"Haven't we suffered enough?" It burns me a little to say this - but Ron Cook said it best in today's Post Gazette.
I mean, really, how did this happen? The season started off like a freight train; slow but gaining power. And ended like a train wreck. Every fan shielding their eyes from a potentially horrific scene, yet still peering through their fingers to catch a glimpse of either heads hung in defeat or the hope of a possibility of some sort of immaculate reception moment on ice.
Unfortunately it was the former that occurred, and now here we are approaching the first game of the Stanley Cup Championship series, still scratching our heads, kicking the dirt, saying "what the puck?!" Oh, and watching our beloved Igloo make its descent from sky to ground. (Please explain why we have to tear it down again?) Not only are we in awe and denial - over the fact that our beloved black and gold slipped, fell and couldn't get up to get past the Habs, but how in the world did Philly manage to bowl right over them right after us with such ease?
So here we are, hockey fans, in disarray over the fact that not only did WE not make it into the championship series for Lord Stanley, but the dreaded Philthy Flyers are going up against arch nemeses Mr. Maryanne-Pantie-Hose-Hossa. *Begin booing now*
What I don't want to hear - or see - though, while we shift into offseason all-business mode, is any more finger pointing. Since our season came to an abrupt halt, most conversation has revolved around who's to blame. And way too many people are throwing Fleury under the bus. (Guilty.)
Don't.
It takes a team to win, it takes a team to lose.
There were a couple of moments when I wanted to throw myself through the TV to mutilate Fleury with my bare hands because of a silly five-hole or dancing outside of the blue type of goal. But those moments were rare and usually sizzled away quickly after he would redeem himself with a handful of spectacular saves.
But there were far too many defensive mistakes, allowing too many break aways and open shots on goal. There was a sickening amount of turnovers between the blue lines. I think the final game of the season, the turnover numbers were something like 20-1. Not good boys. Just like I say for the Steelers - Field goals don't win games - well, turnovers don't either.
Sloppy. Sloppy is a word I like to use when I am at the lake with my friends. Not when I am talking about the march of the Pens.
Let's shift gears though before I get too carried away pretending like I know what I am talking about.
Who do we cheer for in the coming weekend? I don't care how good they claim their cheese steaks are, I certainly can not see myself getting vamped up to root on that other city on the other side of the state. Besides, who needs a cheese steak from there, when we've got Primantis here. (Booyah!) But on the other hand, there's no way I can back Hossa and hope that he finds his way to getting his name etched onto the Glory Cup. No way, uh-uh.
So I thought about it, vacillated over it, read about it, and I can't believe I am saying this twice in one post but Cook has a valid point, again, that has ultimately swayed my decision. The tipping point, if you will:
"Many here still haven't recovered from that pain even though the Penguins foiled Hossa's plans by beating the Red Wings in seven games last season to win the Cup. In a perverse way, Penguins fans should thank him for leaving. He cleared cap room for the team to do new deals with goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury and defenseman Brooks Orpik, among others, and bring in veteran winger Bill Guerin at the '09 trade deadline. Then, he had a miserable final with no goals."
So, here I am, not totally caring who wins to be honest, but if I truly had to pick a side, I have to say Go Hawks! Ugh,I said it.Word Vomit.Yuck.Plah!
"When I looked at it, I wanted to have the best chance to win the Stanley Cup, and I felt Detroit is that team," Sorry, Hossa, you loser now!
Forget, it there's no reason to cheer for either time. I hope they both lose. Ha! Take that Hossa and Hartnell! There, I feel much better. Let's go Bucs?
Oh my.
