Senators vs Rangers: Behind-the-Scenes, Puck Drop Times & Growing the Game

Senators vs Rangers: A Look Behind the Scenes

Let’s start with an important update for Ottawa Senators fans: the puck drop for Monday’s game against the New York Rangers will actually be at 7:51 p.m. ET, despite the official schedule listing 7:30 p.m. ET. This slight delay is due to a couple of factors. First, the game is nationally televised on Amazon Prime in Canada, requiring extra time for pre-game features and panel discussions. Typically, these games start around 7:45 p.m. ET, but tonight’s game includes a special pre-game ceremony honoring Mika Zibanejad as he plays his 1,000th career NHL game.

Extra Time for Fans

This adjusted start time gives you an extra 20 minutes to finish dinner, wrap up work, or simply relax before the action begins. If you have the time, the Amazon Prime pre-game show is well worth watching, offering in-depth features and unique insights you won’t find elsewhere. Recently, they conducted a terrific interview with Warren Foegele during a pre-game warmup.

Exclusive Content & Interviews

Tonight, Andi Petrillo is scheduled to conduct an extended interview with Thomas Chabot as part of her ‘Coffee With Andi’ series. She’ll also be conducting a bench interview with Shane Pinto during warm-ups at Madison Square Garden. There’s a significant amount of Senators-related content planned for this national broadcast, making it a must-watch for dedicated fans.

Puck Drop Time: Should the NHL Change the System?

This raises an interesting question: Should NHL teams promote the actual puck drop time on tickets and schedules, or is the current system – promoting the start of the television broadcast – sufficient? In baseball, the Toronto Blue Jays always list the time of the first pitch. Should hockey follow suit? If the NHL did, most Senators games would be listed as starting at 7:08 p.m. We want to hear your thoughts! Email us at [email protected].

Trivia Time: Senators & 1,000 Games

Speaking of milestones, Mika Zibanejad will play his 1,000th career NHL game against the Ottawa Senators – a fitting coincidence considering he was originally drafted by the Senators in 2011. Can you name the five other players drafted in the first round by the Ottawa Senators who have also reached the 1,000-game plateau in the NHL? (Answer at the end of this article.)

‘Drop The Puck’ Event: Growing the Game

Last Wednesday’s game against the Washington Capitals, despite the 4-1 loss, provided an opportunity to launch our first ‘Drop The Puck’ event. This initiative aims to introduce hockey to individuals who are new to the sport, with a particular focus on connecting with new Canadians. Participants were asked to mark their home countries on a world map, revealing a diverse representation from around the globe, including Algeria, Angola, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Jordan, Senegal, Sudan, and Ukraine.

After enjoying a Canadian-inspired dinner (complete with poutine!), attendees were given a crash course in hockey history and the basics of the game. Players demonstrated offside, icing, and penalties, providing a fun and engaging learning experience. The event culminated in a surprise: tickets to an upcoming Senators game and gift cards to the Sens store. One participant exclaimed, “You just made me a Senators fan!”

The success of this event is a testament to the dedication of Matthew Franczyk and Alyssa Almstedt, who meticulously planned the evening. We’re committed to growing the game and reaching new audiences, and we welcome your ideas for future events. Send your suggestions to [email protected].

Podcast Spotlight: Shane Pinto on ‘Absolute Non Sens’

Don’t miss the latest episode of the ‘Absolute Non Sens’ podcast, featuring Shane Pinto! He shares the story behind Jake Sanderson’s roadside assistance when Pinto’s car ran out of gas. The episode is filled with fun anecdotes and insights into Pinto’s personality. As we approach the end of the first season, we welcome your feedback and suggestions for future topics. Use the email address above to share your thoughts.

Media Roundup: Senators in the News

Players wore mismatched socks at practice to support World Down Syndrome Awareness Day, a meaningful cause for Fabian Zetterlund.
Andrew Wilimek highlighted Warren Foegele’s seamless integration into the team.
Callum Fraser of Postmedia and Julian McKenzie of The Athletic discussed filling the Canadian Tire Centre for rivalry games, following conversations with president and CEO Cyril Leeder.
Peter Baugh’s piece in The Athletic details Mika Zibanejad’s journey to 1,000 games, including a story about Erik Karlsson rushing to console him after his trade.

Trivia Answer

The five other Senators first-round picks to appear in at least 1,000 NHL games are: Marian Hossa (1,309 GP), Nick Foligno (1,278), Jason Spezza (1,248), Chris Phillips (1,179), and Erik Karlsson (1,148). Cody Ceci is also on track to join this group next season, currently at 941 games played.