Ottawa is buzzing with playoff energy as the Senators prepare for Game 2 in their first-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Following a 6-2 loss in Game 1, fans across the capital are rallying in red, hoping for a bounce-back win in the Battle of Ontario.
Superfan Mike Price has turned the lower level of his home into a full-on ‘Sens Den’, where everything from team memorabilia, like signed jerseys, to game stats are part of the experience. And with advanced technology set up, when the Sens light the lamp, his do the same.
“No Leafs fans around us here; they’re not welcome,” says Price with a smile, pointing to his custom setup that tracks shots and goals during the game. “Growing up it was just a passion that got me through the winters and then bought my first seasons, went with my wife, and just became an avid, massive fan and just absolutely love the team.”
All things Senators live in Price’s home—except, of course, any blue and white, which appears to be a common theme across the city, as fans get into the playoff spirit. Even casual fans are getting swept up in the action.
“I’m watching it and everybody’s playing extremely fast and extremely well,” says Gordon Lee. “There’s some crazy good shots too. This is what hockey is all about.”
Bars and restaurants are also feeling the playoff buzz. At Buster’s Bar & Grill in Kanata, it’s standing room only when the Sens are on the ice.
“The phone has been ringing off the hook. Everybody’s calling, trying to jockey for seats,” says owner Steven Schwan. “We have 18 TVs in here and the sound will be blaring. It’ll be fun. And for home games, we’re ready too. The buses are revved up and ready to take fans to the Canadian Tire Centre.”
Despite the excitement, Moshe Lander, an economist and senior lecturer with Concordia University, says the overall financial impact of a playoff run on the city is limited.
“What you want is Montreal to get knocked out as quickly as possible by the Caps, and then to get the Leafs knocked out so that the Sens advance to the second round and then they have everything east of Winnipeg to themselves. It’s not going to do a lot for the economy, except for it’s going to give pride,” says Lander. “And these days, pride might actually be the economic impact that people are looking for, is that if you feel a little bit better about your life, you might be a little more inclined to spend.”
Game 2 gets underway at 7:30 p.m. If the Senators can turn the tide, the energy in Ottawa will only ramp up as the series shifts to the Canadian Tire Centre on Thursday for two home games in what’s shaping up to be a high-stakes Battle of Ontario.
