Regardless of what transpires tonight, this has been the most entertaining season of hockey in my 46 years of existence, with what is easily the most skilled NHL team this city has iced.
The 84/85 season was the closest comparison, but realistically, that team did not have the potential of this roster and was easily dismantled by the Oilers 4 straight in the 2nd round. The 84/85 team was more of a finished product, while this year's roster is extremely young, with a high ceiling of potential. Our best hockey, our best team is still a couple of seasons out. What will we look like with a 24 year old Laine, Ehlers and Connor hitting their prime years along with Morrissey and Trouba.
Its going to be a tough hill to climb tonight, but we can definitely pull this off. This team has had a propensity for recovering from bad losses, rising up when you think things are going south. If we can play to our full potential tonight, I feel we are the better team and will win, but having a young team max its potential under the most stressful of situations, will be a tall task.
Whatever the result tonight, a 52 win season, 2nd best team in the entire league, a 1st round victory and taking the defending conference champs, and the number 1 team in the league to a game 7 is an amazing season, and a nice baseline to measure the next season against.