Deachman: Senators' triumph against the Leafs lights up Sens Mile
In the end, neither cloud nor cold nor rain, nor an enormous 0-and-3 hole, nor the team's flag flying at half-staff at city hall, nor even that double-minor penalty — in overtime, no less — could stay the Senators from the (not-so) swift completion of their appointed rounds.
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More specifically, Round 1, Game 4.
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Elgin Street, a.k.a. Sens Mile, was finally able to flash a Sens smile late Saturday night, as fans, shouting 'Go, Sens, Go,' poured out of bars and restaurants following Ottawa's 4-3 overtime win against the love-them-or-loathe-them Leafs — in the process not simply avoiding a clean sweep but also adding some tinder to fans' embers of optimism.
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'I still have hope for a reverse sweep,' said Mark Armstrong, who, along with three friends, watched the game from bar level at Manor Lounge. 'The Leafs are known for choking. We still have hope.'
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One of his friends, Ryan Verhoek, agreed. 'If there's any team that'll lose after winning the first three games, it's the Leafs. That's what I'm holding on to.'
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Even Kiel Coyle, a 41-year-old Leafs fan (a fan since birth, he noted), who watched the game from a chilly and damp outdoor perch at Sir John A. Pub, admitted to some distress. And that was BEFORE the game had even started.
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'I won't be comfortable until we get out of the first round,' he said, quiet acknowledgement of the grim truth that the Leafs have only won one playoff series since 2004. 'I feel safer this year because we're a more complete team, but it's really hard to let go of trauma. Until that final bell goes, nothing is done.'
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Seats were at a premium throughout the Mile. By 6 p.m., an hour before puck-drop, the outdoor patio at Sir John A. Pub was about all that remained for diehards — great news for the nearby Dollarama, which did some brisk trade in $1.49 rain ponchos and $5 fleece blankets.
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Sarah Wallis and Sarah Boyd, proud new owners of said blankets, were among those who braved the elements to be part of the Mile's atmosphere, splitting a bottle of red that Wallis said brought 'a level of class' to the otherwise sodden evening.
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The pair have been fans throughout the Sens' seven-year playoff drought, with Wallis admitting — quite convincingly — that she was 'just happy to be here,' although adding that not being swept was also on her playoff bucket list.
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Toronto Sun
20 hours ago
- Toronto Sun
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Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The CFL was a nine-team league and the NHL had six teams the time. Statistically, in any season, the Leafs had a 16% chance of winning the Cup, the Argos just an 11% chance of taking home the Grey Cup. The Leafs were the standard for Toronto sport while the Argos once went 31 years between titles. But, over time, all that has changed, as has just about everything with the Argos. They are the defending Grey Cup champions. The win last November was the second for head coach Ryan Dinwiddie in just four years on the job. It was the fifth Grey Cup win for the Argos since 2004. That's five wins in the past 20 seasons. 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Vancouver Sun
2 days ago
- Vancouver Sun
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Calgary Herald
2 days ago
- Calgary Herald
If the Ottawa Senators trade Drake Batherson, they'd have to get a strong return
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