NHL Playoffs

NHL playoffs underway

Well the NHL playoffs are underway again with some very intriguing first round matchups. I’m actually sitting here right now watching game six between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Ottawa Senators. My beloved Pens are up 3-2 in the series, down 1-0 in the game, but on the power play. I am wearing my new Sidney Crosby road jersey that I got at sellbits.com.
I’d love to think that the Pens will repeat and win the cup again. But I also realize how hard it is to win a Stanley cup. The playoff run to the cup has got to be one of the most grueling tasks in all of sports. Each series is a seven game war of brute physicality that challenges even the toughest hockey players. And you have to win four of those to win the Stanley cup.
I guess the Sharks and the Capitals are the favorites to win their respective conferences but we all know that the number one seeds never seem to make it anywhere. I’m not sure why that seems to happen so much more in hockey than other sports, but it does. And the regular season in hockey is so meaningless. I mean, you only have to be in the top half of teams to make the playoffs. That is not that hard to do.

All of the series underway right now are close. The Chicago Blackhawks just took a 3-2 lead over the Nashville Predators today. Chicago is a very talented and young team that will be looking to make a run at the cup for many years to come. San Jose, Philadelphia, Washington, Detroit are among the teams with series leads right now.
Something strange happens during the NHL playoffs. Although teams play hard during the regular season, everything is amped up a notch in playoff hockey. There seems to be more speed, toughness, urgency and the best which is desperation. Playoff hockey is awesome! It is escalated to a different level it seems than other sports’ playoffs. Why that is, I have no idea. But I know that it does.
If you watch an NBA playoff game after watching an NHL playoff game you will fall asleep. The NBA is so lethargic, there is no defense, and the players travel the whole game. If you get a chance, watch an entire NHL hockey series, preferably one that lasts the entire seven games, and you will be glad that you did. You will witness so many emotional swings and momentum swings that you yourself will feel exhausted when the series is over.
And then after the seven battles and the war is over and a winner is decided you will have the ceremonial handshake of the teams at center ice. This is when you see the sportsmen come out in the players. And this is when you see the respect these men and competitors have for each other. It’s a very fun part to watch itself.
So before the next Stanley cup champion is crowned, get yourself a hockey jersey, sit down and watch a few series. I can assure you that you will not regret it.