So apparently, NBC Sports Network had the Kings/Blackhawks Game 7 in the 2014 series on this afternoon. I might as well tell a story of what I was going through that day. That was quite the tolling game in which I recall I didn't watch the first half of it. On that particular day, I went to church in the evening around the same time the game was starting. Why? Mainly, because I was attempting (and failing) to repair this relationship (mainly platonic, hoping for something more and better than that) with this woman that I had known for over 15 years, since kindergarten. She was singing in the church choir along with a good friend of ours that was the conductor. After mass, I was trying to see if I can get a conversation with her. She wasn't interested at all. Why? I don't know. Stuff happens. Stuff just happens where at the end of the day, we just can't be good friends at that point. Her life is set going one way and mine was going in another way and the path just cannot converge anymore. It happens.
Anywho, back to the hockey. Went to drive home, turned on the radio station that had the game and found that Kings were behind 4-3. I just had a huge groan as I really didn't want them to lose to the Blackhawks, especially after they owned us in 2013. Especially after leading the series 3-1 when I didn't think we would have this kind of lead against a really tough team in the Blackhawks. One thing I observed in the Blackhawks' 2013 and 2014 run. If you have them down, you got to keep them down. Otherwise, they will just get back up and beat you, as evident in their series against the Red Wings in 2013 (where the Wings had that 3-1 lead and still didn't win). I was just dreading the moment when it would happen that the Kings would go against the Blackhawks again. Thankfully, in that particular 2014 playoff season, that Kings team was the team that wasn't going to go down quietly as well.
Prior to that 2014 series, the Blackhawks just owned us in the last two regular seasons and the 2013 series. I just was hoping for either the Blues or the Wilds to take out the Blackhawks so that the Kings didn't have to face them. I perceived the Blackhawks as the biggest challenger in the Kings' quest to regain the cup. Even after humiliating the Sharks by owning them in 4 straight games despite being down 3-0. Even after coming back from behind 3-2 to beat the Ducks. Those achievements meant nothing if we had lost to the Blackhawks in that run. Any other team left in that run, I can take it or leave it, whether it was the Rangers or the Habs. The idea of losing against those teams would still sting, but the maximum pain inflicted would have been losing to the Blackhawks. They were just too good and it was a very tolling 7 games series to follow for either fanbase of the Kings or the Blackhawks.
Anyway, I got home to finish watching the game and man, it was a slight relief to see the Kings tie it and it was especially the hugest relief when Martinez scored the winning goal. I just knew then that despite how tough the Rangers was going to play (and they played really well), I had a great feeling they were going to win the cup after beating their biggest challenge in the Blackhawks.
Now it's years later, both teams suck (I think the Kings are on the up and up, we'll see next season), I still haven't mended the wounds of that relationship with the woman I mentioned, but I don't feel as sad about it now as I did in 2014. Time heals all wounds and it's time to move on to better things. Now if only this pandemic can stop and that we can enjoy watching live hockey again without fear of sickness.
Topic: Official '19-'20 NHL Thread - v. Hedman is a cupman. (Read 64872 times)
