New Blood Rejuvinates NHL Playoffs
NORTH TEXAS (CBSDFW.COM) - If you haven't seen any of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs the season, you are missing out! This post-season has seen some of the best hockey in years. New blood entering the picture has rejuvenated a tired act.
One big reason we're seeing fantastic hockey is the need for overtime. 13 games have required overtime to find a winner. That's unbelievable. The fantastic thing about overtime is level of play and determination rises. It makes for big hits and huge goals.
Costly big hits can cause injury and suspensions depending on the severity of the act. This season has already seen nine occasions where a player has been suspended for a bad hit or unsportsmanlike conduct. The penalties range from a one-game suspensions to Phoenix Coyotes' forward Raffi Torres' 25-game suspension. Torres was suspended for a violent check on Chicago Blackhawks' forward Marian Hossa during game 3. Torres left his feet, while driving his shoulder into the head of Hossa. Hossa had to be taken off the ice on a stretcher. Here is the video of the hit and explanation of the suspension by the NHL's Head Disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan. Hossa has not returned to play due to a head injury.
If big hits and controversy are not enough to get you to tune in, then what about the excitement of different teams knocking out the usual contenders for the Cup? The league has already seen the top-seeded Vancouver Canucks fall and other teams exit such as the Detroit Red Wings and the San Jose Sharks. These teams have routinely been in the playoffs since 2007.
The teams responsible for their demise are the Los Angeles Kings (Canucks), Nashville Predators (Red Wings), and the St. Louis Blues (Sharks). All three of these franchises have never won a Stanley Cup. The Blues are fresh off their first playoff series win since 2002. The Kings haven't seen a playoff series victory since 2001 and the Predators victory over the Red Wings gave that franchise their second playoff series victory in their history.
The excitement of having new teams, new names and new storylines is a fantastic way to get into the game. Take the opportunity to learn the game and understand it. If you tune in with that open mind ready to learn, then you will soon understand the greatness that is the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Brian Waddle is the Producer for the K&C Masterpiece on 105.3 The Fan heard on Sundays from 10am-2pm. Waddle is on Twitter @Big_Time_Waddle
(© Copyright 2012 KRLD FM, 105.3 The Fan, CBS Local. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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