Game 7

THE STANLEY CUP IS THE TOUGHEST TROPHY IN SPORTS TO WIN…
FRIDAY NIGHT IN DETROIT THERE WILL BE MORE PROOF OF THAT…
THERE WILL BE A GAME 7…
AFTER MORE THAN 8 LONG MONTHS…THIS WILL BE THE FINAL GAME OF THE SEASON…
TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT A LONG ROAD THIS HAS BEEN…
TAKE A LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE…
ON OCTOBER THE 7TH OF LAST YEAR…THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS OPENED UP THEIR REGULAR SEASON IN OTTAWA…
TWO NIGHTS LATER…THE DETROIT RED WINGS WERE AT HOME TO PLAY THE LEAFS…
THOSE TEAMS EACH PLAYED 82 GAMES FOR A TOTAL OF 164…JUST TO GET TO THE PLAYOFFS…
AND SINCE THEN:
THE PENGUINS HAVE ADDED ANOTHER 23…AND THE WINGS ANOTHER 22…
BRINGING THE GRAND TOTAL TO…209 GAMES…
FOR THE WINNER…IT WILL BE A CELEBRATION TO LAST A LIFE TIME…
FOR THE LOSER…A FEELING OF EMPTINESS THAT WILL LAST ALL SUMMMER…
AND IN TRUTH CAN NEVER BE DESCRIBED…
LAST YEAR AFTER PITTSBURGH LOST TO DETROIT IN THE FINAL…
SIDNEY CROSBY APPEARED IN AN NHL TV COMMERCIAL THAT ASKED THE QUESTION…
“IS THIS THE YEAR???”
CROSBY LOOKED INTO THE CAMERA AND SIMPLE STATED…
“I NEVER WANT TO BE IN THIS PHOTOGRAPH AGAIN”…
LASTNIGHT IN PITTSBURGH HE AVOIDED DOING JUST THAT…
NOW ALL HE NEEDS IS JUST ONE VICTORY TO KEEP HIS OWN PROMISE…TO HIMSELF…
SO THE QUESTION STANDS…
WHERE DOES THIS FINAL STAND…IN TERMS OF GREATNESS???
CERTAINLY RIGHT UP THERE WITH MONTREAL/CHICAGO IN 1971…
EDMONTON/PHILADELPHIA IN 1987…AND VANCOUVER/NEW YORK IN 1994…
EACH SERIES WENT 7 GAMES…
ALL WERE BLESSED WITH PLENTY OF STAR POWER…
AND NONE OF WHICH…PLAYED OUT THE WAY…THE EXPERTS HAD PREDICTED…
SUCH IS THE CASE WITH THIS SERIES…
THIS IS WHY WE LOVE THIS GAME…
BECAUSE IN THE END…THE TOUGHEST TROPHY IN SPORTS TO WIN…WILL BE DECIDED BY THE PLAYERS…