HOCKEY: The Stanley Cup Playoffs are upon us.
By Jared Kanouse, Sports Writer
That title evokes quite a few responses, primarily those along the lines of “What is this guy talking about?” I’ll make it plain: it’s time for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. 16 teams will fight for the right to lift Lord Stanley’s Cup over their heads in a moment of unimaginable, raw emotion. You can hardly find a more excited fan than myself. Nightly matchups turn into grudge matches as the series progresses and becomes more physical. Players go the extra yard, whether it is to block a shot or finish a check. Super stars find their shots and carry their team on their back offensively. In the playoffs, every minute detail counts.
With the new format of the league this year, people looked forward to the NHL playoffs to see the level of competition in the first round. It did not disappoint with three series playing the full seven games, three other series going a tantalizing six games, one five-game series and a sweep of the Tampa Bay Lightning by the Montreal Canadians. With half of the competitors eliminated, eight teams surged forward into the second round, what is now called the “Division Championship” round. The festivities began Thursday night with a double overtime thriller between the Canadians and Bruins. P.K. Subban ended the game with a rocket from the blue line after a clean faceoff win. Two games follow Friday night, with the Rangers and Penguins playing at the CONSOL Energy Center and the Wild facing off with the reigning champion Blackhawks in Chicago at the United Center. Finally, Saturday night holds the first ever Freeway Faceoff in the playoffs between the Ducks and the Kings. With the teams so close in talent and location, it is expected to be a brutal, intense series.
No matter what team you cheer for, the Stanley Cup Playoffs are certainly a spectacle to be enjoyed. The level of play and the fast-paced series of games makes this time of year, one of the best.