Two first impressions after last night’s game:

1. Sure we lost. We had a lot of injuries throughout the year and in the playoffs. There were some shitty penalty calls. But we can’t make excuses. It is what it is, and that’s that. In spite of what the hockey gods threw at us, the team that was picked to finish 14th in the conference went one period short of making it to the Stanley Cup Finals.

   Next yesr, we will only be better.

2. Carolina, as good as they would appear to be, had to fight through seven games to beat a Sabres team that was depleted by injuries. THey are to face a healthy, rested Edmonton team.

   I’m looking at Edmonton in five games, and I’m being generous by giving Carolina one game, but that’s all they will get. Its now sour grapes. It’s reality. They don’t have what it takes to win it all. They proved that against the Sabres. They will lose the series in stellar fashion.