Photo Diary: Fisher's Return & Phillips' 1000th

Thursday February 9th was a big day in Senators history, as two of the longest serving and most popular players collided in a game that was noteworthy for several reasons. The Sens had lost 7 in a row and desperately needed a win to get back on track, former Senator Mike Fisher was playing in his first game back in Ottawa since he was traded last year and Chris Phillips was playing his 1000th career game, all with the Sens.

So of course I had to document the affair the best way I know how, with a photo diary. Of course the Senators decided to honor Fisher and put him on the tickets for the game. A nice touch and makes for a good memento from the game too. Now on to the latest photo diary. Enjoy!

Since it was a big occasion I decided to go with my very rarely worn Chris Phillips throwback jersey to honor the Big Rig. The way he played perhaps I should throw it into the rotation more often from now on.

The man everyone came to see in warmups. It sure does still look weird to see him in a different jersey even though it's been a year already doesn't it? Here he is skating over our logo. He got a loud ovation when he skated onto the ice for the first time.

Some autographed Chris Phillips swag on sale for charity in honor of the 1000th game. Only problem is the jersey plate. It's clearly out of date and doesn't have the new heritage jersey included. Saw a lot more #4 jerseys kicking around than usual for this one.

Some of the fans watching warmup came with some signs for Phillips and Turris as Greening looks on in a jealous rage.

Mike Fisher showing some love to Ian Mendes and giving him the pre game on ice interview for the TV broadcast. I wish I could have heard it but I was at the game.

A very cute picture and sign from some of Phillips' kids in the warmup. They were very proud of their dad.

And here's a better shot of the Phillips clan on the stairs for warmups. His wife Erin was snapping tons of pics on her SLR camera and the kids kept waving their signs like crazy. Very cute to see and a touching moment.

And it was anthem time and getting closer to puck drop finally. For some reason the lights took forever to come on during the anthems, hence the darker picture. I watched Fisher during the songs and he looked out of place. It must have been weird to be standing in the same building you've played in for a decade but getting a different view.

And it's finally game time! And look who was in the starting lineup for the Preds? None other than Mike Fisher was taking the opening faceoff. It was probably a good idea for him to get it out of the way as soon as possible and hopefully make it as normal of a game as possible for him.

Just what the Sens needed, a quick goal to take the lead after 7 straight loses. This one was scored by Jason Spezza less than 5 minutes in and was a beauty. Spezza, who had gone awhile without scoring was super pumped in his post goal celebration.

And here's the other man of the hour with the puck on the #4 behind the net placed in his honor. Little did we know what was coming our way from him.

And with 8:51 left in the first period this came on the screen. It's one of my favorite Senator goals of all time from a double OT win in the playoffs against the Leafs from guess who?

You guessed it. The one and only Mike Fisher. It was time to remember his time as a Senator. The crowd started to get louder........

And there we have it. The crowd was going nuts. He got a standing ovation as I predicted and even though I'm not a huge Fisher supporter I stood up and showed respect for his contributions here. The thing that struck me the most was that he only had 348 points. He played here parts of 12 seasons, but realistically let's say he played 10. That's only 34.8 points per season and you can see why he was wildly overrated as a player, especially for the money he was getting. That's why the move had to be made.

And the ovation continued as he took the ice for his next shift. He looked genuinely touched and overwhelmed with emotion. It took him a minute so settle down and take the faceoff. You could see he was trying to be tough and fight it but it didn't work.

And the unthinkable happened. Chris Phillips, playing in his 1000th game, had gone 75 games without potting one, but of course in true clutch Phillips style he scored. He skated to centre ice to celebrate. He was so happy you would have thought he just scored the Stanley Cup winning goal. Great to see him so excited.

Then they took the celebration to the bench. You could see how happy all the guys were for him. Awesome to see for the vet.

And here was a fan with a "forver a Senator to us" sign. They were sitting right behind the Preds bench of course. So colorful.

And the same woman with a Love You, Miss You sign. I thought it was odd for a grownup to make kid signs, but if you're that obsessed with Fisher shouldn't you at least be rocking a #12 jersey and not an Alfie one? Just sayin'.

Speaking of weird, caught this at the 2nd intermission. It was a girl of about 18-20 wearing a Nashville jersey with the #12, but the nameplate said Nada Fisher. I have no idea what that is supposed to mean to her, but doesn't that mean No Fisher in Spanish? Jersey fouls keep getting weirder and weirder.

And the third period is underway. This shot features the 2 most popular Senators of all time in Fisher and Alfie. I was kind of surprised there weren't more Fisher jerseys spotted that night. Perhaps people have moved on better than I thought.

This was probably the most disappointing moment of the night, at least to me. On a Subway night where you can get cheaper tickets, the return of Fisher and the 1000th game of Phillips the game wasn't sold out somehow. I know we were in the middle of a bad losing streak but there's no excuse for this one. Brutal!

Incredibly Phillips scored a 2nd goal making it 4-2 for the Sens and sealing the eventual 4-3 victory. That's right, the guy who hadn't scored in 75 games potted 2, including the game winner to snap our win streak. Not bad for your 1000th game right? Also amazingly he scored a pair on his 800th career game too. I can't wait for his 1200th. I loved his celebration, this time on his back.

Another fan showing some love for Phillips. While I appreciate the sentiment, if Phillips plays another 1000 he will be in his mid 40's by then. Also what's with the space between the WA and the NT? These are the things I think about.

And just like that the game was over. The Sens snapped their losing streak, Fisher got his ovation and Phillips scored a pair. You really couldn't ask for a better game heading in. Fisher was largely invisible for most of the game and Phillips had the game of his life. And that's what it was like to be at a great night in Senators history.

I hope everyone enjoyed the latest edition and be sure to check out the photo diary archives for more diaries. Be sure to follow me on twitter too @SensTown and thanks for reading.

Thoughts?

He Returns Today

Mike Fisher's time as an Ottawa Senator ended on February 10th, 2011, so it's quite ironic that his first trip back to the city he grew as a person and as a player will be almost a year to the day he was vanished from the nation's capital. Today is the 9th of February and if you're counting, is one day shy of the exact date he was traded to Nashville.

His time here was a mixed bag. He was one of the most loved players and one of the most frustrating at the same time, but his impact went beyond just being a hockey player. In some ways he was almost as popular as Alfie and that's saying a lot.



There is little doubt to me that Fisher will receive a massive standing ovation when he's mentioned at some point. Who knows, the game may even have to be stopped for a minute to allow for the fans to shower ol' blue eyes with their admiration of the 31 year old. Hell I wouldn't be surprised at all to see him shed a tear even. One thing is very clear. Ottawa loves Fisher and he loves Ottawa. So why did they part?

Well it wasn't Fisher's choice but the season and franchise was going down in flames and someone had to be moved and he was the most expendable. He had value beyond hockey, especially to a city and team like Nashville for obvious reasons. The Sens didn't have many valuable assets and in the name of a rebuild Fisher was sacrificed. It was the right move, even if it wasn't the most popular one. Some fans still haven't forgiven the Sens management for trading him away. I suspect they will be there tomorrow, putting dollars in the same management's pockets.

But as a year has passed and he returns for the first time, we reflect on the deal and wasn't the trade good for everyone involved? The Senators got younger and got draft picks for a rebuild. The Preds got an aggressive forward with scoring potential and the benefits of him being married to a country superstar in a massive country market. And Fisher, well he got to move to his wife's hometown and a fresh start with a team with a lot of potential. You rarely find a trade that benefits everyone, but I think this is the rare one that did.

I was in Nashville this November for a week and I can see why Fisher would like it there, since I found it to be a lot like Ottawa. It's a big enough city, but not huge. It's clean and easy to walk around. It even has a body of water going through the city like we do. Broadway Street right outside Bridgestone Arena could double for Elgin street, filled with bars, clubs and restaurants. Nashville is the American Ottawa.

I say all that to say this. I was never a huge Fisher fan. I was happy when he was traded. It was nothing personal, but I just couldn't handle his slumps and lack of criticism he would receive. It was like he got special treatment all the time. This was by no fault of his own really, but more of an indication of our media and fanbase, who seemed to treat him with kid gloves.

He hasn't scored in 20 games? Must be someone else's fault. He plays hard and is the heart of this team they'd say. It could never be Mike Fisher's fault. I couldn't stand it. Once again it is nothing personal. I've met him 10 times and had conversations with him and he is a very nice guy. I am not criticizing his character by any means, but his time had come and he had to go. This is a results based league and he wasn't earning his money anymore.

And you know what? It worked out well for both teams. Nashville sits in 5th place in the west as I write this and the surprising Sens, who have lost 7 in a row at the moment, are clinging to 8th place in the east. Both are playoff teams, at least for now.

Ottawa and Fisher had some great times together, like his 2OT winner against the Leafs in the playoffs and I will always remember him fondly. But like an ex girlfriend, you moved on for a reason. Sure it's nice to run into them every so often and reminisce about the good old times, but ultimately you know you made the right decision. That's how I feel about Fisher. No hard feelings, we can be civil, but I'm not giving you another chance. You play for someone else now and I wish you the best, but you were an important part of my life for awhile, so even though it was love and hate, tonight I will at SBP with the other 20,000 being a part of the welcoming you back with open arms because it's the right thing to do. Until puck drops that is.

He's Baaaaaack

Alfie Out With Concussion Problems

Sens captain Daniel Alfredsson will be out a minimum of a week after suffering a concussion on a cheap shot elbow to the head at the hands of the Rangers' Wolski on Saturday afternoon. Alfie, who missed the game on Sunday as well, will be re-evaluated in a weeks time, though there is no guarantee he will be back then. What a shame to happen to him of all people and the stunning part is there was no suspension handed out to Wolski after the NHL spent all pre season bombarding us with suspensions.





In case you missed it, here is the hit from multiple angles. I mean I don't know what more Brendan Shannahan and the NHl are looking for. It's pretty black and white to me. A clear cheap shot that deserved suspension.

Ian Mendes tweeted this about the Alfie hit, which wouldn't be all that newsworthy normally other than because it's from Mendes, who for the record is my favorite Sens media guy, but it got a player to respond.........

Former Sen Mike Fisher retorted and I think it says it all about the NHL's consistency. Smarten up and fast.


Thoughts on the Alfie injury?

20th Anniversary Tickets First Look

The 20th season is upon us, so you know what that means, new tickets. They aren't scheduled to be picked up until Sunday for season ticket holder's but you know I always give you guys the first look before everyone else. So here is the front, pretty clean and simple, but I like it. Nice touch of showing the first version of the Senators, the original captain in Boschman and of course the franchise in Alfie.  Notable tickets/games after the jump.

Here are the tickets for the very first game of the year, a pre-season tilt with the defending champion Boston Bruins on Wednesday. I guess this is making a statement for the rebuild/future of youth. Similar to past tickets however but still I like em.

The first captain for the modern day Senators gets the honor to adorn the opening night tickets for the 20th anniversary season vs Dany Heatley and the Minnesota Wild. It seems like a nice sentimental choice and brings back good memories for me when I was with my dad at the Civic Centre on October 8th, 1992.

Ah yes, the night many in Ottawa and surrounding areas have been waiting for. February 9th will be a hot ticket, as local legend and Mr he can't ever do anything wrong returns for the first time. Ol' blue eyes will take the ice at SBP for the first time in a jersey other than one with a Sens logo on the front. Look for Mike to get a standing O and cheered all night, a far cry from the treatment most ex Sens receive upon their return.

Robin Lehner is on the Binghamton/Hamilton game tickets, which has the nice touch of adding the Calder Cup trophy and saying the BSens were 2010-11 AHL Champs as well. It would also seem that they expect Mr Lehner to be in Bingo all year barring some crazy injury. Sorry Robin, we'll have to wait until next year to see the REAL you.

As far as some of the other tickets included, there are 4 or 5 that feature original Senators from the early 1900's which I thought was pretty cool, as well past players like Norm MacIver and Shawn McEachern, and current one's like Alfie and Spezza. I was kind of surprised they didn't include Alexandre Daigle, who was a big part of our franchise and is a huge part of our history however.

All in all, it was fairly well done, though the template of the tickets is quite similar to in years past. Then again, the real value of the ticket is entrance into SBP to watch, not how they look aesthetically right?

Thoughts?

Fisher Out, Neil In At Roger's House

Chris Neil warming up before a game in Philadelphia

In a nice gesture, Roger's House honored former Senator Mike Fisher yesterday for all his work for the charity. Since he is no longer living in Ottawa, the former role of honorary chair of the organization has been passed on to fan favorite and Fisher's good buddy Chris Neil. It seems like a good choice to me since he's one of the only long time serving Sens left and well liked in the community.

Congratulations to Chris and shoutout to Mike Fisher for all his previous work with Roger's House. It was a very nice move for him to show up for the passing of the torch.

It seems ol' blue eyes was rather fond of the city last night as well, good to see.

Thoughts?

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Fisher Trade Finalized

With the Predators losing their series with the Canucks last night 4 games to 2, the final details from this years Mike Fisher trade are now complete. Due to the playoff performance of Nashville, the Senators will now get a 3rd round pick at the 2012 entry draft, as well as the 21st overall pick in the upcoming June draft in Minnesota.

Thoughts on the final Fisher trade return?

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Shocking!

This is what the agents of former Sen Mike Fisher and current Sen Chris Neil had to say about Sean Avery's comments of supporting gay marriage. It's 2011 fellas, might be a bit more careful what you say and become a bit more progressive. Enjoy the last few days of being agents. Shit storm coming in 3.....2....1.........

In my eyes, if Neil and Fisher don't come out and immediately fire them, then to me they are supporting what they say. Let's see what happens.

Thoughts?

Caption This

Time to have some Sunday fun at former Sen Mike Fisher's expense. This picture was taken in Nashville's 2-1 double OT win last night in Van City. The faces of both Fisher and Luongo are hilarious, and I know you guys always come up with solid comments, so let's do it up. Best comment gets an Alfie 1000th game tee.

I Got My Wish, Sort Of

In a January rant, I lamented the fact that no Ottawa Senators player had joined the Twitter-verse. Well today I got my wish, sort of. You see it was a player we're all very familiar with around here, albeit a former Senator. Yesterday was the day Mike Fisher decided to join Twitter. His first tweet was of course Jesus relate, which means he will be a boring tweeter for the most part given his personality. This will satisfy all of the loyal Ottawa, I mean Nashville fans of his, I mean his wife. If you want to follow him click here.

Of course after less than 2 days and only 3 boring tweets so far, he already has 5,000 followers. Thoughts on Fisher joining?

To Catch A Predator

Some of Smashville's finest hockey fans

Luckily for you all, I'm not talking about the NBC show. Were some of you worried? But what I am talking about now,is that thanks to the Nashville Predators series win yesterday, the Senators now have a 3rd round pick in 2012, and if the Preds happen to win another round, it becomes a 2nd in 2012 via the Mike Fisher trade. Things in Nashville are getting a bit nuts about getting out of round 1 aren't they? It's almost Montreal-esque. I suppose that's what happens when it takes you 12 seasons to win a series. Hilarious celebratory video after the jump.




A video really? Nothing like celebrating pedestrian accomplishments. Then again what do you expect from a team with those uni's that call their town Smashville. So clever.

Thoughts on the new draft pick?

Fisher Does It Again

It was just a few days ago that former Sen Mike Fisher had an amazing playoff debut for his new club Nashville, and last night, he did it again, scoring the game winner for the Preds late in the third to give them the 4-3 win over another former Sen in Ray Emery.

Most Sens fans are left scratching their collective heads, wondering where all this clutch play was during his decade with the Sens in the playoffs. Johnny on the spot, James Duthie jumped in with the new Gordie Hat Trick. I think from now on this will be called the Mike Fisher Hat Trick. Agree or disagree?

If you missed the Sens Town interview with James Duthie before, don't miss it now, click here

Of Course He Did

Yep, of course the famously streaky Mike Fisher would have to go out and drop 2 goals and an assist in his first ever playoff game for Nashville. He was the 1st overall star in last night's action according to the Puck Daddy blog and with good reason. Fisher's strong play helped them to a 1-0 series lead in Anaheim against the Ducks. Don't get too excited, we all know he's likely not to score the rest of the playoffs and go on a patented cold streak for 15 games. Still frustrating to see. He had 29 career playoff points for the Sens in 75 games before this.

Alexei Kovalev wasn't to be outdone either, scoring a goal in the Penguins shutout win at home over high flying Tampa Bay. Chris Campoli wasn't so lucky, he was on the losing end of a goose egg, being shutout by Vancouver.

Thoughts on Fisher's hot start?