The crystal ball predicts ?

After reading the reports on last night's game AEROS vs STARS, or, rather, reading hardly any reports, other than the official AEROS line, I feel, sadly,the Aeros are done for this season.Sad and disappointed.Sad and discouraged. Sad and, yes, mad, too. To watch these men (and I am using men because the majority ARE men, no longer boyz) work hard, skating on adrenalin, often outshooting opponents ...ONLY to experience one loss after another.
I have tried to figure this out! The fortune teller in this painting by Latour, was of no help ;-)

Is it a) because the majority is 'VETERAN'! Who perhaps think they already know all and need not heed coach's instructions? or b) because most are married and may want to take fewer chances? or c) just do not seem to have that kind of talent needed for a career (ultimately) in the NHL. They, together and individually, are quite pleasant. Some are loving husbands and fathers, caring individuals. Hard working, striving to keep in shape. Some are eager youngsters, already hardened! Because that's what hockey does to you! At 19 or 20, they are still playful at times. They loose their cool under pressure. Do stupid things, landing them and their team in 'hot water' - so to speak! After all, IMO, forcing your team to 'kill penalties' is time wasted in which the team could've scored.
When this team was assembled earlier, the "Powers that be in the North" spoke eloquently of defense! Defense, well really what 'defense'? But then the 'offense' is not much in evidence either ;-). Power Play Goal, what's THAT? Yes, they seem to have progressed some in that aspect. Yes, they are (still) the team with the best penalty kill in the division if not the league. But does THAT help gain a spot in the play offs? Of course not. Goals and Points assure spots in the line for the final competition for the Calder Cup.Having watched most of the games played at home and some away, I have seen only too often the following scenario: "speedy"guy rushes with puck into the other's zone ONLY to find no teammate to either pass the puck to, or to screen "speedy" for a better shot to score. Of course, by the time a 'buddy' catches up with "speedy", the offense has had time to mass in front of their net and/or screen any attackers so well as to make them ineffective.
So what happens: 1) "speedy" takes a chance and peppers off the puck himself..seldom resulting in a goal. Plus usually no one is there to catch any rebound. 2) "speedy" shoots the puck into the boards in the hope a 'buddy' will arrive in time to catch it, all too often that ends in a mad scramble at the boards with dangers of injuries and penalties called (if the ref is alert!) 3) "speedy" looses the puck to opponents on the way. 4) "speedy" tries to pass - but misjudges his and/or buddies' speed - looses puck to "foe" who IS near! 5) "speedy" wants to be the 'primo donno" ;-) of the game and to go it alone, resulting more often than not in turnovers, pucks lost, foes attacking and confused buddies. On the powerplays they seem to enjoy passing the puck endlessly, instead of at least shooting the puck, just making sure a buddy or two are placed in front to catch the rebound. Meanwhile the few opponents, again, have plenty time to mount their defense..all too often very successfully.
As I posted previously several times, I DO enjoy games for the sake of hockey, win or loose! By this time I feel rather like watching as one removed from reality, without the nail biting, heart stopping, edge of seat emotions that a previous team was capable to cause, as they played either really awfully or truly superbly. This team does NOT cause such emotions. This team, to me, seems, well, mediocre, even if there are one, two or maybe three real talents in it...but those few cannot carry on their back a team to success, a team that appears to NOT have what it takes, despite hard word and pure adrenalin as long as THAT can last!
BUT there IS next season to look forward to (after all HOCKEY is HOCKEY), provided The Powers that be, up North" CAN and will assemble a team of 'boyz' young, eager and willing to take instructions from a seasoned coach, who successfully molded and coaxed a raw team to the semifinals.