The End of a Very Good Season

Right now there is a lot of disappointment surrounding everything about the Ducks, but the fact of the matter is that Nashville was the better team, as is the case when any team wins a seven game series, and this was a Hell of a season for the Ducks. 

If Brandon McMillan was standing one inch closer to the crease or if Teemu’s shot off of Shea Weber’s skate had deflected a millimeter to the left I probably wouldn’t be writing this now, but this has been an extremely successful season.  This team has come a long way from the group that opened up the season with three straight losses in embarrassing fashion.  The league leading goal scorer, the highest scoring defenseman in the league, home ice advantage (regardless of whether it played out) despite losing a clear cut, number one, all-star goalie for almost half the season, and one of the best seasons ever produced by a player over 40 is pretty impressive when you consider this team was supposed to finish 12th at best. 

Seeing Teemu play like an absolute madman throughout the year, especially in the playoffs and double especially in that last game was simultaneously the best part about this season and the worst.  He scored some unbelievable goals at unbelievable times, he almost seemed as fast as he was during the peak years of Teemu and Paul and he just never ceased to amaze.  At the same time the only thing I could think while watching him yesterday is that he was playing like he didn’t want this to be his last game, but he thought it would be.  He was trying to go out with a bang or not at all and he didn’t disappoint.   This wasn’t a farewell tour, and part of me thinks that’s a good thing, but I also can’t get enough of watching him play.  He can still do it but maybe it’s better this way. 

Regardless of what Teemu decides to do over the summer, it’s a sad day for Ducks fans, but at least we aren’t pulling a Vancouver.  They exceeded expectations and we should be proud.

Maybe later this week I’ll do a more analytical post about what I thought of the performances this season and post season, but for now the bottom line is it was about as good as we could have hoped.