"one significantly longer than many people thought would be" is the  
ONLY thought I might disagree with in your post. I would change "many  
people" to "everyone." I really got upset with those who posted  
comments after game stories that said the season was a  
disappointment. They either had their head buried in the sand all  
season or they were bandwagon jumpers who had NO idea what had gone  
on either pre-season or during the season. I started to write "I  
couldn't be happier," then realized I'd really like to have one goal  
back. Then after some thought, I couldn't be happier with the season  
that really had NO expectations when it began. GO BLUE. DROP THE PUCK!