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The original was posted on /r/hockey by /u/CheesecakeOdd2087 on 2023-08-11 05:04:06.
What's the frst round loss that hurt the most for your fav team?
Me (Canucks): Toss up between 2012 and 2013.
2012 (4-1 series loss to LA) - This one hurt because at the time there was still genuine belief that the team could contend. Canuck fans will mostly say they didn't feel it in 2012 like 2011, but IIRC a lot of insiders, media members, etc. were picking Van vs. Pitts for the 2012 Cup Final. The team won the Presidents Trophy, so they were no joke. But, it wasn't to be. Got steamrolled by a sneaky good eight seed in LA (you might have heard of them). That loss sucked.
2013 (4-0 series loss to San Jose) - IMO this one just felt like "ok, so this era is really over for real." That was the end of the road for the AV/Sedins/Kesler/Bieksa/Luongo 2011 era team as a credible contender. Sure, some of those guys stuck around for a bit after the 13' loss, but it was never the same. Pretty clear at that point that that iteration of the team would not be competing for a Cup going forward. A subsequent 10 year Game of Thrones-esque long winter (with a bit of false hope in 15' and 20') ensued. I think that makes this loss feel even more bleak in hindsight.
What do you got?
EDIT: Honorable mention to 7 game loss to Calgary in 2004. That one sucked because of how it ended (dramatic game tying goal by Matt Cooke with like 4 seconds left, only to lose in OT), but at the same time I don't recall there being a lot of expectations for that team. Bertuzzi out post-Moore incident, running with 3rd string goalie in Alex Auld, etc.