Fans Disappointed But Taking Pens Loss In Stride
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The Penguins' quest for the Stanley Cup this year has officially ended.
The team could not find the back of the net last night and lost in a shutout to the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.
Sean Bergenheim scored the only goal of the game in the second period, and it was all the Lightning needed to beat the Pens.
Now, the Bolts advance to the second round and the Pens start the off-season. But that off-season is underway a lot earlier than many Pittsburgh hockey fans would have liked.
"[We] can't win every season," said Pens' fan Keith Kemp. "We're spoiled here in Pittsburgh. These Pittsburgh teams, we're used to winning. We're used to winners."
"I'm still mad they didn't score on any power plays," said Dave Rosenberg, another fan.
"We did accomplish a lot," added fan Chuck Darcy. "We did more than a lot by making it to the playoffs. We went as far as we could with the players that we had."
Many feel the same way, considering the season somewhat of a success given all the Pens had to overcome with injuries to star players.
"Crosby and Malkin being out - that's the dinger right there," said Darcy.
"We just didn't have Sid. We didn't have Malkin," added Rosenberg. "If you took the two greatest offensive players off of Tampa Bay, they wouldn't have scored either."
Trying to stay optimistic, the Pens now have a few extra weeks to relax, regroup before making the fans proud next season.
"I'm looking for the Stanley Cup to come home next year," Darcy said.
"There's always next year for Pittsburgh," said Rosenberg. "I'm looking forward to enjoying good weather outside and not watching TV for the rest of the spring."
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