It's Deja Vu all over again

Well, the Stanley Cup final is all done and it ended in similar fashion to the one in 1994 - a Game 7 loss followed by a riot. Blech! In fact the Canucks came closer in 1994 when the game was a 3-2 nailbiter (including 2 goals from Captain Trevor Linden) instead of a 4-0 groanfest. Other than that observation, I don't feel too much need to comment on it because you can find plenty of that elsewhere on the internet. However for me there were some personal differences between the 1994 loss and the 2011 loss.

• In 1994 I was only 13, this time I am 30 so I was able to handle it a bit better
• Probably for the same reason, while it was exciting, I don't think I got as emotionally drawn into it except in those Game 7's.
  
• This time I live in the area, so I made the most of it by attending one game, watching one game outside in the sunshine downtown, and attending one of the away game viewing 'parties'. I now have 2 towels sporting '2011 Playoffs Final'.
  

In terms of the fans, I thought expectations were higher this time. In 1994 the Canucks were never supposed to make it to the final and while they won the first game they dropped the next three games rather decisively. Their come-from-behind wins in Games 5 and 6 were downright sensational. When they won Game 6 at home it was euphoric. The crowd went absolutely bananas and there were fireworks. One guy jumped the boards and slid across the ice on his knees, arm outstretched. The party went into the streets. In my opinion, it is still the best moment in Canuck history.

When the Canucks won Game 5 at home this year, it was also wonderful, but somehow less exhilarating and I didn't get that same feeling that everyone was going bananas now that they were only 1 win away. Instead there seemed more of a feeling of relief, like why did that take so long? Haven't they won yet? And the sense of dread, that going back to Boston would mean another bad loss (which it did).

The Canucks gave us an incredible season this year and it was both fun and stressful at the same time. Until the end, it seemed as though they could pull out a dramatic game-tying or game-winning goal when they needed it most, and it was wonderfully entertaining.

The fact that they have come so close and lost twice is of course a disappointment for me, but I feel a new motivation now. When it was all said and done and Zdeno Chara was hoisting the Cup instead of Henrik Sedin, I turned to my husband and said, "If the Canucks can't win the Stanley Cup, I am just going to have to win the damn thing myself!"