Next Year, No Really!

How does the universe schedule hockey events? Is there any sort of discernible pattern? Most Canuck fans were familiar with the 12 year pattern. 12 Years into the franchise’s existence, the Canucks made it to the Stanley Cup finals. 12 years later, in 1994, they again made it to the finals. The pattern was broken in 2006, and since this pattern only seemed to indicate an eventual finals loss to a New York based team,  no harm, no foul. Would we have had to lose to the  Devils and watch them have their Cup "parade" in some god forsaken New Jersey parking lot?

Rest assured true believers, there’s a new pattern to believe in. An Olympic caliber pattern. In 1988, Calgary hosted the Winter Olympics. In 1989, they won the Cup. In 1976, Montreal hosted the Summer Olympics, and that’s right, the Bleu,Blanc et Rouge won it all in 1977. This pattern had the power to move Wayne Gretzky out of Edmonton, clearing the track for the Flames first championship. This pattern helped cement a late 70’s Canadiens dynasty. Sounds like there’s nothing, not even the Great One, that can get in the way of this, shall we say, prophecy.

Now I’m in no way suggesting that this season should be written off. Montreal pulled off a Cup win the year before they hosted the Olympics, so there’s no reason the Canucks can’t as well. So, everyone relax, have fun during this season’s playoff drive, assured that 2011 is already in the bag. We can all sleep better now. And if it doesn’t work, there’s always 2012.