2012 NHL Playoffs: Parity Between Teams Major Reason Physicality Has Increased

When teams are equal in talent, they're going to do whatever it takes to gain the upper hand and win the game.

In the NHL, that means busting each other's heads open until the toughest team is the last one standing.

The sport of hockey has experienced parity in recent years because of the instituted hard salary cap which has prevented teams from spending on whoever they want. As a result, the playing field has been leveled. 

In fact, in the last eight years, eight different teams have won the Stanley Cup and the Toronto Maple Leafs remain the only team without a playoff appearance in the post-lockout era. Such a thought would've been inconceivable in the days before the lockout, when Toronto would buy their way into the playoffs seemingly ever year.

There were more dynasties in that era. 

Those days are long gone.

Because of the level playing field, we see the No. 8 seeded Los Angeles Kings up 3-0 in their series against the No. 1 Vancouver Canucks. 

The seed that teams have in front of their name is just a number now. It means absolutely nothing. Teams are so evenly matched, especially this season, that any one mistake by either side can lead into a momentum shift almost instantaneously. Maintaining that momentum becomes tougher because the team can lose that confidence quicker than they attained it if they're not careful.

Such is the case in the NHL. In the first week, 15-of-22 games have been decided by one goal. That's a startling number and it exemplifies the parity between all of these teams. 

Because teams are so equally pitted against each other in this year's playoffs, it has resulted into more aggression and physicality. Close games mean that teams must do whatever it takes to get an edge and in hockey that means either hitting your opponent hard, or dropping the gloves.

After an extremely physical first week in the NHL playoffs, it's become clear that all of these teams have a strong amount of disdain for each other and have demonstrated it through their high level of physical play.

Aside from the possibility of a malicious hit or an injury, this is great for the NHL. Games have become exciting as scrums ensue after almost every play. Each series has had its own vicious aggression.

Familiarity definitely has a lot to do with the nature of this year's hostility in the playoffs. Of all the postseason series in the first round, the Philadelphia vs. Pittsburgh and Nashville vs. Detroit showdowns have been arguably the most physical and it's no surprise that it's because these teams are division rivals.

This still doesn't explain the physicality between teams like Ottawa and New York or Phoenix and Chicago.

The only thing that explains that is the fact that they're all elite teams who desperately want to win the Stanley Cup. It really wouldn't be a surprise if a majority of these series go to seven games. It also wouldn't be a surprise if Vancouver and Pittsburgh rallied back down from 0-3 deficits. All of these matchups are extremely even and predicting their results is an arduous task.

Although there are plenty of uncertainties regarding the results of these series, the only thing that's for sure is that the punches and hits will commence to infiltrate games as teams itch and claw their way to the Stanley Cup.