Just talking to a buddy who brought his son to see the Senators-Penguins game and sat in the third level in what would were $85 seats. He understands how there were plenty of unsold tickets even though Sidney Crosby and the defending champs were in town. After paying $11 for parking and $30 on snacks, he had dropped more than $200 for a couple of hours of entertainment. It's good if you can afford it, but a lot of cash to spend when the game is also on TV.
That said, attendance was still more than 17,000, a number the Atlanta Thrashers would love to reach. Did you see the highlights of their home game against the Bruins? The lower sections were nearly empty. That must be embarrassing for the league.
And another thing: As much as the Senators miss a puck moving defenceman, they can't be regretting trading Joe "Uh Oh" Corvo when they watch replays of defensive zone play against the Leafs Thursday. Uh Oh was particularly sloppy on Toronto's first goal.

Senators president Cyril Leeder said the club has lost about 3,000 season ticket holders since the trip to the Stanley Cup final in 2007 and the club is working on streamlining its price structures to make it simpler for fans to understand and maybe make the decision to buy tickets a little easier.
Right now there five different categories of games (Platinum through “Subway” games) and more than a dozen ticket prices within those games.
That's 70 different price points.
“That's too many and we're going to address that,” said Leeder this morning.
The Senators are down an average of about 900 fans a game so far compared to last year's season average. Leeder said that's a result of the team's struggles last year, noting the effects of team performance on attendance is usually reflected about a year later.
“It's not alarming but it should get our attention and it's got our attention,” he said.
He said the number of season ticket holders has been on the rise since March.

There was an odd sight at practice: Centre Jason Spezza out long after everybody doing work with assistant Brad Lauer.
Now, don't think for a second Spezza is usually the first one off the ice.
He isn't. He often stays late. He's just usually not the last.
Public relations officials are supposed to open the dressing room door 10 minutes after the first player leaves the ice. We used to time that by Peter Schaefer's clock. He was always the first which might explain why he finished last year with Providence in the AHL.
Now, we usually keep an eye on Kovalev. He was the first off the ice Friday. He was the first one off the ice this morning at 11:25 a.m.
Then, there was Spezza. He didn't leave until 12:30 p.m.
He was working on one-timers with assistant Brad Lauer from the slot. At one point, coach Cory Clouston came out. They went to the glass and started diagramming power play material. The club has to do more to get Spezza involved. He only has one goal this season. He needs to score more. He works hard. He wants to make it happen. The Senators scoring is down partially because Spezza isn't contributing.
The club went 0-for-5 against the Rangers Saturday after complaining they needed more power plays.
They got them and didn't do anything with them.
Watch for Spezza shooting one-timers from the slot against the Maple Leafs.
Might as well try. Nothing else has worked.

I know they got a point and I know Brian Elliott played pretty well in nets (I'd start him again Tuesday against the Leafs), but the fact of the matter is the Senators have one win in regulation in their last 10 games.
One.
The complained about how few power plays they were getting and got five today - including one in overtime - and couldn't do anything with them; worse, they gave up a short-handed goal.
Now, with a pretty tough slate of opponents coming up, that game against the Leafs looms large.

Brian Elliott is getting the call.
Senators’ coach Cory Clouston announced a few minutes ago the club’s backup will make the start against the New York Rangers in today’s matinee at Scotiabank Place.
Trying to get out of a funk and with starter Pascal Leclaire struggling, Elliott will be in the net for the first time since Oct. 29th when he dropped a 5-2 decision to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
“It’s the right choice at this time,” said a tight-lipped coach Cory Clouston.
The decision to scratch winger Ryan Shannon is no surprise. He hasn’t been producing and the club wants to get Shean Donovan back in there. The last time Donovan suited up was on Oct. 31st against Atlanta.