NHL Playoffs 2012: 5 Observations from an Exciting Weekend of Playoff Hockey

The 2012 NHL playoffs are in full swing, but the destiny of all 16 teams involved is still up for grabs. In what has been nothing short of an exciting postseason so far, it would not be much of a stretch to call the eight games that took place over the weekend some of the best hockey we have seen in recent years.

Amazing goals, excellent defense, big hits and ferocity in the rivalries that led to some epic bouts. It’s a great time to be a hockey fan.

However, the expectation that you are able to watch all eight matches implies a religious type of devotion and far too much time on your hands. Sadly I have both, and that’s what led me to plunk down on my couch for eight hours Saturday and Sunday, only moving to the emotion of the games I am watching.

But if you have a little more of a life than I do and decided to take advantage of the early summer days sweeping across the country do not worry. Here is a recap of five observations that I came away with from one of the best two days in hockey.

Branden Holtby Will Decide the Boston-Washington Series

Washington Capitals 22-year-old goalkeeper Branden Holtby has been the breakout star of the playoffs thus far. Thrown into his first ever playoff game last week as the Caps go through an injury crisis between the pipes, he held up to easily the toughest competition he had ever faced, the physical and dominating Boston Bruins.

But in that game he held his own, keeping the Bruins scoreless in regulation before giving up the game winner at the start of overtime.

The loss did little to waver the rookies confidence as he came back in game two and put on just as dazzling of a display. Turning away 43 out of 44 shots, his near perfect play in net gave the Caps a very important 2-1 victory in Boston, evening the series 1-1 as both team’s head back to the nations capital.

Holtby is playing with an incredible amount of confidence not only for a young player in the biggest moment of his career, but even for a tried veteran.  The Bruins have been one of the top teams this season in the NHL, by making goalies confidence waver, crashing the net hard and getting in their way. But Holtby has not been affected by it, sticking to what he told The Washington Post:

“That’s my game. That’s where I like to [be]. That’s my crease. I don’t really like to let anyone in there because I want to fight as hard as I can to find the puck. It was a pretty reactive play.”

However, Holtby has not been perfect. The two goals he has let in this series are probably ones that he should have had. Understandable to give up a soft one here and there given his inexperience, but he cannot make a habit of it or the immense confidence he is currently riding on will start to wane.

This series will be decided by how long Holtby can keep it together. If he continues the form he is in, there is no reason to not see Washington upsetting their way to the second round. But if the Bruins get four or five past him in any of these upcoming games, the odds of Holtby rebounding would be slim.

The Los Angeles Kings Are for Real

The hockey purists may struggle to come to terms of the amazing upset that is brewing on the west coast. Puck-savvy Vancouver has found themselves in their choke job routine once again as the Los Angeles Kings are up 3-0 in the series and poised for a clean sweep of the Western conferences No. 1 seed.

Though few on the East may be taking note of what is going on out there, due to their impossible start times, there is an absolute reason why this is going on. L.A. is not in this position by mistake. The top defense in the league coming into the playoffs is continuing their amazing form, buoyed by their Vezina Trophy hopeful Jonathan Quick.

Quick has been brilliant for the Kings, dominating shots and not allowing Vancouver to get anything easy. He seems relaxed and fluid in the goal and in no way does it look like that is going to change anytime soon. But Vancouver is no slouch on offense, and Quick cannot do it alone.

If you had watched the game last night you would know Quick’s success is much owed to the players in front of him. The defense for L.A. is absolutely suffocating. They pinch hard on the puck, but are disciplined enough to not fall out of position. They defend as one entity, moving in unison and nearly impossible to break down.

They frustrate you to death, to the point where you make that one little mistake in transition or lose your man just long enough to allow them to get the single goal they need to win.

Vancouver had the best offensive record in the West but look as inept as anyone against L.A.. If the Kings can do this to an offense like the Canucks, there is little reason to doubt why they cannot shut down every other attack in the West and perhaps the NHL.

Maturity Is Not an Issue for St. Louis

The St. Louis Blues were the surprise team of the NHL season. They played immensely well all year, barely losing out on the No. 1 seed in the West in the closing days of the season. But what has been so incredible about this climb is how they have done it.

Blues head coach Ken Hitchcock has instilled a confidence and bravado in his team by doing everything the “wrong way.” He told Sports Illustrated, “I'm still a bear about playing and acting the right way, but I don't sweat the small stuff.”

That kind of attitude can strike a nerve with traditionalists that take exception to his dodgy philosophy and openness to player attitudes. His ease and calmness in the locker room has led this group of young players to being one of the most feared in the NHL.

The unconventional way he has played two goalies all season, Jaroslav Halak and Brian Elliott, has become the symbolic point of his crusade, though it is not unprecedented. The Boston Bruins won the cup in the 1971-72 season with Gerry Cheevers and Ed Johnston splitting time the exact same way.

The Blue’s opened their postseason with a heart wrenching loss to San Jose in double overtime. The pain as the higher seed loss at home in back and forth game showed on the Blues' faces as they left the ice.

However,if there ever was a gut check that would decide whether or not they had what it takes to win it all, this would be it. Could they rebound from a disappointing opener and comeback in a strong way?

Just two days later the answer was a resounding “yes,” as St. Louis trounced the Sharks 3-0, with Halak and Elliott combining on the shutout. The very fact that they were able to come back so quickly and with such force will make those who questioned the unique way they operate second guess themselves.

The Blues could not have proven any better that if they are to get bounced from the postseason, it will be because they got beat, not because of how Hitchcock runs the team.

The Pens or Flyers Will Not Make It Past the Second Round

If there was one game you watched this weekend it had to be between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. In what has been a calm series thus far relative to the amount of physicality the two played within the regular season, it has not been short on excitement.

The Flyers have taken a shocking 3-0 lead in the series after getting a massive 8-4 win over the Pens in Philadelphia. But the game itself had even more action than the score line reflects. Before the first period was over, there had already been a handful of brawls between both sides, as the frustrations of the Pens started to boil over.

It was as exciting and physical as a matchup you could ever expect from a hockey game, where hitting for pride turned into hits out of a personal vendetta, not aimed at establishing dominance, but getting back at someone for an earlier play.

But lost amongst the chaos of the afternoon and what will surely be missed in the highlights that follow this morning will be the incredibly inept and faulty defenses and goaltending of both teams.

So far the Pens have conceded an amazing 20 goals in three games, an average of over six per game! The Flyers have not been all that much better, 12 in their first three.

Both teams have potent offenses, but hardly ones that warrant the types of numbers being put up. It really has come down to an incredible lack of discipline by the defenders and inconsistency by the goalies. Nearly all of the goals conceded yesterday could have been dealt with better by the keepers and the defense, but both teams seem to be more wrapped up in the extracurricular aspects of the game to worry about the essentials.

For now, we can all elate in one of the best rivalries the playoffs have seen in quite some while. You can tell both teams are playing off adrenaline and a naturalistic desire to survive over the opposition. But after it wraps up, there are too many faults to see the winner of this series mattering in the long.

Something for Everyone

The NHL playoffs are often considered one of the most exciting events in professional sports. Unlike other playoffs that nothing matters until the late rounds (NBA), where games can be slow (MLB) or when the better team does not always win NFL, the NHL makes sure that the pureness of the sport comes out in the postseason.

I have been asked by friends who don’t really get the sport, why are the playoffs another event unto itself? Well, the answer is not exactly simple, but it can be explored.

The combination between a fast paced physical contact game, with the incredibly tight schedule and high stakes gives it a certain aura of not only trying to win, but the need to survive.

Grudges carry over and form only lasts until it is gone. The nature of hockey is what has always done it for me, the way no lead is safe until the final buzzer is sounded.

But if you really want to know why the NHL playoffs are one of the best things in sports, just tune into the next broadcast. Whether you are one who loves the head crunching physicality of athletics or the finesse and purity of amazing skills, there is something for you this year.

What Did You Notice This Weekend?

Like coming down from an adrenaline rush, I am miserably returning to reality of the work week. In what was an incredible weekend on, the long days at the office will in no way stack up.

The good news is that this thing is far from over. With only two series that can be decided in the team's next meeting, there is plenty of first round action left, with more tonight.

So what did you notice from a weekend of enjoyment?

As always, please leave your comments below and thanks for reading!

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