps we should get shirts made up saying "Bruce Firestone and 
the NHL threw a big party in Ottawa and all I got was this lousy tin coin".  

But, then I would sound ungrateful and bitter (which I'm not-- really!).

Anyway, so the whole schmoo got under way and the skaters came on and
the light show started and Brian Orser did a back-flip and everyone was
happy and skippy and wonderful (and waiting for the hockey to start...)

Then, the Stanley Cup banners were raised for the 1903-5,09,11,20,21,23 
and 27 seasons, along with retiring Frank Finnigan's #8 [and yes, Tom,
I agree with you 100% that these were the cups of a different team, but 
since that's how the team looks at it, that's the way it has to be, I 
guess].

So, the game got under way, the first line being Turgeon-Brady-Hull with
Shaw and Hammond on defence.  It should be noted that Brad Marsh didn't
play in the first game (he was scratched in favour of Norm MacIver), and
was notably (and understandably) upset by the move.  Also not dressed were
Mark Freer, Lonnie Loach, Brad Miller, Rob Murphy and Jim Thomson.

So, after a couple of minutes and a couple of penalties, the Sens were
two men short and generally looking jittery.  The penalty killing unit
looked solid, though (as they did through the whole game killing all 6
Montreal power play chances).  Each team settled down a bit for a few 
minutes, and then Ottawa simply outplayed the Habs for the next two periods.
No, really.  They were taking the body, following up their checks and
generally playing like *real* NHL'ers (as, of course, they should).

The one player that impressed me most in the game was Darcy Loewen, who was
taking his 5'10" 185lb body and throwing it everywhere.  Reminded me alot
of Mike Millar from the Leafs a couple of years back (does anyone know what
ever happened to him???).  Anyway, Ottawa didn't get a shot on goal until
13:05 of the first, but then we got 12 more before the period ended.  All
in all, they looked pretty good over the first twenty minutes.

The second period was *all* Ottawa, though.  Scoring three times on another
13 shots.  So, the first goal in modern Senators history was scored by none
other than Neil Brady (who also scored the first goal in the pre-season).
Actually, this goal was almost a carbon copy of his pre-seasoner against
Hartford.  MacIver on the right side slides one over to Hull who passes one
over to Brady parked in front of the yawning cage.  Ottawa's second goal,
however, was the prettiest of the night as Doug Smail rushes down the left 
side and snaps one past Roy, up in the top shelf where Mom keeps the peanut 
butter.  Montreal got one back as a Mike Keane shot (that likely would have
been wide) deflected off of Mark Osiecki past a surprised Peter Sidorkiewicz.
Ken Hammond got that one back a couple of minutes later with a nifty wrist
shot from the left side that found its way through traffic.  

So, all in all, after two periods the home team looked quite impressive, 
actually.  Which was a good thing, 'cuz the team looked pretty lame in the
third.  It started out badly as Brad Shaw suffered a concussion after hitting
the boards and the ice with his head (I should've known, of course, that this
would happen.  You see, I took Brad Shaw in the Usenet draft and that, of 
course, is the kiss of death for a player.  I'm *really* sorry, Brad...)
Montreal scored early to make it 3-2, and the home boys were looking human.

Anyway, we were outshot 10-5 in the third thanks, in some part, to Kerry
Fraser's wonderful world of random penalties (no, I can't believe I'm blaming
anything on the ref, either, but the man called a positively *brutal* game
(mostly in the first period, however)).  Anyway, Ken Hammond picks up seven
minutes for kneeing and head-butting.  Not that he didn't deserve both, but
there should've been a coincidental kneeing minor to Montreal, at least (but
maybe that's just me being bitter again...).  So, after a rather deafening 
rendition of the oh-so-popular "Fraser Sucks" chant, wouldn't you know it, but
three seconds later, Denis Savard gets called for holding the stick, an 
infraction wholse sole purpose seems to be equalisation, in my book.  Judging
by the boos, the crowd went unappeased...

So, we killed off the seven minutes (thanks to the two seperate Montreal 
penalties called during their power play), and a standing O ensued.  Turgeon 
restored the two goal lead on the power play with just over two minutes to play 
and everything appeared hunky-dory (how *do* you spell that???).  However, 
Montreal pulled Roy with a minute-and-a-half left and scored with 30 seconds
left in the game to make it 4-3.  After one brief spurt in our end, Smail
got an empty netter to ice it and the place was nuts.

Overall, the Senators played a great game.  I'm sure alot of it had to do with
it being opening night (Demers tried to pump up his team by saying this was
"A Stanley Cup game for the Senators").  Hopefully, they can play this solid a
game all year.  With the exception of some unneccessary penalties, the team 
gets an A+.

Indeed, the best part about playing alot for being there opening night was that
we were treated to a great game as well.

And, just to remain bitter, I'll note that the P.A. system in the Civic Centre
is horrid, they played "Rock And Roll (Part II)" and there were three "waves"
on the night.

Sigh...


Sill refusing to do "The Wave",
Me
----------------->  rec.sport.hockey Ottawa Senators Contact <------------------
- Scott "Stop Calling Me Bart" Simpson | "Hmmm... [chocolate | barbequeue |    -
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--->  In case it's not obvious, BNR and I may or may not share these views. <---
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