March of the Penguins

As you may have heard, the Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cup last night with a 2-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. For Caps fans, this is most likely the worst result possible in a season that was full of such promise and hope. Not only did it end with the Caps' biggest rival winning the Cup, but it included another playoff loss to Pittsburgh.

Furthering the pain is the fact that this could be the beginning of a long championship run by the Pens. The Caps' mission is straightforward but not simple: find a way to improve and beat the Pens, a team that is better than the red, white and blue right now. That means finding a full roster of players that pay the price every night, stick to Bruce Boudreau's masterful system, storm the crease and never take the night (or a period) off.

It won't be easy, but that's the only way the Caps will be on the positive end of this dichotomy. The good news is that there's lots of talent in the system and good players available throughout the league.

There's good news to report, too: Hershey won the Calder Cup last night, their second in four seasons as the Caps' AHL affiliate, so celebrations are in order throughout the organization. But the bitter taste of a Pens' Stanley Cup victory should resonate with the team and overpower anything else. Most importantly, it must drive George McPhee to lead the organization in the direction it needs to go.

Finally, as has become tradition around these parts, it's time to pick next year's champion. I'm one-for-three in this endeavor, but here goes nothing: the Chicago Blackhawks will capture the 2010 Stanley Cup. And, please, bet responsibly.