Saturday 7 May 2011

Why the playoffs rock...

Every time I hear or read of someone saying how hockey shouldn't be played in June, I shake my head and say "shame on you". Of course the nothing beats a day out on the pond, followed up by watching a double header on CBC in December or January but if you ask anyone if they enjoy going to the rink in shorts and flip flops, you will usually get a thumbs up.

For me hockey in May and June means a few things, first and most of all it's crunch time in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Anytime you get down to the final 8, then 4, and especially 2, you are going to see some intense hockey. Players are going to be bruised, battered and sporting some facial hair that would make Big Foot scared, but they will be on a mission every night to win and continue their pursuit for the Cup.

Right now the NHL is full of stories that are worth watching....

Will the Vancouver Canucks continue their pursuit to be the next Canadian team not only to play in the Stanley Cup Finals but to win it. When it looked like ghost of playoff flops from the past would reappear on the West Coast, the Canucks stuck together and kept things together. Getting past Chicago was a win that they needed for numerous reasons and seems to have helped them get over that hump. If the Sedin twins ever get going like they can, this will be a tough hockey club to slow down.

Will the Detroit Red Wings stave off elimination again in game 5 and extend the season and the careers of Mike Modano, Chris Osgood, Kris Draper and perhaps even Nik Lidstrom (though he is the least likely to call it a career just yet).

Is this the year for Jumbo Joe Thornton and the San Jose Sharks? With a Cup winner in Niemi holding down the fort and contributions coming from a variety of players, the Sharks are going to be a tough team to beat in the West. Todd McLellan has been able to use the experience he gained in Detroit as an assistant to Mike Babcock and steer this club in the right direction; along with some smart moves by General Manager Doug Wilson, the Sharks are poised to make 2011 their best post season appearance yet.

Is this the year of Bruins? for the first time since 1992 they will be in the Conference Finals and have a chance to advance to the Cup Finals for the first time since 1990 and perhaps hoist their first Cup since 1972. You sense the anticipation more and more each time the camera pans to Cam Neely.

Can Tampa Bay continue the run they are on? With all cylinders rolling in all areas of their line-up, the Lightning are a fun team to watch play. They have been buying into the game plan and numerous players are stepping up at the right time. With vets like Lecavalier, St.Louis and Roloson laying it on all on the line, and youngsters like Stamkos, Downie and Hedman showing their metal as well, this group is as fun a hockey club to watch right now.

While they appear to be down, especially by the numbers in their series, down count out the Nashville Predators until the final horn goes and they are eliminated. This is a team that never quits and will work you to the bone every night. If Pekke Rinne, Shea Weber and anyone of their top forwards (Fisher, Legwand or the classy Joel Ward) can step up and deliver in game 5, this could end up going the distance. And we all know that anything can and will happen when you play a seventh game.

These playoffs have been exciting, intense and unique all at the same time. While my favourite round is always the first, the hockey only gets better as the tournament slowly works its way down to the final two clubs remaining. I can't wait to see what happens, but I will also being going through withdraw when there are no more games to be played until the fall, I guess I and many others can only hope this all comes down to a game in June, hopefully in the form of a seventh and deciding game.

1 comment:

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