I fully believe the Wings will win the Stanley Cup this year. The Penguins have managed to stay alive for now, but it won’t last.
That being said, there is still the pain. The pain will never go away. I literally had nightmares last night of Dats hitting the post, Kronner’s unlucky bounce, MAF making an unbelievable toe save, Maltby unable to get a stick on the puck, Sammy shooting wide, Jiri’s stick sliding up the stick of a Penguin, and that stupid goal with 34.7 seconds left. 34.7. I’ll never forget that number, and I guarantee it’s burned in the minds of every single Red Wing. 34.7 seconds from glory in front of their home crowd.
I kept thinking (as I was desperately trying to fall asleep last night) of all the things that could have been. If only this had happened, or that. If only that 2-on-1 had worked. If only we had tried for the empty net, rather than the safe clear. If only. Oh yes, the pain is very real. And you cannot understand it unless you are a Wings fan.
The Wings are hungry. They want it. Watch Helm. Watch Kronner, Hudler, Drake. They want it. They can taste it. They practically had the champagne in their mouths last night. No, they’re not just going to let that go. They’re going to come with a fury tomorrow night. That fact gives me some comfort. But not enough to make me forget. To make me stop reliving. Believe me, I’ve tried. I tried to think about anything else last night, just trying to get to sleep to escape the pain. Little did I know it was waiting for me in my dreams as well. 34.7 seconds.
There is no rhyme or reason to explain what happened last night. In time, the shock will wear off. Lidstrom will lift Lord Stanley’s Cup over his head, and for a time, we’ll forget. But in the middle of the summer, when we’re all reliving the playoffs and Finals because we have yet to discover how to live without hockey, we’ll remember. 34.7 seconds. And the pain will return.
Wow. What a post.
First time I have ever posted here, but I have read your blog throughout the playoffs.
You couldn’t have said it any better. I couldn’t sleep all night. I had so many dreams about what happened, what could have happened, and what should have happened. I would wake up sometimes thinking we had won the Cup, and then remember THE PAIN. I told my girlfriend afterwards that I wished we hadn’t come back at all. It would have sucked to lose, but it wouldn’t have been as crushing.
I wish I had your optimism about winning the Cup still, but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t worried. I am worried about what 6 periods does to a team that plays it’s older guys a lot of minutes. Crosby doesn’t play the amount of minutes that Z, Dats, and Lidstrom play. I am worried the emotional effect the game will have. And I am worried about all the crazy bounces that can happen in a hockey game.
I am hoping we can close them out quickly in Game 6 like we did last series. I am hoping the Penguins spent so much energy and emotion eeking out that win, that they have nothing left. I hope I’m wrong, and you are right.
GO WINGS!!
yeah, that hurt, I wish i could say it was cuz we were too tight and nervous and we got outplayed by a better team last night, truth is we didn’t, after the first 20 we took control of the game and dominated, Fleury had the game of his carreer more then likely; to be honest i think it was an anomoly i do not think he will play that amazing again, and i honestly believe we will spank them in the igloo on wednesday.
But it hurt forsure, great post.
p.s. we still lead 3-2 but for some reason i feel worse after last nights loss then i did when we lost game 6 against the ducks last night, not sure why though…
Yeah, I had nightmares all last night too. That one hurt because we were so close to ending it.