This wasn't what Justin Williams, or anyone else, signed up for this season. Not a ninth straight final home game with nothing beyond it. Not a regression from last season, or even the season before.
So Williams sat in front of his locker at the end of his sixth season with the Carolina Hurricanes and his first back after nine successful years away, left skate on, right skate off, and reflected upon a season that went nowhere.
Maybe others were willing to put a happy face on a 3-2 overtime win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday.