I haven’t focused as much into the NHL season as I did in the past. Part of it was the lockout, but the other part simply was that I have been too busy.

But I think the main reason simply is because the Sharks are the annual disappointment for me. Sure, making the playoffs is a great thing but every year the team is good enough to win it all, but they don’t. I don’t think I want to invest so much emotion into this team every year when I know they’ll disappoint.

And the matchup with Vancouver just reminds me of how close the team has come, but yet how far they continue to be. I will watch them this playoffs but I’ll not invest so much yet. Until they get past the third round, it really isn’t much to celebrate for this team that continues to just stumble in the playoffs.

But now, I will have some revenge on my mind. I just can’t shake away the disappointment of that 2011 ending.