Ottawa Senators fans are showing support for their team in a number of ways as their playoff opener draws near.
Bars across the capital region are hanging more Senators flags before Game 1 of their series against the New York Rangers on Thursday night.
"We're excited, I went out and bought all these flags," said Gyneya Dicks on Wednesday night. "It was pretty exciting for the last playoffs so we're hoping, though we weren't in it last year, people will come out and support the Sens."
The Cake Shop in west Ottawa is hoping the Sens Foundation will benefit from a long playoff run and a long season of sales for the Senators-jersey shaped cookies.
The reviews of the cookies, featuring the jerseys of Erik Karlsson, Daniel Alfredsson, Jason Spezza and more?
"Not bad," said our taste-tester.
"It's amazing how much the community gets behind this, as soon as the Senators hit the playoffs . . . its gets the whole city going," said Nancy Therrien of Stittsville Glass and Signs.
Senators announcer Stuntman Stu has watched plenty of games at Scotiabank Place and said he thinks the team could pull an upset.
"This team has proven everybody wrong, and as long as they keep to their game plan this team could potentially do some damage in the playoffs," he said.
Politicians getting into the fun
Along with the playoff series comes the usual friendly wagers between politicians, with Ottawa West-Nepean MP John Baird and Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson getting into the fun.
Baird and US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton made a bet where the loser's team would have to wear the winner's jersey after the series.
"My friend and colleague and I have a lot in common, except for who we support in the upcoming playoffs," said Clinton in Washington. "The fact is that I hate to root against any team called the Senators; however, I was a senator because of the good people of New York, so of course I'm rooting for the Rangers."
Watson and New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg made a bet that revolves around desserts and Twitter.
If the Rangers win, Watson will have to send Bloomberg a Beavertail and tweet a congratulatory message to the New York City account.
If the Senators pull off the upset, Bloomberg will send blueberry cheesecake to Watson and praise the Senators on his account.
Senators fans are expected to flood the portion of Elgin Street known as the Sens Mile for Game 1 Thursday night and Game 2 on Saturday.
The series returns to Ottawa on Monday.
With reports from CTV Ottawa's Ellen Mauro and Claudia Cautillo
