GTOG Instant Reaction: It's Over, But the Split is Amicable; Pens Lose, 1-0

By Artistry

We wanted it to work out. We really did. But part of us was holding back. We kept something in reserve. Because in our heart of hearts, we knew it wasn't meant to be. We were 1-for-35 on the power play, for crying out loud. Of course it hurts to blow a 3-1 series lead and get blanked in Game 7 by a 41-year-old journeyman netminder, but you know what? It doesn't hurt too much. The 2010-11 Pittsburgh Penguins are the hardest working bunch I've seen since I started following this team 27 years ago. They didn't get cheated. They took their cuts tonight. They just couldn't make contact.

Well, He Made Contact

The call-in shows will be overrun on Thursday with frontrunners lamenting the Pens' inability to close, Dan Bylsma's decision to go with Connor and Niskanen over Tangradi and Engelland, and Alexei Kovalev's late-game disappearing act. Turn off the radio. The Penguins lost this series because the Lighting are talented, well coached, and the Penguins have two $9 million players in street clothes. They didn't close because they couldn't close.

None of the remaining core players let you down tonight. Staal was a beast. Letang was a warrior. Orpik killed it. Fleury was spectacular. They gave everything. After popping in a single goal, the Lightning went into 1995 New Jersey Devils mode, and you can't expect Mark Letestu to power through that. You just can't. The Pens were dealt a s--- hand this season, and they played it as well as anyone had any right to expect. Don't hang your head for a single second. No other team gets to welcome Sid and Geno back in October. Meet back here Thursday for GTOPG.