The Senators are set for their first NHL Eastern Conference Final appearance in 10 years, and Owner Eugene Melnyk, coming off a liver transplant in '15 that saved his life, "couldn't be more excited," according to Bruce Garrioch of the OTTAWA CITIZEN. Melnyk "admits he probably didn't appreciate" his team's last Conference Finals appearance a decade ago "as much as he should have." Melnyk: "After what’s happened in my life, where I was almost a goner two years ago and now, here I am in the (East) final. It’s just really great to experience what I’m experiencing now and, believe me, I relish every moment and I think every fan should." The Senators failed to sellout Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinal against the Rangers and people were "shocked by the empty seats." The other two games in Round 2 were both sold out, but Melnyk "indicated the Senators are still feeling the effects financially of having a difficult time selling tickets during the year." Melnyk: "It’s not the financial windfall it should be because of previous mismanagement. But there’s no question the organization benefits in a whole number of ways." Melnyk "decided to put" an extra C$2.5M in the club’s salary budget before the trade deadline, for which he should be given "credit" (OTTAWA CITIZEN, 5/12).
COME TOGETHER: The NATIONAL POST's Michael Traikos writes with four more wins, the Senators could "even attract fans from across" Canada to "put away their allegiances and hop on board a bandwagon that is always accepting new members." With the drought on a Canadian team winning the Stanley Cup "now at 24 years, it’s nice to think the country will link hands and cheer as one." However, that "does not mean hockey fans from all over will start" to "jump on the Senators’ bandwagon." Traikos: "It’s not just that they love their team. It’s that they hate every other team." However, most people outside of Ottawa "don’t know enough -- or care enough -- about the Senators to hate them." Aside from Senators D Erik Karlsson, there are "no stars on the Senators." This is "a mostly no-name team" (NATIONAL POST, 5/12).
