I've been a hockey fan since I was about seven-years-old, playing recreational street hockey with my younger neighbor across the street. We would be out from noon until dark running around our small cul-de-sac. Our families eventually became friends, too. They would come over for dinner, a drink, and to watch the Washington Capitals' games. Needless to say, I was raised with a bias for the game of hockey. I love the intensity of the sport. I can see the adrenaline pumping through the players and see their passion for hockey. Granted, that could be their "game face" for the press but it sure looks real to me.
Hockey gets even more heated during the playoffs. Hockey fans practically live for the rush of post season games. They make us chew our nails down to the nub from all the anxiety. NHL playoffs are so different from other major league sports, but that's what makes it the best.
Hockey is a rough sport. Players constantly check others and get into fights on the ice. This gets our hockey blood going. It fuels our hatred for the opposing team.
Hockey is harder than it looks. Players are skating on ice, trying to balance themselves, maneuvering around other players, as well as trying to score goals. There's a lot going happening on the ice at once. It actually looks quite elegant if you ask me.
NHL Playoffs are so different from other major league sports' playoffs. It starts out with 16 teams: eight from the Eastern Conference and eight from the Western Conference. The first three ranked teams from each of the four divisions. The remaining four teams are "wild cards" which are the two highest ranked teams from each conference, regardless of their placement in their division.
When it comes down to the actual games, two teams face off for a maximum of seven games; this is called a series. The first team to win four games wins the series and moves on to the next one. There are three series and then the final series that determines who get the Stanley Cup. The final series still consists of seven games like the rest.
This is what makes the playoffs so intense. One team can win three games in a row, making everyone think that they are going to be the winner. Then the other team has a major comeback and wins the series. Things can change as quickly as they stay the same. The outcome is never predictable.
Watching the Stanley Cup Playoffs is like watching a suspenseful movie, knowing that something is going to happen but not knowing exactly what it is. All we can do is wear our colors, scream at the TV like they can hear us through the screen, and yell obscenities when we lose and even more when we win.
