Curses!
Once again, the Detroit Red Wings have exited the Stanley Cup playoffs long before they were supposed to. Earlier tonight they were eliminated in their first round series (by Edmonton) after posting the NHL's best record during the regular season.
This is even more grating because it's the third straight Stanley Cup playoff season they were "one and done." Posting the best record in the regular season doesn't mean much. Not when you face a hot goalie. Not when some of your best shooters can't buy a goal. Not when your top player gets injured/plays hurt.
That's why they play the games, I guess. Life would be so boring if everything were predictable. And it's not as if the Wings haven't won three Stanley Cups in the last decade or so.
The team dominated during the regular season and just coasted through the last two months of the season. Were they ready for a scrappy team that had to battle simply to get into the playoffs, a team that had just played a whole string of "must" games and was working on adrenaline?
Whatever the reason, the Red Wings are Dead Things in the playoffs again. I didn't expect it from the Oilers ... but at the same time, I'm not shocked, either. Somehow I'm getting used to seeing them play one playoff series ... and then head for the golf course.
So which team should I back now? That needs a little thought, and I'm too disappointed to think about that right now. It's just one of those things when you follow sports teams.
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