Canucks will be forever haunted if they lose this series to Hawks
VANCOUVER — It is said that Herb Brooks' final words to his U.S. Olympic hockey team before the players took the ice against Finland in the 1980 gold medal game — having already done the hard part of their Miracle on Ice against the Soviets — were as follows:
"If you lose this game," Brooks said, "you will take it to your [expletive] graves."
Then, as he reached the door, he turned and repeated: "To your [expletive] graves."
One supposes that this isn't exactly the right moment, in the midst of what must be an emotional tornado whirling inside the Vancouver Canucks, to lay something that heavy on them — and besides, it's probably not Alain Vigneault's style to be so negative.
But it's true, nonetheless. If they do, they will.
Lose Game 7, at home, after leading the Chicago Blackhawks three games to none ... ruin a Presidents Trophy season with an ignominious first-round exit ... let the same team own them three playoff seasons in a row ... fumble the ending after wonderful regular seasons by Daniel (and Henrik) Sedin, by Ryan Kesler, by Roberto Luongo ... lose Tuesday at Rogers Arena, and they will live with it until they live no longer.
Somehow, out of all the angst their city is experiencing right now, amid the dread that the Canucks' magical 40th anniversary season could go up in smoke and turn a very good hockey team into the punchline of a cruel joke, Vigneault's team has to find a way to dismiss the dire implications, and remember that the opportunity is still alive.
It's a lot to ask. |
發表於 2011-4-26 07:27
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