from Don Brennan of the Ottawa Sun,

Playing for pride.

They are the three little words a true hockey fan dreads hearing from players on his or her team. They mean the season is over earlier than it was supposed to be but hey, at least the boys are vowing to go down with a swing in their remaining, meaningless games.

How comforting. You go, boys.

The Senators have been talking openly about playing for pride since the start of the month, when back-to-back home losses to the New York Islanders and the Montreal Canadiens effectively rendered useless all but prayer for a miracle allowing them to make the playoffs. Meanwhile, the realists among them had to know that's all they've had left for weeks, maybe even months.

Now, customers of their business get to shell out hard earned bucks for the opportunity to see the Senators play for pride against the New Jersey Devils at Canadian Tire Centre Thursday in what's being billed as Fan Appreciation Night.

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