2010 play-offs reminding many fans what makes this sport great

UNITED KINGDOM – The beer is chilled and the popcorn is ready, and tonight I will settle down to watch game 7 of Boston’s epic series with Philadelphia. I don’t follow either team, and essentially I have no vested interest in either’s progress to the Conference finals, or their preparations for the first tee time of the summer should that fate befall them. But the fact is, the 2010 post season has got me utterly hooked, it’s what play-off hockey is all about and I love every minute of it.  
There is little doubt the 2010 play-offs have thrown up more than their fair share of surprises, even just in terms of those that made the cut. Back in October, when the first games of the season were played, few would have predicted Colorado would rebound from their worst season since arriving in Denver to steal 8^th place in the West. Even fewer would have predicted Phoenix, who spent the summer of 2009 mired in financial difficulties and speculation, would not only make the play-offs but do so on the back of one of the most impressive seasons of any team in the league!  
The Eastern Conference went to the wire, with the New York Rangers unable to get anything from back to back games with Philadelphia and so missing out by just a single point, allowing fans all over Montreal to breathe a huge sigh of relief! Surely it couldn’t get any more dramatic?  
Round 1 mixed the minnows with the contenders but saw giants felled by young upstarts and seemingly ‘sure fire winners’ forced to sweat it out. New Jersey, a major contender in the East with Brodeur, Elias and the newly acquired Ilya Kovalchuk on board, were humbled by the heart and soul of the Flyers. San Jose and Detroit were made to sweat by Colorado and Phoenix and rookie puck stopper Tukka Rask overcame Olympic silver medallist Ryan Miller to help the Bruins slip past the Sabres.  
Easily the biggest upset of the round went to the Canadiens. It was like watching Rocky IV for the first time, where Balboa takes on the ‘big red machine’ Ivan Drago, except this big red machine wore Capitals logos and sported one of the most explosive offences going. Ovechkin, Greene, Semin, Backstrom. The Caps couldn’t lose! No matter how well in form Habs netminder Jaroslav Halak played! Turned out, they could lose, blowing a 3-1 series lead to be sent home at the first hurdle, losing the decisive game 7 on home ice as Halak stopped a mind boggling 131 of 134 shots in the final three games of the series.  
Phew, so, that was round 1, time to catch our breath and accept that you get surprised in round 1, right? Conference semi-finals will separate the men from the boys! San Jose versus Detroit? Yep, this one will show the Sharks up for the play-off chokers they are! Jumbo Joe? No need to worry about him……’Little’ Joe however, just didn’t stop scoring! A Joe Pavelski inspired Sharks came alive to topple the Wings, while Chicago repeated last years series win over Vancouver, beating the Canucks again to setup an intriguing Western Conference Final against the Sharks.  
Montreal, sticking with the Rocky Balboa comparisons for a moment, now found them selves on the set of the first Rocky film. Underdogs against the reigning champ. A champion with a devastating one-two punch named Crosby and Malkin. They might have toppled the Caps, but this one wouldn’t go the distance surely? Penguins drew first blood in emphatic style, only for the Habs to pull it back in game 2. Pens win again, but Habs again level the series. Pens put them selves on the verge with a win in game 5, only for Montreal to pull it back again! And once more we found ourselves watching the men in red, blue and white marching toward a game 7 against a team they could not possible beat. Off season acquisitions Brian Gionta and Mike Cammalleri, who is quickly writing himself in to Habs folk lore this post season, popped up again with decisive goals as the defending Stanley Cup champions tasted bitter defeat in their final game at the Mellon Arena.
 
The Canadiens now await the winner of tonight’s Flyers vs. Bruins match to determine the Eastern Conference final. In the true spirit of the 2010 play-offs however that series has not exactly gone by without a twist in its tail either, as the Bruins surrendered a 3-0 series lead, and seemingly lose all their ability to score, to now face a nerve jangling show down with the ‘never say die’ Flyers.  
So there you have it, the story so far as it were! And what a story it has been. And we’re looking at the very real possibility of an all Original Six final! The last time two Original Six teams battled it out for the Cup was 1979, when Scotty Bowman’s Montreal side beat the Rangers.  
The drama, the twists and turns and the lack of ‘predictability’ has galvanised hockey fans in a way I cannot recall for some time. While some have tasted bitter defeat others have seen their teams upset the odds to spark wild scenes of jubilation, and riots in some towns (just imagine what might happen if Montreal does pull it off!!!).  
But there is no apathy, no ‘here we go again’ feelings. As much as the skills of Crosby and the Penguins, or respectability and continual success of the Red Wings can and should be admired, the 2010 play-offs have reminded so many people why they love the sport and why they love this time of year.
Long may it continue.  
Contact the author: rob.mcgregor@prohockeynews.com