Anyone else feeling a slight sense of relief?

[Eleven]

It has been a long and wonderful season with so many joyful moments.

But I know this team wasn't getting past Carolina.  I don't think Montreal will, either.

Both of the series were incredible, there was the vindication of beating Boston and the very evenly matched series against the Habs.

I was sort of dreading spending five or six more nights drinking and eating junk food, staying up late, and generally being stressed out over hockey rather than enjoying it, just to watch them fall to the Hurricanes.

I feel ok today.  The team made some SERIOUS strides.  The team will be competitive again and will be attractive to free agents even without palm trees.  So there's relief there, too.

In a few days, I'll be ready to bicker about next season's roster.  For now, I just have this general sense of calmness, and I don't feel guilty about it.

Edited May 19 by Eleven

[CallawaySabres]

Carolina would definitely have been beatable, especially not even getting tested in the playoffs yet. That series would have gone 6 or 7 games easily, especially when Philly pushed them to OT twice. Colorado is the only team that looks great from top to bottom.

I really think Buffalo was going to make it to the Cup if they had won last night, they just had that look to them.....

[Eleven]

19 minutes ago, CallawaySabres said:

they just had that look to them.....

See--I know that look--and I DON'T think they had that look to them.  I'm glad someone did, though.

[Punch]

24 minutes ago, Eleven said:

I was sort of dreading spending five or six more nights drinking and eating junk food, staying up late

I suppose I'm relieved to be free of this part of the equation, but boy was I enjoying the hell out of it. 🍻

[inkman]

It sounds weird but a metric ton of stress left my body last night. Obviously the ride was amazing. As soon as they went to OT my anxiety was off the charts. I’ll enjoy my nights without the stress but miss the fun. 

[SABRES 0311]

That overtime gad me hacked up. A lot of adrenaline. So yeah, I’m a little relieved.

[Weave]

Relief isn’t the right word, but I am ready for the Summer to begin.  
 

No bad feelings here.  I am grateful that this season was finally entertaining.  Getting into the 2nd round was a bonus for me, frankly.  I was anxious that Boston might expose us as frauds.  Seeing us expose Boston was damn near exhilarating.  And Montreal has been a bit of a league darling, so going toe to toe with them was fun too.

But I am ready to spend my evenings on the deck instead of the couch.

[HumanSlinky39]

This team was so resilient that I wouldn't count them out against anybody in a 7 game series. Do I think they could beat Carolina? Probably not, but it would have been fun to see them have a shot. 

I'm disappointed the season ended, but filled with gratitude that they FINALLY gave me a team to root for past game 82. Immensely enjoyable season. Can't wait for next year. Haven't said that in a very long time. Coming into this season, I was beginning to question why I still cared. I'm glad they showed me why.

Edited May 19 by HumanSlinky39

[Scottysabres]

38 minutes ago, Eleven said:

It has been a long and wonderful season with so many joyful moments.

But I know this team wasn't getting past Carolina.  I don't think Montreal will, either.

Both of the series were incredible, there was the vindication of beating Boston and the very evenly matched series against the Habs.

I was sort of dreading spending five or six more nights drinking and eating junk food, staying up late, and generally being stressed out over hockey rather than enjoying it, just to watch them fall to the Hurricanes.

I feel ok today.  The team made some SERIOUS strides.  The team will be competitive again and will be attractive to free agents even without palm trees.  So there's relief there, too.

In a few days, I'll be ready to bicker about next season's roster.  For now, I just have this general sense of calmness, and I don't feel guilty about it.

Nor should you. Everything you pointed out is fantastic for us Sabres fans. 

[TageMVP]

No. Terrible thread but thats your thing 

I want to win im pissed/depressed 

[msw2112]

I'm definitely bummed out that the Sabres did not advance and would have very much preferred for the ride to continue.  That said, I understand the OP's point.  Now that intense playoff hockey is over, I can be more attentive at work and nicer to my wife and kids.  "Not now, we're within one" and the like won't be coming out of my mouth until football starts in September.  I can also make social plans without waiting for the schedule for the next round comes out.  I was waiting to plan my Memorial Day travel with the family until I saw the schedule for the Eastern Conference Finals.  Sadly, we're clear to leave on Thursday evening....

I'm disappointed that the run ended, but looking forward to next year and future years.  The core of the team is in its low-to-mid 20's and now have experience in a winning culture, including winning 7 out of 13 playoff games.  I think we will enjoy the growth and maturation of the likes of Power, Quinn, Doan, Kulich, Östlund, Helenius, and Benson and others who are just breaking out and I think there's still room for more "established" players like Dahlin, Byrum, Krebs, Samuelsson, Thompson, and (yes, even) UPL to continue to improve.  I'm sure there are others I have left out.  Hopefully, the taste of success and playoff battles will push them to greater heights.

Edited May 19 by msw2112

[Second Line Center]

46 minutes ago, Eleven said:

See--I know that look--and I DON'T think they had that look to them.  I'm glad someone did, though.

They did and I’m convinced Montreal is beating Carolina.  

[Ctaeth]

Honestly, I enjoy the tension of a close game/series.  I understand what you all are saying about the stress, but it's the right sort of stress imo.  I wish the ride was still going and to feel relief for it ending seems really weird to me

[RETURNTOGLORY]

1 hour ago, Eleven said:

It has been a long and wonderful season with so many joyful moments.

But I know this team wasn't getting past Carolina.  I don't think Montreal will, either.

Both of the series were incredible, there was the vindication of beating Boston and the very evenly matched series against the Habs.

I was sort of dreading spending five or six more nights drinking and eating junk food, staying up late, and generally being stressed out over hockey rather than enjoying it, just to watch them fall to the Hurricanes.

I feel ok today.  The team made some SERIOUS strides.  The team will be competitive again and will be attractive to free agents even without palm trees.  So there's relief there, too.

In a few days, I'll be ready to bicker about next season's roster.  For now, I just have this general sense of calmness, and I don't feel guilty about it.

Never say never. I felt we had a 50/50 chance IF we played our game and had " good" goaltending!

[SABRES 0311]

I think we will get used to this over the next few years. Except game seven OTs. Those are terrible.

[Turbo44]

1 hour ago, Eleven said:

It has been a long and wonderful season with so many joyful moments.

But I know this team wasn't getting past Carolina.  I don't think Montreal will, either.

Both of the series were incredible, there was the vindication of beating Boston and the very evenly matched series against the Habs.

I was sort of dreading spending five or six more nights drinking and eating junk food, staying up late, and generally being stressed out over hockey rather than enjoying it, just to watch them fall to the Hurricanes.

I feel ok today.  The team made some SERIOUS strides.  The team will be competitive again and will be attractive to free agents even without palm trees.  So there's relief there, too.

In a few days, I'll be ready to bicker about next season's roster.  For now, I just have this general sense of calmness, and I don't feel guilty about it.

I don’t feel relief in defeat. Not wanting to get to the next round and play Carolina??? Come on, seriously. We would have been battle tested with all the pressure on them. I think we not only could have beaten them I think we would have. No room on this wagon for defeatedness (spelling??) attitude 

1 hour ago, TageMVP said:

No. Terrible thread but thats your thing 

I want to win im pissed/depressed 

It took a thread like this for me to agree 110% with tagemvp….

[Pimlach]

1 hour ago, Eleven said:

It has been a long and wonderful season with so many joyful moments.

But I know this team wasn't getting past Carolina.  I don't think Montreal will, either.

Both of the series were incredible, there was the vindication of beating Boston and the very evenly matched series against the Habs.

I was sort of dreading spending five or six more nights drinking and eating junk food, staying up late, and generally being stressed out over hockey rather than enjoying it, just to watch them fall to the Hurricanes.

I feel ok today.  The team made some SERIOUS strides.  The team will be competitive again and will be attractive to free agents even without palm trees.  So there's relief there, too.

In a few days, I'll be ready to bicker about next season's roster.  For now, I just have this general sense of calmness, and I don't feel guilty about it.

It was a great season. One of the best ever.  I wanted to keep going.  I think we would have given Carolina a good go.  

As for the eating bad food and drinking too much, you can control that.   

Stress, we are all different in how we handle it, but sports stress never lasts long for me.  I reached acceptance on the loss when I woke up this morning.  But I would much rather win and keep playing.    

The off season will be interesting.  

[Nacho Libre]

2 hours ago, Eleven said:

It has been a long and wonderful season with so many joyful moments.

But I know this team wasn't getting past Carolina.  I don't think Montreal will, either.

Both of the series were incredible, there was the vindication of beating Boston and the very evenly matched series against the Habs.

I was sort of dreading spending five or six more nights drinking and eating junk food, staying up late, and generally being stressed out over hockey rather than enjoying it, just to watch them fall to the Hurricanes.

I feel ok today.  The team made some SERIOUS strides.  The team will be competitive again and will be attractive to free agents even without palm trees.  So there's relief there, too.

In a few days, I'll be ready to bicker about next season's roster.  For now, I just have this general sense of calmness, and I don't feel guilty about it.

More less agree. As a secondary emotion to the sadness

Except this: “I was sort of dreading spending five or six more nights drinking and eating junk food, staying up late, and generally being stressed out over hockey rather than enjoying it, just to watch them fall to the Hurricanes.” - that’s the fun part, enjoying the games  

but the time between games…purely stress after the glory of a win wore off. My expectations were met merely by making the playoffs, never shifted on that. Winning a round ruled. Being entertained against Montreal was gravy. I do wish Dahlin’s goal could have gone down and I mean REAL DOWN in sabres history, but alas. 

Of course nothing could have topped a win. And more hockey. But a silver lining for me, definitely, is we don’t need to hear about how Kevyn Adams “built” an unbeatable juggernaut. Hopefully the “his team” stuff dies out now. Was only ever an awful GM and now he has no chance of being part of the team during the season it wins the cup - so I’ll take that one aspect for sure. “Does he get a ring?” Would have been insufferable

- - - 

something else - I watched my blue jays come within 2 outs of the World Series and lose. This year has already been a nightmare because of expectations

people aren’t realizing yet how much more relaxing and fun NEXT year will be, when winning 2 rounds represents progress, and a championship title isn’t the Only Way.  Eases up Jarmo’s job just a tad too 

Edited May 19 by Nacho Libre

[ska-T Chitown]

1 hour ago, TageMVP said:

No. Terrible thread but thats your thing 

I want to win im pissed/depressed 

Didn't read ... j/k

I think I am somewhere in between you and the OP. I feel some of where each of you is coming from.

[Nacho Libre]

1 hour ago, Eleven said:

See--I know that look--and I DON'T think they had that look to them.  I'm glad someone did, though.

Buffalo would have given them a series and I wouldn’t have been shocked if we won but Carolina would have been the resounding favourite and I’d have picked them in 6 ymmv. Probably the best team left. 

beating ANY team in the playoffs is big, beating ANY team in the east this year is massive. To go undefeated through 8 is impressive 

people were calling Ottawa the eastern conference dark horse headed in - Carolina send them home after taking their lunch money 

[Huckleberry]

2 hours ago, Eleven said:

It has been a long and wonderful season with so many joyful moments.

But I know this team wasn't getting past Carolina.  I don't think Montreal will, either.

Both of the series were incredible, there was the vindication of beating Boston and the very evenly matched series against the Habs.

I was sort of dreading spending five or six more nights drinking and eating junk food, staying up late, and generally being stressed out over hockey rather than enjoying it, just to watch them fall to the Hurricanes.

I feel ok today.  The team made some SERIOUS strides.  The team will be competitive again and will be attractive to free agents even without palm trees.  So there's relief there, too.

In a few days, I'll be ready to bicker about next season's roster.  For now, I just have this general sense of calmness, and I don't feel guilty about it.

Well my only relief was not staying up until 5 am anymore.   On the other hand I have a string of night shifts coming up I would not have mind this at all.   But wouldn't have been able to watch much past game 1 .

[muppy]

I have been taking a day away because I was hurting. And today has been a grief hangover. Not every day in our lives is going to be peaches and cream

 

having said that by tomorrow I will be more gracious towards yesterdays game.

 

I guess Im sawft

 

🤷‍♀️

 

But Im also not the long suffering kind. It was a Great run Im sorry it ended the way it did.  But it would never have ended  pretty unless we won the cup so I need to realize that\

and keep it moving.

Edited May 19 by muppy

[JoeSchmoe]

No relief here. Still processing it and trying to figure out something else to occupy my mind.

[Nacho Libre]

Just now, muppy said:

I have been taking a day away because I was hurting. And today has been a grief hangover. Not every day in our lives is going to be peaches and cream

 

having said that by tomorrow I will be more gracious towards yesterdays game.

 

I guess Im sawft

 

🤷‍♀️

 

But Im also not the long suffering kind. It was a Great run Im sorry it ended the way it did.  But it would never have ended  pretty so I need to realize that\

and keep it moving.

[muppy]

Just now, Nacho Libre said:

lol