Just a few days ago in this space, a colleague of The State Press lamented about the cumbersome and exhausting nature of the NBA playoffs.
For those looking for a cure to the doldrums of the early NBA rounds, I present the frenetic excitement of every round of the NHL’s Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The first round finished up last night, but that alone provided enough drama for an entire playoff season.
We were treated to four Game 7s, including the top-seeded Vancouver Canucks fending off the choke job of losing their 3-0 lead against the annual playoff dragon and defending-Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks with a 2-1 overtime win.
We saw the blood-rival Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins face off in their eighth Game 7 between the two clubs, the most Game 7 match-ups in major professional sports.
We saw the Detroit Red Wings possibly sweep the Phoenix Coyotes out of existence. The Nashville Predators and Anaheim Ducks scored a goal in every period, including overtime of the six games that saw Nashville win its first ever playoff series. The Washington Capitals and San Jose Sharks narrowly escaped their perennial playoff collapses and looked primed for their shots at their first Stanley Cups, for now.
Hot and bothered from your hardwood playoffs? Have one on ice.
Reach the reporter at zcavanag@asu.edu
