In the end, more than anything else, there was exasperation. The Red Wings never lost more than two games in a row all season. Four straight uncharacteristic losses. Just like that, Hockeytown's heroes bowed out in the first round for the first time since 1994, the first playoff run of the Scotty Bowman era, when San Jose upset them in seven games. They lost to a seventh seed that had to fight to the finish just to make the playoffs, a team that hadn't won a playoff series since 1993.
Every elimination is disappointing.
Heck, it isn't even May yet, let alone June. The season ended April 23. The Wings haven't been done so soon in the spring since 1991, when they lost Game 7 of their first-round series with St. Louis on April 16. Looking back on the season, I think we felt we had a real shot at winning the whole thing. I think it's going to sting more in about a week, when you're sitting there finished, not even playing hockey anymore, realizing everyone should have kicked his own butt to get his rear end in gear to win this thing.