End of a Wild Ride (the playoffs are over)

It's over. After 65 long days and longer nights, 24 games, 14 Devil victories, four episodes of Puck Nuts and a possible dent on my living room floor and rug, the LA Kings have won the Stanley Cup.

Last week after game three, I had all but given up on this team. I went into game four a defeated fan, I even wrote a four page blog in my notebook, convinced it was over. Now it's the day after the Stanley Cup was awarded and it's only the second time I've ever experienced a finals loss. The first time was in 2001, after that I was extremely depressed. That was heartbreaking, especially after being up 3-2. But that was then, this is now. This one doesn't hurt so much. I mean last night's game was extremely hard to watch. I don't know how much of the third period I actually watched.

Ever since this series started the phrase "I wasn't even supposed to be here" popped into my head. It was the truth, the Devils were not supposed to be here.

It was a long ride. First it was the Panthers. Devils were down 3-2 and they found away to win. Game 6 went to overtime. Game 7 went to double overtime. It was after midnight and a quick turnaround and the Flyers were waiting. After losing game one in overtime, the Devs went on a tear and suddenly the series was over five. Then came the Rangers and the wars of words amongst players, coaches and friends began. A week and a half later the Devils beat the Rangers, the series went to six and after a very quick overtime, the ghosts of Matteau and Messier were finally gone and replaced with Henrique! Suddenly, out of nowhere, the Devils were the Eastern Conference Champions.

My hat that I've worn everyday
since the middle of March. It will
now be retired.

It was shocking to say the least and that takes the sting off losing the Cup. Look at it this way, the Devils missed the playoffs last year. They had a new coach, a new style and even a new attitude. So looking back this has been a great year.

But with every great playoff run comes the people who have to deal with the fandom and the friends who are there during and after all the games.

1. To my amazing wife Mandy. She has put up with alot this year, not only the Devils run but with the Giants one as well. But to her credit she always made sure I was home for almost all the games (I worked during game three of the conference finals, so there's nothing that can be done there.) She put up with my mood swings, my strange superstitions, my playoff hangovers and my contast hockey talk. If I was in her shoes I'd be excited this was over just as much as her. But her patience dealing with me made it much easier to get through.

Sal sporting his imfamous
playoff beard. It lasted
till the night of
Game 3 of the Finals.

2. Through all the games and days, my phone has been going crazy talking hockey. It had been a long time since I talked this much game. But there had been two guys who have actually become closer friends with me because of this run, they are Sal & Scotty. Scotty has been my WI hockey buddy for a while, and after his Preds were knocked out, he jumped on the red and black bandwagon, but mainly because he wanted me, as his friend, to be happy. He would text me during games especially during the Conference Finals just to check on me, pump me up and make sure I wasn't on the ledge after a big loss. On the side of the coin, I spent many a night pulling Sal off the ledge after losses and even after rough periods. Through it all, me adn him have bonded over this run and it was needed for both of our sakes.

3. This is a message for the rest of the family who have been dealing with me. At this point everyone, including myself are probably sick of my pre-game music, Soundgarden-Live To Rise and Van Halen-Running With The Devil. Those songs are indeed being retired from being played till next season.

This is the towel that Janet
got at game six of the
conference finals. Too bad
I didn't get it before game five,
maybe it would have brought
more luck.

Finally thank you to all the people who have been dealing with my mood swings, screaming, late television nights, attitudes an flat out annoyance since April 13th. It has been really difficult to really get through these playoffs. Life is different and I'm older than the last time the Devils made a run. I learned alot about how to deal with playoff hockey and a family this year. Now next time hopefully won't be as hard.

All things being and considered though, this has been an exhausting playoff ride. I'll be happy to have anymore stressful intense for a long while.
So till next season, when they reveal the new banner on opening night, it's time to start my sports summer vacation. It's been a long year and a it's time to recharge the batteries. It has been a great year, hopefully though, next time, the Devils finish the job they started.

A salute to the 2012 Eastern Conference Champion New Jersey Devils!