Mack674 said:
I hope this is the depression talking, but:
It's the depression talking. That does not mean your reaction is not justified or that it is irrational. HOWEVER, what it is more than anything right now is
raw and emotional.
In a few days, if that long, you'll feel much better -- and during the summer the pains of that game will recede and your affections for the Leafs will be rekindled by the boundless hope for the future.
Because someday, it really WILL be "the year".
I do not suggest for a moment that last night's game will become some distant forgotten memory. That game will be burned into the DNA of the Toronto Maple Leafs as one of the greatest disappointments in the history of the franchise. As well it should be. It was an historic collapse at a time when there was a genuine HOLE that might have seen TML advance to the conference final. And given the Pens goaltending and TML's superiority over Ottawa, we might have even advanced to the Cup final. (where we would NOT have won, but whatever). I still think the loss of Bozak and Fraser had already sealed the team's fate. It was only a matter of time.
Still, it will sting for decades. But it will sting a whole lot less shortly, and even less than THAT as we gear up for the next season.
The one thing that being a Leafs Fan since the mid 70s has taught me is what you already know yourself:
every season is a new year and hope springs eternal.
Devastating loss though. Being up 3 goals on Vancouver only to have Bure break our dreams of the Cup in '94 was the last time I remember feeling *close* to this. And really, losing to Vancouver in the Western Conf Final was far worse than this.
I would remind you that dropping that three goal lead to the Canucks lead DIRECTLY to the loss of Wendel Clark and the acquisition of Mats Sundin. So these things have a way of having unforeseen consequences that are not always seen as being so disastrous in the longterm.
Stings like a witch today though.
Such is the lot in life of a Leafs fan. *sigh*