Top 5 Reasons to Watch the NHL Playoffs

Here are the top 5 reasons to watch the NHL Playoffs, which start tonight.

5. Young Talent – I can’t make this point without leaving players and teams out. A perfect example is the Chicago Blackhawks. The Blackhawks have two elite rookies (Kane, Toews) along with a cast of young talent that has led them to the playoffs. Outside of that one team is the obvious dominant players. Rick Nash of the Blue Jackets and Eric Stall of the Hurricanes are getting better and better. Sidney Crosby has led his Penguins to a two-seed and Alexander Ovechkin brought his Capitals into the playoffs on the last night.

4. Consistant Talent – I am a complete homer for number four. The Detroit Red Wings have achieved the 100 point mark for the eighth consecutive season. Sure, not everyone is a fan of this team, but I guarantee that non-hockey fans will know some of the names associated. Lidstrom, Draper, McCarty, Chelios, and Hasek are all names that people will know. Other teams have this as well. The avalanche use players like Joe Sakic. Sidney Crosby is a player that everyone should take some time to watch. He will be one of the greatest of all time when all is said and done in 10-15 years.

3. Lack of knowledgeable predictions – I said this in a previous podcast episode. The greatness of the NHL playoffs is no more apparent than when you listen to the “experts” make predictions. Like I said, I am a huge Red Wings fan, but does that mean I know they will get past the Predators? Not one bit. I will be just as nervous in game one as I will be in round three if the Wings get that far. Any team out there has a chance to get all the way to the Stanley Cup if they get hot, have a great goaltender, or get a few bounces to go their way.

2. Divisional Rivalries – Five of the eight series will contain a divisional clash. For the casual fan this will not mean much, but for the fans of the teams, these are games that will really have passion. These teams have played each other plenty of times this season. The tensions have definitely risen. These rivalries will make this first round one of the best in sports.

1. Overtime fun – This has nothing to do with this specific tournament. Simply put, NHL playoff overtime hockey is the best event in sports. Nothing compares to the excitement, the thrill, and the disappointment. There is nothing that can bring those emotions out of me like playoff overtime. Why? Well, it is because in playoff overtime, it can end at any moment. Every time down the ice, the game could end. It is non-stop action because there are no commercials in overtime. So sit back and enjoy sudden death for 20 straight minutes. If you are lucky you will be given a chance to watch more than that.

Those are my reasons for watching the NHL playoffs. I am biased because hockey is, in my opinion, the most exciting sport to watch. My advice, give it a chance. Do not sit there and watch one minute. Watch a whole period, or be daring and watch a whole game. Get engaged in the teams and players and I guarantee that you, a “non-hockey fan,” will understand what I have been saying all this time.