THE CURSE OF ALEXEI YASHIN, WITH BONUS AMATEUR NUMEROLOGY

Expect a lot more than two matches in a future Google search for the "curse of Alexei Yashin."

The first recorded instance came from an anonymous message-boarder on May 14, 2006 (that would have been in the hours after the Senators were upset by the Buffalo Sabres in Round 2 of the playoffs) and Ottawa Citizen wordsmith Wayne Scanlan worked it into a column written Nov. 15, 2006, when the most accomplished team in the franchise's history was at their lowest ebb.*

The Senators were eliminated in the Stanley Cup final on the same day the New York Islanders bought out the contract of Yashin (pictured), who apparently haunts Ottawa still. And it goes deeper.

Dean McAmmond, who played great hockey for Ottawa the whole playoffs, was knocked out of the Stanley Cup final by that no-good Chris Pronger. McAmmond wears No. 37, which backwards is 73 -- the year Yashin was born.

Who was John Muckler's big trade-deadline pickup? Another Russian, Oleg Saprykin, who wears No. 61 -- which is Yashin's old No. 19 upside-down.

DIRTY DOZEN

Oleg Saprykin has 12 letters in his name -- just like Alexei Yashin. The same goes for Dean McAmmond and Chris Pronger.

In Game 4, which was the final game of the series played in Ottawa, the winning goal was scored by Dustin Penner (12 letters) with assists from Teemu Selanne and Andy McDonald (also 12 letters).

The Conn Smythe Trophy winner, Scott Niedermayer, has 12 letters on the back of his sweater ("S. Niedermayer"), since his brother Rob also plays for Anaheim. The Cup champions' team name -- Anaheim Ducks -- became 12 letters long after being changed from Mighty Ducks of Anaheim before the start of this season.

What also has 12 letters? Lloydminster, hometown of Senators defenceman and frequent post-season goat Wade Redden, which is in a province -- Saskatchewan -- with a 12-letter name. If the Reddens had the family homestead in the Lloydminster on the Alberta side, it might have turned out differently.

The guy who now wears Yashin's old 19 for Ottawa, Jason Spezza, who was acquired in a trade for Yashin, pulled a disappearing act in the final that was worthy of anything Yashin did during his Ottawa years.

Ottawa d-man Chris Phillips, who put the puck in his own net for the Stanley Cup-winning goal, was born March 9 -- 3/9, or 39, the sweater number of Dominik Hašek, whose strained adductor muscle might have cost the Senators a shot at the Stanley Cup in 2006. (Spezza gave up 39 to Hasek before that season.)

In Canada, government documents list the day first and the month second, so Phillips' birthday would be written 9/3 -- or 93, the year Alexei Yashin began playing for the Senators.

Hey, is that Rod Serling?

BANNER YEAR

One shouldn't put it past an organization helmed by Brian Burke to possibly be cocky, but since when does any team above the high-school level have a banner ready to be raised as soon as the final game of the playoffs ends?

It ain't braggin' if you can't do it, though, and the Ducks did it. Scott Niedermayer, with four Cup rings, might have be unmatched among players whose careers began after the end of the 21-team era. Niedermayer's rookie year was 1991-92, when the expansion San Jose Sharks became the 22nd team.

* (Wordsmith, Wayne, worked. written -- don't say there's no one in Ottawa who can put four W's together at the time of year. What, too soon? Seriously, Senators fans should have no regrets and will hopefully realize that as the late, great Bill Hicks said, it's just a ride.)

That's all for now. Send your thoughts to neatesager@yahoo.ca.