The city of Ottawa is celebrating the Senators’ return to the NHL playoffs. The Sens take on the Carolina Hurricanes in Round 1 of the playoffs starting on Saturday in Raleigh, N.C. This is the second year in a row that the Ottawa Senators have made the postseason after a lengthy playoff drought. To celebrate, the City of Ottawa declared Elgin Street as “Sens Mile” on Friday. A ceremony and flag-raising took place at 11 a.m. “We’re very, very fortunate to have the Senators in our city and this playoff run, which is going to be a long, long playoff run, is going to be really, really good for our local economy and for civic pride,” Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said. The team will hold free watch parties outside the Canadian Tire Centre during the playoffs. The Senators say the CIBC Red Zone will return this year. For the first two games of the series in North Carolina, fans can begin gathering outside the CTC in Kanata an hour before puck drop. Parking will be free, beer will be $5 until the game begins, and Bert’s Bar will be open for away games. Games 1 and 2 take place Saturday at 3 p.m. and Monday at 7:30 p.m., respectively. Games 3 and 4 bring the series to Ottawa, with matches on Thursday and Saturday. The Sens say the CIBC Red Zone will be open on a first-come, first-served basis. Here’s how Round 1 will play out between Ottawa and Carolina: Game 1: Saturday, April 18, 3 p.m., Raleigh, N.C. Game 2: Monday, April 20, 7:30 p.m., Raleigh, N.C. Game 3: Thursday, April 23, 7:30 p.m., Ottawa Game 4: Saturday, April 25, 3 p.m., Ottawa If necessary: Game 5: Monday, April 27, TBD, Raleigh, N.C. Game 6: Thursday, April 30, TBD, Ottawa Game 7: Saturday, May 2, TBD, Raleigh, N.C. Local businesses gearing up Sutcliffe says Senators playoff hockey will provide a boost to the city’s economy. “People are buying Senators memorabilia. They’re going out and spending money in restaurants and bars and other institutions. So, it’s really, really good for our local business,” he said. “It’s springtime. The weather’s getting better. The patios are going to start opening. Having the Senators in the playoffs is absolutely fantastic for our city.” Steve Wilson, co-owner of Manor Lounge, says the playoff push will provide a welcome boost to the local service economy. “Events like this where you’re filling nontraditional day parts Saturday at 3:00 to have the place packed before we do our full dinner turn, and then our full late-night turn is absolutely amazing,” Wilson said. “We love the team. We love people coming in and having the time of their lives watching the playoffs can’t be better.” While the Sir John A Pub will not be taking reservations for Sens playoff matches, co-owner Peter Abraham says “the phone hasn’t stopped.” “Business is great. I mean, we’re always busy but, obviously, with the Sens, the good weather, the push, the patio, it just gives everybody a good vibe,” he said. Sens the Canadian underdogs With just three Canadian teams in the NHL playoffs this year — Ottawa, Montreal, and Edmonton — a new poll shows Canadians are split on who to support as Canada’s best chance to end its Stanley Cup drought, with the Sens as underdogs. According to the Angus Reid Institute, nearly half of respondents (46 per cent) said they preferred Montreal Canadiens, followed by the Edmonton Oilers at 34 per cent. Overall, 15 per cent are cheering for the Sens. Team allegiance is split along east-west lines, with 55 per cent of western hockey fans favouring Edmonton and 55 per cent of eastern fans going for the Habs. Fans also believe the Senators are a long shot to win the cup, with just four per cent saying they’ll go all the way. Fans were more likely to say Montreal (31 per cent) or Edmonton (27 per cent) are Canada’s best hope to be the first Canadian team to win a Stanley Cup in 33 years. Respondents rated the Vancouver Canucks (5 per cent) and the Toronto Maple Leafs (8 per cent) as more likely than the Sens to be the next Canadian team to win the cup, despite not being in the playoffs this year. Montreal was the last Canadian team to win a Stanley Cup, back in 1993. Regardless of how the playoffs shake out, 72 per cent of respondents said they’d cheer for any Canadian team over American ones.
