Sixteen teams are determined to win through valiant effort, determination, and belief in themselves and each other. The Stanley Cup playoffs are one of a kind, and this year has panned out to be one of the most exciting.
From fights, hitting, and scoring, the Stanley Cup playoffs has increased in popularity through North America. Hockey, known for its Canadian upbringing, has brought a new sport to North America that people love. Yes, we do have football and basketball, but hockey is filled with toughness, blood, and endurance which brings a new type of excitement for sports.
So far in 2013-14, anticipation has risen to exceptionally high levels. The first few games have brought us a 4-3 series win from the Los Angeles Kings, a seemingly impossible comeback from being down 0 games to 3 to the San Jose Sharks. Another notable series was between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Columbus Blue Jackets; Pittsburgh won the series 4 games to 2. Every series so far displayed the good old-fashioned hard hitting game of hockey that the fans enjoy, and there are plenty of games yet to play.
“The excitement of the game isn’t like any other league. Each game brings a different type of excitement and that’s why I like the NHL,” said freshman Justin Mettling.
Round 2 of the Stanley Cup playoffs is almost here. With matchups like Pittsburgh and New York, this next round brings plenty of promising hockey. Pittsburgh and New York are sworn rivals, and in the playoffs, no one expects anyone to back down.
As learned from the past, hockey series can definitely reach game 6 or game 7. Although the fans love the intensity, players always seem to get winded and fatigued. However, that’s a part of the game. The whole point of the playoffs is to see who performs the best when the stakes are high and it matters the most. The Los Angeles Kings won a Stanley Cup a few years ago because they performed well as a team.
Overall, the Stanley Cup playoffs were made for fan approval. The rules are unique because they allow excessive body checks and fighting. The NHL continues to grow in North America, and will continue to grow because of the fans’ involvement into the game.
Sophomore Sean Callis said, “The Stanley Cup playoffs are enjoyable to watch because of the hard-hitting and all of the suspense at the end of games.”