Teams that Can't Get Over the Hump

Hockey Talk

Watching San Jose making another early playoff exit can't help but make one empathize with the futility of the fans that support and follow the Sharks. While San Jose had a great regular season winning the President's trophy in the process, this team couldn't even get past the first round losing to its arch rival Anaheim in six games. I knew when the seedings came out that San Jose had the worst possible matchup for a number one seed but I still figured that they would be able to defeat Anaheim in 6 or 7 games. Alas, San Jose again showed that the regular season means little other than it gets you into the playoffs. However, once the playoffs begin, your regular season record means nothing, and you have to prove yourself all over again. It seems that some teams are just not able to get over the hump and gain hockey immortality by winning a Cup. San Jose may just be one of those teams. They are a team loaded with stars and veterans, and much was expected of them this year. With free agency and the salary cap, it's hard to keep a nucleus of players together for long, and this may have been their best chance to win a cup. The Ottawa Senators are another team that had some great teams in recent years, but were never able to complete the deal, although they did at least make it to the finals two years ago. While many are called, few are chosen, and it makes one appreciate even more the teams that are able to win hockey's biggest prize. Unfortunately, San Jose will not be one of those teams again this year.

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