Faceoff Factor

12 Hates of Christmas: Day 8

Mike Wilson | National Hockey League

Dec 20, 02:31 AM | Hype this story!

On the eighth day of Christmas, my true hate sent to me…the Penguins coming up empty.

The fifth biggest hate of 2008: The Penguins lose the Stanley Cup to the Detroit Red Wings.

Pittsburgh hates Detroit

I know most Pens’ fans have put this loss behind them and are moving forward, but it still needs mentioned on the list. Throughout the playoffs, it seemed like last season was Pittsburgh’s year. Everything was going well, they were blowing through the playoffs and a lot of people expected the youth of the Penguins to out-play the antiquity of the Red Wings.

That, however, was not meant to be. While nearly every player stepped up, it just wasn’t enough. In case you don’t remember, the Red Wings won in six games, crushing the spirits of Pens’ fans after a breathtaking game 5 Pittsburgh win.

The banners were hung in their respective place with cheers, yet some with anguish, some with tears. The Penguins knew theirs would come in good time, and I think now I should stop my attempt at this Christmasy rhyme.

To pour salt into the wounds, Detroit later signed two of our free agents who were testing the markets, Ty Conklin and someone else who we’ll get to later in the series. Detroit won their eleventh Stanley Cup and the Penguins settled for their third Prince of Wales trophy.

Now let’s leave this subject to the ghost of Christmas past and let it haunt the players who jumped ship after it was all said and done. As for tomorrow, the ninth day of Christmas, things have gone terribly wrong in St. Pete’s.