Total moral victory. It is unfortunate they were not able to get over the hump. But it doesn't change the fact they are one of those team that have basically played an extra full season over the last 4 years. I didnt compare their ultimate success, just the amount of hockey they have played, which is similar. Almost identical actually. They are not giving excuses so I won't, but when I looked at them this year, what i saw most was a collective group that looked pretty spent. They got beat to a lot of loose pucks all year, they seemed to give up on a lot of plays in the defensive zone or coming back. Not at all characteristic of this current group the last few years. Didn't see a lack of will this year - just seemed like they couldn't summon the legs. They were able to do it in spurt, just not with the consistency they have shown. It was my hope they were just kind of doing what needed to be done to get to the playoffs - then turn it on, but the last couple weeks of the season, and obviously the playoffs, showed that wasn't the case.
