(Photo by the Athletic)
How could this have happened? In no way, shape or form that the outcome had to end like this. A bad dream turned into reality. Something that could cause Freddy Kreuger to be frightened, himself. It was a situation that caused a legion of fans to go into shock and dismay. The biggest choke job in sports since.......well, four years ago by another record-breaking club. No one thought this would be duplicated. Not one person.
The Boston Bruins came out of the gates this season and slaughtered everyone in its path. They kept winning, and winning, and winning. The victories were piling up as the Bruins were having the renaissance season that many would remember in time. 65 wins and 134 points, both NHL single season records. The Bruins would try to exercise some demons as their playoff history indicated that they needed to raise the Cup for the first time in 12 years to put a lid on those past playoff frustrations.
In a word, nope.....just nope. Not only was this failure being added on to the list of frustrations, but this is the cherry on top. More excruciating than the Game 7 of the Cup Finals against St. Louis at TD Garden. More devastating than giving up two goals in under a minute to see the Blackhawks skate off with the Cup ten years ago at TD Garden. Watching Game 7 of this series against Florida was like watching a car wreck that should have been avoided. The Bruins had this wrapped up. 3-1 series lead and ready to take on the NHL world. The Bruins held a 3-2 lead as time ticked away in Game 7. Then, Florida scored and forced OT. This is when you realized this was the end of the road. The Panthers scored in overtime to end it.
As much as anyone can compare this Bruins team to the 2019 Tampa Bay Lightning team, there is really no comparison. The Bruins lasted seven games while the Lightning were swept. Come to think of it, Tampa's situation was worse. However, they were able to bounce back and win the next two Stanley Cups. Here's the dilemma: The Lightning's roster was equipped to be able to come back and contend for a Cup run. Boston's is probably not. Captain Patrice Bergeron has been hinting at retirement for the past two years and it can come to fruition this off-season. A close member of his family is ill and he probably wants to be close to his family. Also, he looks beat up. Same with Brad Marchand, Linus Ullmark, David Pastrnak, and even Tyler Bertuzzi. Getting to the 65 wins seemed to sap the energy out of this club after Game 4. The Panthers took advantage of that and won the last three games. Of course, that's what I saw at my end. I'm not a hockey expert.
Okay, Karma struck this organization, BIG TIME! Don't believe me? Well, the hockey gods stuckdown with vengeance, because of this.....
Or this.......
See, while in the bubble during the pandemic, goalie Tuukka Rask left in the middle of a crucial series to tend to a family emergency. A member of the Boston media and failed Islanders GM Mike Milbury decided to criticize Rask for this. It seems that the hockey gods were not thrilled by these two doing that to a Bruins legend. Unfortunately, it was time to pay the piper.
For a city that endured Bill Buckner's blunder or the Patriots' undefeated season that wasn't, this will be added on that list. This wound is fresh.
It shouldn't have happened, but it did.
(To read the article about the Tampa Bay Lightning's collapse, check it out on our website www.realsportsaz.com and the Wix mobile app)
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