Anyone that knows me understands that there are two things I am obsessed with; books and sports, specifically hockey and football. So since it’s the Stanley Cup Playoffs right now, I’m obviously really happy, especially because my team is in it. I love hockey all year long, even the offseason because I stay up to date on trades and changes to teams (I told you, I’m obsessed), but the race to the Cup is by far the best and here’s why.
1. The Anticipation
Even before the playoffs start, it’s a guessing game as to who is going to make it or not, and what seed each team will hold. A fan will never know what will happen and where teams will stand and sometimes, a team that was thought to make it to playoffs without a doubt can miss it by one point. The Stanley Cup Playoffs is what every hockey fan waits for all year long so as the middle of April approaches, the excitement for the best hockey grows exponentially.
2. The Intensity
Hockey is intense in general, but during playoffs, the intensity is on a whole new level. It’s all about winning the Cup. The teams have been playing all year to get that coveted trophy. There’s a lot on the line every single game so both teams are giving it their all. This makes it intense, from the goaltending to the defense, to the hits, to the offense. Even the fans in the stands (and at home) are more intense with cheers and screaming. Most of the time, this intensity leads to fights, and that’s totally OK because it makes the games even better.
3. The Rivalries
Most of the time in playoffs, rivals play each other at some point. Playoffs are the best of the best and if two rivals play each other at any point, it’s going to be one heck of a series. It will be full of hits, fights, and excitement that is second to none. Also, since one of the teams is bound to lose, the rivalry will grow even more and you know that the next time the teams meet in playoffs, the loser will be out for blood and it will be an even better series than the last.
4. The Possibilities
Anything can happen in the playoffs. Each round is a seven game series and the first team to win four or more moves onto the next round. Underdogs win the entire thing (only one team in NHL history has ever won from the eighth seed; the Los Angeles Kings did it in 2012). Teams have come back from losing a series 3-0 and then won the entire cup as well. Goals are scored within seconds of each other and other games go into three overtime periods because one or two just aren’t enough. Anything can happen in the playoffs and the teams always keep the fans on their toes.
5. The History
The Stanley Cup holds so much history. When a team wins the Cup, the players’ names are etched into it and will stay there forever and will be passed down to every team who wins after. There are many legendary names that cover the metal of the cup such as Henry Richard, Jean Beliveau, and over 1,000 other names accompany them as well. That’s a whole lot of history on that one trophy.
6. The Glory
The glory at the end of the playoffs is what it is all about. The teams want the Cup in their hands and the rings on their fingers. The fans want bragging rights for the next year. The glory that comes with a Stanley Cup is one of the most incredible things that the playoffs bring. The glory of all the players’ hard work paying off.
Playoff hockey is the best hockey because it’s the Cup. These are just some of the things that make it the best. Even if you don’t like hockey, watch a playoff game and you’ll learn that it’s not that bad.
