So Long, Stanley. I can’t believe the Red Wings got swept in the first round of the playoffs. Triple over time? Double over time? 63 saves? I guess you can’t say they fell apart. They tried. The games were close. It wasn’t like the Colorado Avalanche last year that fell apart and allowed 7 goals. I think what hurts the most is that I won’t be able to spend my spring time desperately trying to find someone who won’t mind me borrowing their cable and their couch to watch a game on ESPN. It says a lot when you have to go to great lengths to watch a game. Even if they lose you at least have the joy of watching some games and having some fun. This year I only saw a few games, it was over before it started. So much for hockey in June–which always did seem like an oxymoron.

I just hope next year I still get to watch the toothless grin of Darren McCarty and the puck-weaving of Pavel Datsyuk.