Have Faith Sens Fans

Ah the roller coaster ride of NHL hockey. Ottawa Senators fans have certainly experienced the extreme highs and lows this year and especially this past week as the Sens challenge for a playoff position hit the rocks. Last week it seemed like our entry into the playoff round was a foregone conclusion. Now? It's a crap shoot!

Nevertheless, Tuesday night's return of Andrew Hammond, the Hamburglar, to the Sens net meant another victory and the revival of the Senators fortunes. The Sens dominated in every aspect of the game over a team that is considered by many to be superior. In their rink no less. In fact, saying they dominated would be putting it lightly. Not only did the Sens badly outshoot Detroit 36 - 18, they skated circles around their all stars for much of the night. It was an amazing feat to watch that was only bested by Petr Mrazek's performance in the Wings' net until 4:02 left in the game when Clarke McArthur tied it up 1-1. Mrazek, another former Otawa 67's star put on quite a show for his old in Ottawa and new fans in Detroit.

I was at Sunday's game against the Panthers. Had the Sens played even remotely as well, we would have won that game handily. Same goes for Saturday night's game vs. the hapless Leafs.

Why the Sens play better in front of Hammond than either Anderson or Lehner remains a mystery. Whatever the reason, it doesn't matter any more. It can no longer be denied... The Sens play better in front of Hammond and therefore stand a better chance of advancing to the playoffs if he's in the net.

Who could imagine the third string goalie becoming the team's good luck charm? Going on a 15-1-1 streak and being named NHL player of the month for March, as he was today. This story is surely one for the ages. But it is a story that still remains to be written as it is not finished. With six games to go, one game in hand, and being only three points back of Boston for the final playoff spot, the Sens still have a good chance of making the playoffs. That game-in-hand vs. the Leafs is a big one.

As fans we ride the roller coaster of emotions everyday of the season. And, while it may drive us crazy, there are times when we are called upon to rally our team to victory. That time has arrived for Ottawa Senators fans.

Now is the time to show how much we truly believe in our young team's ability to overcome this challenge. Lets's get behind our heroes and give them the support they need to go 7-0 to end the regular season on a high, with their good luck charm Andy "the Hamburglar" Hammond in the net.

Let's be the ones to help write the Stanley Cup ending to this incredible story...

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I will be at the game Thursday night vs. the Tampa Bay Lightning, watching the game from the rafters with a Pee Wee house league team from Nepean. I'm expecting lots of noise!