If you’re not watching the 2011 NHL Playoffs, you’re missing out on the best postseason in any sport, college or professional. Now I’m a bit biased since hockey is my favorite sport, but I’m a huge fan of all the major sports. I see the playoffs of all of them and I don’t think it’s close! You don’t get the same level of excitement from the NBA, MLB or NFL! Perhaps the NCAA Basketball Tournament is closed!

There has been a 4-goal comeback, serial comebacks, 13 overtime games (8 straight nights with an overtime game), 8 shutouts, 1 sweep, more hits (brutal hits) resulting in suspensions, standout goals, saves featured and now we have 4 games out of seven!!

Parody! Throw the records of the regular season! Wipe the slate clean! They are all on par. Advantage of ice at home? What an ice home advantage! It doesn’t matter if it’s #1 against #8 or #4 against #5. Any team can beat any other team at any time.*

*Except the New York Rangers, apparently!

Intensity! The intensity and competition in the playoffs is increased tenfold! I’m not even sure I describe it accurately enough. If you take the entire 82-game regular season and pack it into one game, you could get the intensity of the playoffs. Maybe! Players are giving 110% every second they’re on the ice. There is no time to rest or take it easy during a turn, even when your team is 4 goals ahead!

Rivalries! Rivalries rise and are born in the playoffs! There’s nothing like at least 4 games in a row with an opponent to start a rivalry! The rivalry between Vancouver and Chicago was virtually non-existent until three years ago, when the Blackhawks eliminated the Canucks from the playoffs two years in a row. Vancouver screeched for the Blackhawks last night with a Game Seven overtime victory. In the Eastern Conference you have a rivalry that has been going on since 1924! He is definitely still alive and well and another chapter will be decided with Game Seven tonight!

Physical game! There is more physical play in the playoffs because every player knows they have to give more to win in the postseason! That’s why you see guys who aren’t usually very physical throwing hits and being physical. Unfortunately, there is more headhunting and disrespect to much of the physical game. The concept of the physical game is to hit a player as hard as you can so that the next time he gets the puck, he panics a bit and makes a bad play. It is not insulting a player and taking him out of the game.

Playing injured! Guys play injured no matter how injured they are. They put their team before their own well-being! The coaches do everything they can to get the players back on the ice. Cortisone shots, potassium, Sudafed, ibuprofen, hot packs, cold packs and anything else that can get you back on the ice within the rules!

Extra hour of sudden death! Nothing beats sudden death overtime! There is nothing like it in any other sport! “But the NFL has sudden death overtime!” Really? It’s not even close to the same! Drop the puck and play hockey! Shoot the puck and throw it often because anything can happen in overtime!

unsung heroes! With teams planning to play against their opponents’ best players, it becomes more difficult for star players to play a significant role in a given series. This allows the somewhat unknown role-players to emerge! Who heard of Ben Smith before he scored the game-winning goal in Game 6 against Vancouver in his 13th NHL game? Role players become X-factors in the playoffs and can be a big part of determining who wins a series.

Goal! This could be the biggest and most important position in deciding who wins a series and ultimately the Stanley Cup! A goalie can get into a zone and lead a team to the Cup! We see it every year and some goalkeepers come out of nowhere to give their teams a chance to win every night! Look at Antti Niemi and Jaroslav Halak last year, Cam Ward and Dwayne Roloson* in 2006, and Patrick Roy in 1986, just to name a few!

*Rolosón and Fernández were a big part of the Minnesota Wild’s streak in 2003. I had to include my wild card even if they don’t belong in a current playoff column since they have missed the playoffs three years in a row! TO GET MAD! Tea brown fox you will get it!

The Stanley Cup! All this so they can raise Stanley! Lord Stanley’s Cup! The cup! The Holy Grail! It’s the ultimate goal and the biggest trophy in sports! You never hear about the NBA, NFL or Major League Baseball trophy because everyone wants the ring. I don’t think they care about the trophy because their trophies are pretty dumb! You can’t drink from them and why would you want to one day with those trophies! The NHL even calls their playoffs the “Stanley Cup” playoffs and the “Stanley Cup” Finals! It’s a multipurpose trophy! You can drink from it, eat, bathe babies in it, use it as a paperweight, food tray, storage, rescue cats with it, it’s a great wingman, the possibilities are endless! Stanley has broken away more than anyone I know. No wonder everyone wants to hang out with Stan!

Do you agree that the NHL has the best postseason? What has been your favorite part so far?

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