There is something different about this season. And I can’t quite put my finger on it.
SensChirp has been around for the better part of two decades now and there is a certain script that we tend to follow around these parts. Going into the season, you’ll find a good amount of blind and unhinged optimism. “This is our year!”, we’ll boldly proclaim. Then when the wheels start to fall off, we turn to hope and possibility. “We’re still in this thing, damn it!” is a familiar refrain. As hope and possibility inevitably fade, “We’ll get ’em next year” is usually where we land.
Something is different this time though.
For me personally and for the fanbase generally, it feels like this is a season without expectation. Outwardly anyway. Not because we think it’s going to go poorly but rather, because the whole expectations thing has gone so poorly for us in the past few seasons.
You look at the team on paper and listen to them talk and there are a bunch of things jump out. Depth down the middle and scoring potential throughout the forward lines. Veteran players in key roles to provide much-needed support to a talented young core. A legitimate starting goalie locked in long term. Maybe most importantly, there is a maturity and seriousness under a no non-sense Head Coach that just hasn’t been there in the past.
Something is definitely different. It’s not excitement, or confidence or lofty expectations. It’s time.
The Ottawa Senators begin the 2024/2025 regular season against the defending Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers.
The importance of a good start has been well documented for this group and tonight, we get our first indication if they got the message. Florida is obviously one of the teams to beat again this year so as far as measuring sticks go, this seems like a good place to start. The Senators have placed a huge emphasis on preparation and conditioning heading into Training Camp and the preseason and tonight we’ll get to see if it makes a difference early on.
Morning skate is set for 10:30 AM but here’s how Head Coach Travis Green is expected to line ’em up this evening.
Tkachuk-Stutzle-Giroux
Greig-Norris-Batherson
Perron-Pinto-Amadio
Gregor-Gaudette-Cousins
Sanderson-Zub
Chabot-Jensen
Kleven-Hamonic
Linus Ullmark gets the start for the good guys.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:08 PM at the Canadian Tire Centre but is likely to be a little bit later than that with all the pregame hoopla. That can’t be how you spell that. Also, it’s the Home Opener so don’t worry too much about work or family responsibilities today. If your boss and/or your family have questions, tell them to give me a call and I can explain.
The game is available on TSN5, TSN1200 or live and in person, should the mood strike. Bort will be rolling out the red carpet for all sorts of illegal internet streams too.
And because the Home Opener is a special occasion, I am putting out my usual call to the longtime SensChirp lurkers to join the conversation today.
Say hello, won’t ya?
GO. SENS. GO.
