2011 NHL Playoffs: OT, Beards and 25 Things That Make the Postseason Great
The Stanley Cup is the oldest trophy in professional sports. That history alone makes it pretty cool, but the events we watch leading up to it being hoisted above someone's head is what makes it so great.
Plain and simple, we love the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
There is no other sport that can boast a playoff that is as exciting, tense and tradition-laden as the NHL can with its Stanley Cup.
Until Kobe Bryant grows a playoff beard the NHL will continue to rule the postseason coolness factor.
So far the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs have been as good as can be and with three more rounds to go, hockey fans the world over have a wild ride in front of us.
In no particular order, here are the 25 things we love about the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
1. The Playoff Beard
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The '80s New York Islander dynasty is often given credit for starting the playoff beard, but whoever gets credit, we want to thank them.
The playoff beard is one of those traditions that make the Stanley Cup playoffs stand out. It's not only a superstition, but a sign of manhood. After all, hockey is a rough sport played by men.
The NHL has taken notice and has managed to score some sponsorship from shaving companies out of it.
Shea Weber of the Predators has the early lead in the playoff beard (to be fair, he started his a month ago) but has a way to go to match the Flyers Scott Hartnell's epic wolfman beard from last year.
To get a good playoff beard you have to be blessed with testosterone and a good goal tender in net to allow you to go far into the playoffs.
2. Overtime
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Let's face it, in the regular season, overtime is pretty lame. A hard fought game turns into a four-on-four pond hockey game for five minutes followed by a skills competition.
The NHL gets it right in the playoffs however.
Sudden death Stanley Cup overtime is a heart-pounding experience. With every shift and every shot on goal, fans edge forward in their seats.
There is no shootout reprieve here. You keep playing until someone scores. Which could mean you go three or four extra periods.
Overtime hockey is a thrill, but when it's your team who's fortune might ride on a wild shot finding the twine you may have to have a doctor nearby. The near misses and heart-pounding action might just cost you a couple of years in your life.
3. Lost Teeth
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There is no doubt that hockey players are tough. The playoffs show off that toughness as there have been some brutal injuries that have barely slowed guys down.
Last year Chicago's Duncan Keith got hit with a puck in the face and lost most of his front teeth. That kind of blow would sideline Alex Rodriquez for three months. Keith? Didn't miss a game.
In the first round of this year's playoffs, Tampa Bay's Martin St. Louis took a high stick to the face in Game 1 versus Pittsburgh. He not only stayed in the game, but had a root canal afterward, kept playing and led his team to a first-round upset.
Losing teeth and ignoring it for the playoffs is pretty cool in our book and makes the list.
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4. The Conn Smythe Award
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Sure you have your Super Bowl MVP each year, but come on, those guys had to be good for one afternoon. The NHL awards the Conn Smythe, for the playoff most valuable player, and he has to be good for a over a month.
Not only that but the award has a cool hockey-sounding name. Conn Smythe.
It's unique, Canadian-sounding and one of the reasons we love the playoffs. Near the end of the finals speculation begins about who the winner might be.
When the finals is over, the presentation of the Conn Smythe is a memorable event. It's something that no winner will ever forget, because it stands for more than just one good game.
It stands for being consistent at the most important part of year.
5. Hockey on TV Every Night
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When the NHL playoffs start, we get hockey on TV every night...for over a month. And these aren't just your run of the mill late season Florida versus Columbus snooze fests.
These are the best 16 teams battling it out for the Stanley Cup.
Every night you can turn on Versus or CBC (or both if you are lucky) and watch the heart-pounding action. It sure beats watching re-runs of Celebrity Apprentice.
It might upset your spouse, but don't worry, you'll have a whole summer to make it up to him or her. Just keep telling her it's almost over.
6. Rioting Fans in Montreal
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It comes as no surprise to find out that hockey is popular in Montreal. But win or lose they take it to the streets.
It's passion like this that separate hockey from other sports and why we love the Stanley Cup. Last season, as the Canadiens surprised team after team in the playoffs, their fans took to the streets to celebrate.
Waving flags, singing, cheering...drinking, they had it all covered. Can you see Laker fans doing that?
7. Don Cherry's Suits
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There is a lot to love about CBC's favorite curmudgeon Don Cherry. Whether it is his unabashed love for Canadian players or how he mispronounces European players name, Cherry is entertaining.
And then there are his suits.
Always known for his outlandish selections, Cherry seems to save his best for the playoffs. It becomes a challenge for fans to hear what he is saying night after night with those bright distractions.
He is a passionate hockey fan, loves Bobby Orr, Pitbulls and tough hockey players. In between all that bluster is a guy who actually knows a lot about the game and is worth listening to.
If you live in the U.S. and can't get CBC you need to go google Don Cherry right now and see what the fuss is all about.
8. The Drama
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A Stanley Cup Playoff series is a hotbed of drama. With a possibility of seven games, there are many up and downs. After each win or loss it seems like you finally have a handle on the series only to have it all change next time out.
This year the opening round series between Vancouver and Chicago had all the drama in the world. You had the defending champs matching up again with the league's top team, the big lead for Vancouver, the powerful comeback by Chicago, the goalie switch and finally a Game 7 overtime finish.
And this was just the first round and the drama will only intensify as the playoffs progress.
9. Hitting
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Hockey is a physical sport, and during the regular season there is a lot of hitting. We love a good body check in November, but there is something special about the hitting in the spring.
With more on the line the hits get a little extra mustard on them. You also have been battling against the same team night after night and the urge to put someone through the boards grows with each shift.
There have been some big hits over the year in the playoffs and this year has been no exception. There has also been a lot of chatter about hitting and head shots this year. The head shots aren't cool, but the open ice take out still gets the arena to its feet and can ignite a team.
10. Hatred
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There is nothing to make you hate someone more than having them hit you over and over for seven games. And nothing brings out genuine hatred amongst athletes the way the Stanley Cup Playoffs do.
Sometimes, as in the Vancouver-Chicago series, the teams come into a series hating each other. Other times it has to grow naturally...and it will.
It usually takes a game or two, you might see it start to brew in the first game. Maybe there is a little pushing after the whistle.
By Game 2 those little shoves become two-handed pushes, punches, crosschecks and the hatred is on. The intensity this brings to the game is measurable and one of the things that separate the Stanley Cup Playoffs from other sports.
Do you think the Texas Rangers hate the Giants? It's doubtful.
11. The Green Men
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The Vancouver Green Men became famous during last year's playoffs. There they were, in green body suits, taunting players in the penalty box. In the first round against the Kings, they were seen doing handstands and some other strange gyrations trying to get the attention of Kings players in the box.
Love them or think they need to get jobs, the Green Men are a prime example of the passion of hockey fans. They are also kind of funny.
So far in this year's playoffs they have produced a cutout of Vince Vaughn and Carrie Underwood wearing a Canucks jersey. Vaughn, of course, had a high profile during the Chicago series and Underwood is married to Nashville's Mike Fisher.
What will they do next? You'll have to stay tuned.
12. The Stanley Cup Trophy
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There are many iconic trophies in sports but none has the allure as the Stanley Cup. It is the oldest trophy being played for, has the names of its winners on it and can be used to sip adult beverages.
Let's see the Packers down a six pack out of the Lombardi trophy!
Not only that, but each member of the winning team gets to spend a day with the trophy during the summer. This leads the cup to show up in many strange places. It's been photographed on top of mountains in British Columbia and showed off in small town parades.
It is only fitting that the best postseason tournament winner gets the best trophy.
13. Game Sevens
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After six hard-fought games, there is nothing better than the final Game 7 to decide it all. Whether it's the opening round or the finals there is nothing like it.
So much can hang in the balance. One team moves on, one team goes home. Jobs and roster spots for next season are decided. Heroes are about to be crowned as well as goats.
The arena for a Game 7 is a hurricane of nervous energy as the crowd hopes to will its team into the next round. The games are intense as the players put everything on the line and play like there is no tomorrow...because there may not be.
14. End of Series Hand Shake
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As we have discussed, the NHL Playoffs are a rough, intense, hate-filled series of games. And at the end of each series, the two teams line up and shake hands with each other.
Despite all the hatred and bad blood that occurred, when it is all over the teams show their mutual respect. It is more than a chance to say "good game" to your opponent. It's a chance to let them know that you respect them for just taking the ice.
Seeing the losing team congratulate the goaltender who just beat them is a great moment as well, as again, respect is offered.
Hockey is the only sport where the handshake is mandatory and says something about the playoffs, respect and the greatness of the NHL Playoffs.
15. Hoisting the Cup
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Not only is the cup the coolest trophy but the trophy ceremony is just as good. The commissioner hands the cup to the winning team's captain and each player gets to take a victory lap with it.
It makes for great television and some great moments. Who can forget Joe Sakic calling Ray Bourque over to touch the Stanley Cup for the first time after winning it? Or the Flames Lanny McDonald's smile as he finally got to take his victory lap?
Once again, this tradition is one of the greatest in sports and one of the best things about the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
16. Goalies Stealing Series
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Usually during the Stanley Cup Playoffs the better team wins. However, often a goaltender can come along and flat-out steal a series.
Last season Jaroslav Halak stole two series for Montreal and nearly led them to the finals. Along the way they upset the top-ranked Capitals along with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Who will be this year's Halak? Thomas? Rinne?
17. Cross Bars and Posts
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There is nothing more exciting and frustrating than the loud clang of a puck hitting a cross bar or a post and rebounding harmlessly out of danger.
Goaltenders will tell you that the post is all they gave the shooter, while the shooter will tell you he beat the goaltender but was an inch off of scoring. These posts are either lucky breaks or devastating near misses depending on which team you are rooting for.
Ask Vancouver fans about the hit posts in Game 7 of the 1994 Finals and you'll know how devastating the posts can be.
18. Head Games
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When you face the same opponent night after night, you will try to find a way to get into their head. Some teams are just naturally in their opponents heads (see Vancouver and Chicago), but others look for an edge.
There have been some pretty notorious and entertaining acts in the past few years. Last year, the Flyers Chris Pronger made it a point of stealing the game puck at the end of each Blackhawks win in the finals, keeping them from a memento and irritating the Chicago players.
Then there was Sean Avery a few years ago standing in front of Devils goalie Martin Brodeur waving his stick back and forth to throw him off his game.
As fun as these head games are to watch, you have to wonder about their effectiveness as both Avery and Pronger were on the losing end of their series.
19. The Presidents Trophy Curse
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In most sports the team that finishes the season with the best record is a sure bet to win the playoffs. In the NHL those teams are cursed and need to watch their back.
In 2009 and 2010 the President's Trophy Winner, given to the NHL team with the best regular season record, have gone down in flames in the first round. And we are not talking about the Calgary Flames, as they don't seem to know what the playoffs are for.
In 2009 it was the San Jose Sharks who lost to Anaheim in the first round, followed by the Washington Capitals getting bounced last year by Montreal.
This year Vancouver barely escaped the first round after blowing a 3-0 series lead.
This gives makes the playoffs a wide open and exciting affair each year. Nobody wants to see the favorites blow through every one.
20. Not Touching the Conference Trophies
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As desperately as players want to be hoisting the Stanley Cup over their heads after the playoffs, they are not as eager to touch the trophy you get for winning your conference.
It's a great tradition, as that is not the trophy you want so touching it is seen as a sure-fire jinx. In the past couple of years some players have tempted fate and touched it while posing for pictures.
Nowadays it seems to be 50-50 as to whether the two teams will grab the trophy. Again, it's one of those great and long-standing traditions that set the Stanley Cup Playoffs apart.
21. Complaining About Refs
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Every year there is one team, one city of fans who are convinced the referees are out to get them. The fix is in for sure. One or two bad calls go against them and the conspiracy is on.
Usually it starts with Detroit fans, or the Penguins players complaining about the lack of calls, but this year, it was Vancouver general manager Mike Gillis who ripped the officiating after his team's Game 6 loss.
It might have worked as the referees seemed to swallow their whistles during Game 7 of Vancouver's opening round series.
Some people may be annoyed by Gillis's complaining, but it is his playoff rite of passage. You haven't arrived until you have complained about the refs.
22. National Anthems
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As the opening faceoff draws nearer, the anticipation grows. Then come the anthems. With the heat turned up in the playoffs, the national anthems take on a new importance.
The entire arena is singing together and it's the last chance for the players to get ready. As the cameras pan each player during the anthem, you can see the determination on their faces.
It gets the crowd going as well. Anyone who witnessed the Vancouver crowd singing along or the Chicago fans cheering non-stop during the anthem and doesn't get goosebumps should get their pulse checked.
23. Playing Through Injury
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Sports fans love it when players play through the pain. No players do this more than NHL players, and when injury strikes during a playoff time the players ignore it and play on.
To win the Stanley Cup you have to win the war of attrition. No player on the roster will be healthy when it's all said and done. This is why we love it, this is why the playoffs are so great.
There have been so many guys coming back from injury that to list them all here would require hundreds of slides. But a special call out has to go to Vancouver's Sami Salo who got hit in a tender spot in last year's playoffs and didn't miss a game.
It was the kind of blow that would put you and I in the hospital, but then we aren't NHL players.
24. Hockey in June
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Four rounds of seven-game series, many of which go the distance gives us the gift of hockey into June. How can we not love this?
Instead of being forced to watch baseball, we get to see the best hockey in the world into summer. Even when the cup has been won, and one team is celebrating a whole legion of fans know that there are only three short months until the season kicks off again.
Thank you NHL for making all four rounds the best of seven series and giving us hockey nearly year round.
25. Sending Your Defeated Opponent to the Golf Course
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After growing to hate a team, is there nothing better to beat them and taunt them by telling them to get the golf clubs out?
Hockey players who lose out on the Cup find solace on the course. It's where the losers go to heal their wounds and plot for next year.
So, as your team is about to wrap up its series, feel free to call that jerk from accounting and tell him the Rangers can start making their tee times now.
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