Other than that, last night is the most recent in a string of games I'm trying to forget. Our playoff berth just slid that much further away.
It bears mentioning that the veterans - Selanne, Koivu and Marchant in particular - are clearly still trying to put up a fight. The flipside of that coin would seem to be the sagging shoulders of some of the younger guys. Dan Sexton seemed like the most egregious example, hanging his head at nearly every stoppage and skating aimlessly until the faceoff.
Bobby Ryan and his linemates continue to be cursed. Whether it's some evil exertion of fate, a conspiracy of physics, or simply a uncanny procession of hot goaltenders, the result is the same. Or rather, the lack of results is the same.
The vibe in the arena was subdued; the mood on the bench seemed downright dour. And worst of all? The frustration that's so understandable and relatable on a human level is also exactly what's keeping this team in a funk. It's a frustration that manifests itself in penalties (remember that Nashville's only goal came via a 2-man advantage), hasty playmaking, and a level of selfishness that reduces the team to 5 individuals. That those individuals want to pick the game up on their shoulders (Getzlaf, Beleskey, Visnovsky and Wisiewski all seemed particularly keen on heroism last night) is irrelevant. That they haven't yet is the problem.
A problem that we're running rapidly out of time to fix.
I'll try to rant some more before tomorrow's game againt San Jose. If I can muster the energy to do so.
Until next time...
-The Raving Duck
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