the angel's share

Game 50 @ Anaheim Ducks 2-3
PERHAPS THE LENGTHY COMMUTE
TIRED THE TEAM
AS THAT JOAK ATTESTS, SOME NIGHTS
YOU JUST CAN'T WIN
A LONG NIGHT, THIS ONE, FILLED WITH SHOTS PROPELLED TO THE REDOUBTABLE JONAS HILLER, A NIGHT, THIS ONE, MARKED BY TERRITORIAL pissings DOMINATION, AND ONLY THE MOST OCCASIONAL GAFFES
A NIGHT WHERE EVERY BLUNDER WAS A TURNOVER
AND EVERY TURNOVER ENDED UP IN THE BACK OF THE AVALANCHE NET
ONE MIGHT WONDER EXACTLY
HOW MANY GAMES IN A ROW SACCO WANTS TO START GIGUERE
AND JUST EXACTLY WHY LORD VARLAMOV IS ON THE ROSTER IF HE CAN'T EVEN START ONE NIGHT OF A BACK-TO-BACK
SOME NIGHTS HURT WORSE THAN OTHERS

Game 51 vs. Minnesota Mild 2-3
DIDN'T FEEL GREAT ABOUT THIS ONE FROM THE BEGINNING

SOMETHING MISSING FROM THIS TEAM--THEY DON'T, EXACTLY, CRUMBLE UNDER PRESSURE, BUT ANY TIME SOMETHING COULD BE DESCRIBED AS "A HUGE GAME" OR A "PLAYOFF ATMOSPHERE", THE TEAM SEEMS TO TAKE THE PIPE IN A PECULIAR WAY
NOT LIKE A CRUMBLE, EXACTLY, MORE LIKE A WAN LACK OF PRESENCE, A RETICENCE, A REFUSAL TO ENGAGE WITH THE VIOLENCE AND BRUTALITY THE CONTEST MAY REQUIRE (LIKE A BUNCH OF FUCKING DEMOCRATS)
AND THUS WE SLOUCH INTO THE ALL-STAR BREAK, BEREFT OF ALL-STARS, OUT OF THE PLAYOFFS, NO DRAFT PICKS TO COME