As I write this, the defending 2006 Stanley Cup champions are teetering on the playoff fence, dangerously close to falling off onto the wrong side. You know the side I am talking about – the one with the big, vicious mean dog ready to tear the team to shreds (think “The Sandlot”). Unfortunately for the team, its not just one single, angry dog waiting on the other side. It’s the Hurricanes fans that are waiting.
No, I don’t mean the fans that magically showed up during the Eastern Conference Finals, causing fans like myself to contemplate selling a kidney in order to afford tickets. I mean the ones that are sick and tired of the organization over achieving, only to decide that they have earned the right to play uninspired hockey. The same stigma the guys fought so hard to overcome last season is exactly what they are playing into this year.
Because of the “effort” put forth during the season, we now have to hope and pray that the stars align correctly and the Canes manage to make it into the playoffs by the skin of their teeth. Once they get there, we have to cross our fingers and toes that they find the spark they had just last season to carry them into at least a decent playoff run.
The Canes are on a sinking ship and there were zero moves before the trade deadline to plug the holes. Oh, sorry…I forgot about Anson Carter. A team that has David Tanabe leading defenseman in TOI is NOT Stanley Cup bound, let alone playoff bound.
I realize I am not giving enough credit to the tight playoff race in the Eastern Conference. This year’s race is incredible between Tampa Bay, Montreal, Atlanta, Toronto and the Islanders. There are essentially 4 playoff spots to share between the six teams, all of which don’t want to miss the playoffs. Atlanta is looking for their first ever playoff run, Toronto just CAN’T miss the playoffs again, the Islanders landed Captain Canada, Tampa leads the SE division and Montreal’s fans would riot if the Habs missed the playoffs.
So why does Carolina need to make the playoffs?
Because its 2007. The reign of the 2005-2006 Stanley Cup champions is over. Now we Canes fans just have to wait for Brind’Amour and Staal to realize that.
CG12
No, I don’t mean the fans that magically showed up during the Eastern Conference Finals, causing fans like myself to contemplate selling a kidney in order to afford tickets. I mean the ones that are sick and tired of the organization over achieving, only to decide that they have earned the right to play uninspired hockey. The same stigma the guys fought so hard to overcome last season is exactly what they are playing into this year.
Because of the “effort” put forth during the season, we now have to hope and pray that the stars align correctly and the Canes manage to make it into the playoffs by the skin of their teeth. Once they get there, we have to cross our fingers and toes that they find the spark they had just last season to carry them into at least a decent playoff run.
The Canes are on a sinking ship and there were zero moves before the trade deadline to plug the holes. Oh, sorry…I forgot about Anson Carter. A team that has David Tanabe leading defenseman in TOI is NOT Stanley Cup bound, let alone playoff bound.
I realize I am not giving enough credit to the tight playoff race in the Eastern Conference. This year’s race is incredible between Tampa Bay, Montreal, Atlanta, Toronto and the Islanders. There are essentially 4 playoff spots to share between the six teams, all of which don’t want to miss the playoffs. Atlanta is looking for their first ever playoff run, Toronto just CAN’T miss the playoffs again, the Islanders landed Captain Canada, Tampa leads the SE division and Montreal’s fans would riot if the Habs missed the playoffs.
So why does Carolina need to make the playoffs?
Because its 2007. The reign of the 2005-2006 Stanley Cup champions is over. Now we Canes fans just have to wait for Brind’Amour and Staal to realize that.
CG12
