I knew your team was great....but I must say I didn't know just how great your team was, I underestimated them. This series is one of the tightest gut wrenching series that I have ever watched my team play in. There was no space whatsoever, it was frustrating at times. Your team was all over us...I think in the end our veteran savvy and experience was the difference...
...and yes a little bit of luck too, but THAT is part of hockey. That is why it is so hard to have repeat success in this sport....bouncing pucks, goal posts, etc. all require a bit of luck to overcome. It was actually part of my discussion with my daughter while we were watching, about how difficult it is in this sport to have consistent success and why you should cherish it when you do.
It is unbelievable how snake-bitten Stamkos was this series...I really thought he was a real pain and all over the place, he just couldn't catch a break. I know he should have elevated the puck but he was too deep into the crease by that time. By the time he made his move and had Crawford down the distance and the angle was against him at that point. But anyways he almost gave me a heart attack on numerous occasions.
I remember when my team lost in the 2009 WCF to Detroit (4-1) the defeat was gut wrenching. We felt that we finally had rebuilt enough to beat them and had a shot at the Cup only to get beat pretty soundly by the Wings. It felt like a ship crashing with a "thud". We eventually won the Cup the next year and the rest was history. I think it is moments like these that help develop your talent to the next level.
Honestly I think that Tamp Bay is primed to make a run here....I wouldn't doubt that you make a run similiar to the Hawks and this might just be your launching pad. I know the feeling is hollow and painful but hang in there and good luck and thank you for a GREAT series! (Seriously it was...no team had a 2 goal lead until the clinching game and even that was in the final 5-6 minutes of the game.) This series was amazingly close and intense.
...and yes a little bit of luck too, but THAT is part of hockey. That is why it is so hard to have repeat success in this sport....bouncing pucks, goal posts, etc. all require a bit of luck to overcome. It was actually part of my discussion with my daughter while we were watching, about how difficult it is in this sport to have consistent success and why you should cherish it when you do.
It is unbelievable how snake-bitten Stamkos was this series...I really thought he was a real pain and all over the place, he just couldn't catch a break. I know he should have elevated the puck but he was too deep into the crease by that time. By the time he made his move and had Crawford down the distance and the angle was against him at that point. But anyways he almost gave me a heart attack on numerous occasions.
I remember when my team lost in the 2009 WCF to Detroit (4-1) the defeat was gut wrenching. We felt that we finally had rebuilt enough to beat them and had a shot at the Cup only to get beat pretty soundly by the Wings. It felt like a ship crashing with a "thud". We eventually won the Cup the next year and the rest was history. I think it is moments like these that help develop your talent to the next level.
Honestly I think that Tamp Bay is primed to make a run here....I wouldn't doubt that you make a run similiar to the Hawks and this might just be your launching pad. I know the feeling is hollow and painful but hang in there and good luck and thank you for a GREAT series! (Seriously it was...no team had a 2 goal lead until the clinching game and even that was in the final 5-6 minutes of the game.) This series was amazingly close and intense.
