Rough start for Buffalo has everyone wondering if it's a Stanley Cup HangoverIt took a while, but Buffalo finally cashed in on it's first win in their eighth game of the season vs. Carolina. We didn't just win, we crushed them! 3-7!! But the sad thing is, it took so long to win a game. This was the same team that made it to Stanley Cup Finals and forced a game six against the best team in the league. No one thought we could even win one game, but we proved them wrong. The start to this season wasn't an easy one either. So many holdouts, Satan, Brown, McKee, Warrener; and our goalie coming back, not quite healed. Hasek had hernia surgery back in August, and wasn't 100% yet, and we all know how he plays when he mentally doesn't feel 100%.
This whole scenerio created a field day for critics. Saying things like, "Is this a Stanley Cup hangover?", "Has the Dominator lost it?". I don't think so. No one has lost anything, we are having a rough start is all. People are speculating that Hasek doesn't want to play this season, which also, isn't true. Just like ANY other goalie, he's having a bad streak. ALL GOALIES HAVE THIS PROBLEM. This just happens to come at a bad time. He's in a funk, he's "Not in that zone", as Lindy Ruff said. And the worst part, Dom is taking ALL THE HEAT FOR IT. No one is saying anything to the others. No no no... that's not the way it works. There is ALWAYS something wrong with Dominik in the eyes of the media. We won't mention the fact that offense isn't doing their part. Peca got his first goal in the eighth game of the season, Ward doesn't have a goal yet, Holzinger needs to step up a bit, no one has been scoring consistently. Except for Satan and Brown. (Where were you guys at the begining of the season?)
But I do have to admit, I think benching Dominik was a good idea. We needed a win, BADLY. And I think the only way to get the messege through to Dominik, was to bench him. He'll work his way back. It's a mind game, Dom knows he'll never get his job back if he keeps playing like he is. He knows he isn't playing to his fullest capability. But for now, it's ok. We have rookie Martin Biron in net. This guy is amazing. He played his heart out, and he earned it. If last night was a preview of the Hasekless-era of next season, then folks, I think we're in good hands. If offense can do that on a regular basis, and if Biron can play a good game like that consistently, then I think we'll be ok. I guess all I'm saying is that people need to turn some of the heat off of Hasek. Give the guy a break. He got us to finals last season, this season I think he can do it again. But it is a bit of a hangover, and it's also a bit of bad luck. We'll get over this hump. Some of this media heat is good for Dominik, but the extent to which they have gone is too much, remember that's part of the reason he's leaving us.