I love you...you know that I do. You know that I will always be a fan and I will always be willing to sit in a room full of Leaf fans so that I can cheer you on however, you and I need to have a little chat! I would have written this sooner however, it has taken me a little while to accept the defeat that we encountered on Saturday night. You know that you are a terrific team but, you really have to get over this whole "curse of round two" thing...it's really starting to frustrate me!!!
I'm starting to notice a pattern in which if you lose the first game of the round, you end up losing the best of four. For a team that performs so strongly during the regular season, I'm always so puzzled as to how your confidence is so easily rattled when it comes to the playoffs. Now, I'll admit...I'm certainly not one to give any advice on how to play hockey...God knows that you guys play it a lot better than I ever could but, ultimately, this obviously comes down to a matter of consistency and confidence when it really matters.
I certainly don't think that you should listen to anyone that tells you that this has been another "playoff disaster" because really, every team but one is going to lose when it comes to the end so the word disaster might be a bit of a stretch. I will say though that when it came to round two, nothing upsets me more than watching an important (aka. overtime) goal coming for five seconds (especially a short-handed one at that!). There are errors and then there is the error of forgetting to play defence for five games in a row. What's that about?!?!
All this to say that I am a little disappointed right now. I don't mind losing as long as you've played your heart out and made it anyone's game. It's much harder to accept though when you've been eaten alive!
Fear not though my Senators...I still believe! I will wear black for the next week and pout around town as we no longer have games to look forward to but, I will be there come the start of next season ready to cheer you on yet again. Your day will come but, for now, I think that we should just take the baby steps of trying to get past round two.
Till next season!
Dear Toronto Maple Leaf Fans:
(especially those who live in the Chatham-Kent District!)
Before all of you starting ranting about the fact that we lost the series (which I know you are all anxiously sitting there waiting to do!), please allow me to remind you that the Ottawa Senators beat you seven out of the eight times that you played this past year and that you didn't even make the playoffs. I'm also fairly certain that I haven't seen you guys holding the Stanley Cup any time recently so really, your track record isn't a whole heck of a lot better. Hence, I do believe that means that your right to lecture us on our weaknesses has officially been revoked until you make the playoffs once again! Once that happens, then we can talk, but until then, I believe all bragging rights of any kind will have to be repressed until further notice!!
Sincerely,
Gen










