As most know, our beloved Sens are in the playoffs and Ottawa already feels like a different city. Red and black jerseys are everywhere. Strangers are talking hockey on the O-Train. And if you tried to grab tickets to Canadian Tire Centre, you already know what playoff prices look like.
You don’t need to mortgage anything to feel every goal. Between the free watch parties at the Red Zone, a brewery that literally cleared its parking lot to put up a giant screen, and Sens Mile turning Elgin Street into a block party again, there’s no shortage of places to plant yourself for the first round against Carolina.
Here is a quick look at the first round schedule:
The CIBC Red Zone, where $2 hot dogs exist
The closest thing to being inside Canadian Tire Centre without buying a ticket is the CIBC Red Zone. The Senators are running free watch parties here for every Round 1 game, home and away.
For away games (Games 1 and 2 in Carolina), doors open an hour before puck drop. Parking is free. $5 beer runs until puck drop and Bert’s Bar stays open inside during road games too.
For home games (Game 3 on April 23, Game 4 on April 26), the Red Zone opens three hours before puck drop, first come first served. That’s when it gets good. Sign making stations, hardest shot contests, inflatables, photo ops. The Molson Beer Garden has $5 beer and Schneiders is doing $2 hot dogs. Sens rally towels are back, this time presented by Fullscript.
All playoff 50/50 proceeds go to local children and youth charities. So even your losing ticket does something.
Free admission, free parking on road games, and a crowd that’s there for one reason. You won’t beat the price.
Sens Mile on Elgin is back
Sens Mile is back on Elgin Street.
If you were around for Ottawa’s last deep playoff runs, you know what that means. Every bar fills up fast. The noise carries down the block. Some nights (and days) the street gets shut down entirely.
This year’s Sens Mile lineup includes Abby’s, Forty One at Lord Elgin Hotel, Stay Gold, Zak’s Diner, Maclaren’s, Lieutenant’s Pump and LIVE! on Elgin. Follow Sens Mile on Facebook for each spot’s gameday specials. They’re rolling them out game by game.
The Elgin standouts:
Lieutenant’s Pump is the Sens Mile staple. British pub menu, strong beer list, every screen locked on the game. It will be packed. Get there early or plan on standing.
Forty One at the Lord Elgin Hotel sits right on Sens Mile with food and drink specials for every playoff game. A bit more polished than the pub down the street, which makes it a good pick if you want the energy without getting elbowed.
Manor Lounge is going big with a stage projection screen and new TVs. They’re doing $7 Mill Street drafts, early and late happy hours, and activities before and after the game. Probably the best drink deal on Elgin right now outside of whatever specials the other bars roll out.
Maclaren’s has a wall of TVs, pool tables, and a crowd that gets loud for hockey. It’s been on the Sens Mile roster for years and it’s back again this round.
ByWard Market
The Market has always been Ottawa’s spot for a night out, and during the playoffs it’s basically a hockey district.
Lowertown Brewery, also on York Street, has done something different this year. They cleared out their back parking lot and put up a 12-and-a-half-foot outdoor LED screen. They’re calling it the “Sens Lot.” Standing room, open air, local craft beer and food. What’s not to like? REgarding the Sens playoff berth, managing partner Alex Sirois told the Ottawa Business Journal: “There’s so much hype… and there’s not enough places to watch.”
The Senate Sports Tavern & Eatery has three hopping Sens crazy locations (Clarence-ByWard Market, Wellington, Bank Street), so odds are there’s one near you. Happy hour deals and daily specials on game days. And you can also use it as a shuttle hub for getting to the home games at Canadian Tire Centre.
The Glebe and beyond
Not everything happens downtown.
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Glebe Central Pub at 779 Bank Street is the unofficial Sens bar of the Glebe. Packed with fans on game nights. They host Senators Gameday events, have a deal with the team for ticket discounts, and run a Sens/Event Bus that drives you straight to Canadian Tire Centre. Not many pubs offer door-to-arena service.
Local Public Eatery near Lansdowne works if you’re in the south end. Craft beer, good TVs, and the Lansdowne atmosphere on game nights.
Other names worth checking: High Fives Sports Pub, The Draft Pub, and The Wood on Wellington.
The playoff schedule
Ottawa is playing the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference First Round. First time these two teams have ever met in the playoffs.
- Game 1: Saturday, April 18, 3:00 PM — Ottawa at Carolina (ESPN, SN, OMNI, TVAS)
- Game 2: Monday, April 20, 7:30 PM — Ottawa at Carolina (ESPN2, SNE, SNO, SNP, CBC, TVAS)
- Game 3: Thursday, April 23, 7:30 PM — Carolina at Ottawa (HOME)
- Game 4: Saturday, April 26, TBD — Carolina at Ottawa (HOME)
- Games 5–7 if necessary
Games 3 and 4 are when this city really turns up. Get your spot early.
Go Sens Go!
lead photo Andrea Cardin/Freestyle Photography/OSHC
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