~ Meltdown ~

:::sigh:::  You'd think by Jochen Hecht's posture the picture was taken after the game, but it wasn't.  It was pre-game warm-up.  I should have known!!  My nephew and I got to the arena last night and there was an excitement in the air.  Nervous excitement.  With only a few games left the boys needed a win to climb back into the hunt for the playoffs.   Our seats were right behind the goal and the netting hanging from ceiling to glass to protect the fans was a hindrance for picture taking.  I knew that, I've sat here before.  I took my camera anyway.  With each other game I attended I had the handy camera and we won.  How could I break that routine?  I took pictures in pre-game when I was able to move from my seat.  I took the opening face-off, netting and all.  Then I took some shots of Ryan Miller when he was at our end of the rink. 

 

The first period ended with Ottawa up 1-0.  The boys played hard and Miller kept them in the game.   With only a few minutes left in the second period Derek Roy opened the scoring with a goal of his own to tie the game.  Whuuuu Huuu the crowd went nuts.  We are still in it.  There is hope, faith....  the third period started and less then 3 minutes in Roy scores again.  I thought the roof would blow off the arena.  Before folks could get comfy in their seats Pominville scores and gives the boys a 3-1 lead.   They played hard for a bit then all of a sudden it happened.  They went into a shell.  They lost momentum.  They weren't going for the jugular, but rather sat back and tried to protect the lead.  Mistake number 1!!   Mistake number 2 came with about 8 minutes left in the game.  We are on the power play.  A miss read, a crappy pass, all the guys in the offensive zone the Senators get the puck.  They rush down the ice and wham, the score is 3-2.  The rest seems to be a blur.  The boys stopped trying, they imploded, a complete meltdown.  I've heard the word fragile and last night was a perfect example.  They lost momentum and couldn't get it back.  They stopped believing even though the fans cheered them on.  Two minutes later the score is tied, 4 minutes later they are losing.  It was horrible.  I've never seen such a thing.  In 8 minutes Ottawa scored 5 unanswered goals and when the buzzer went the boys lost 6-3. 

 

I didn't expect the boys to finish first in the league, I didn't even figure they'd finish first in the division, and I sure as hell didn't figure this.  With 6 games left we are on the outside looking in and all looks dismal here.  A bleak time.   Being the realist I am I can't fathom them climbing in.  There is something missing.  It's been missing since spring last season.  I won't for one minute give into the belief that is the fact that some players are missing.  Sure it didn't help not having them, but it didn't help having them either.  A change needed?  I don't know.  We have one of the youngest teams by age, but not by experience.  Did it catch up to them?   Did long back to back seasons?   Having our goalie play over 75 games cause him to have a mental break downs?  Injuries?  Leadership?  Management? The list goes on.  I will cheer my boys until the day I die, but last night was a sad night.  Giving into the idea that my boys will be playing golf instead of hockey come April was a kick in the teeth.   GRRRRR

 

This morning I woke up with a bit of an ache, but I will live.  It's a game right?   I got several emails, cards, and comments wishing me a Happy Birthday... Thank you!!  I had several calls and lots of little things at work.  We celebrated this morning with carrot cake.  YUM!  My boss bought two.  One for work one for home.  How cool is that?  Had a great lunch and my sister treated me to dinner.  S'getti Parm.  Ohhhhhhhh the calories... but it was great and I am stuffed!   More cards, more emails, more calls.  It was awesome.   I will admit it felt so weirdnot getting the call my sister.  A good part of the day I kept expecting the call.  She always called.  She never forgot.  Not long ago my phone rang again and I thought 'there she is'  How selfish is that?  ::wiping tear::  I wish this ache would go away......

 

All in all my day was great.  My son is working so we will do something another night.  Again, thank you for all the good wishes they are so appreciated. 

 

Hugs

~d

Tags: Buffalo Sabres, meltdown, playoffs, thank you