<p>It’s time for the annual hockey playoff discussion! And for the first time since the year I joined CC, the Leafs are in the playoffs. Now, as a hockey fan, that’s sad but we’re excited in Toronto and under no illusions that it will be more than four extra games. Living in the hockey capital of the world, it’s tough having a lousy team but the young guys this year, along with the shortened season, have given us some wonderful entertainment. And our goalie is a gem of a person. Can’t wait to go see the Leafs/Bruins next week.</p>
<p>I checked last year’s thread and it went from April 11, the night of the first games, until June 11, the night of the last. We’re later this year so it looks like there could be hockey until almost July. I really have no predictions, anyone else? It’s been a weird season, with some strange outcomes, and many teams that have had long cold/hot stretches. The one constant, as often is the case, is the strength of the Penguins. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing them play in person several times this year, and I don’t think they’ve ever been stronger, when they’re healthy. </p>
<p>Here’s hoping for injured players everywhere to come back and help their teams pursue the Cup!</p>
<p>I’m so excited. I was literally going to break down and cry if my Wings didn’t make it. There’s never been a point in my life when they weren’t in!</p>
<p>On general principle, I hate the penguins. And I’ll always hate the Blackhawks ;). Good luck to everyone else though!</p>
<p>My Hurricanes not only missed the playoffs, they didn’t even come close to getting in. Oh well, there will still be some exciting playoff hockey without them.</p>
<p>Go WILD! (I wish I had more confidence in their prospects)…</p>
<p>There are five teams that didn’t make the playoffs last year who are in it this year. The Leafs, Islanders and Canadiens were at the bottom of the Eastern Conference last season and all are in it now. Anaheim and Minnesota are the Western Conference teams to make an improvement this year. It’s nice for their fans, as I can well attest after a nine year playoff drought here in Toronto!</p>
<p>There were four first round upsets last year. I wonder if we’ll see any this time.</p>
<p>Flyers continue to break our hearts. You’d think we wouldn’t fall for it again and again, but we do!! So we are cheering for the Leafs, even though it seems they are unlikely to go the distance.</p>
<p>Thanks, greenbutton. We need all the help we can get. 
The Flyers were my first NHL love. Growing up there, we were Flyer fans before the first season even started, largely because we were Jersey Devil (the REAL Devils ;)) fans. We knew many of the Flyers team because they’d arrive in town near the end of the previous season at Devils’ games. Vic Stasiuk was the coach that year and he would go on the following season to coach the Flyers’ farm team in Quebec City, and eventually coach in Philadelphia. Many of the players that 66/67 season on the Devils were Flyers’ prospects and they had a terrific season, making it to the EHL finals. </p>
<p>So, my loyalty has always been split between the teams in my old and ‘new’ hometowns. I think you’re right that the Leafs won’t go too far but the excitement in the city will make it fun for as long, or as short, as it lasts. We have a solid, young team with a great goaltender. I just hope that Kessel plays well against the Bruins. </p>
<p>Toronto fans are happy, which hasn’t happened come playoff time in many years, and especially since the Jays have been such a huge disappointment after the amazing off-season acquisitions they made. Go Leafs Go! :)</p>
<p>Considering how the Bruins coasted their way into the playoffs (3-5-2 in their last 10), and factoring in how many 3rd period collapses they had this year…</p>
<p>I don’t have high hopes for a deep run.</p>
<p>They should be able to handle the Laughs though.</p>
<p>I think this will be a very interesting playoff season. Some teams seem to be finally hitting their stride. This has only been a three month long season. I would not be surprised at all to see many upsets in round one. </p>
<p>As much as I love my Wings, I don’t see Howard carrying them more than a round, if that.</p>
<p>I hate hockey. My husband loves hockey. When we were dating I tried to like it…but not so much. I can’t see the puck. It moves too fast…Ok</p>
<p>My husband, who is half French Canadian loves it. My favorite year was when they went out of strike. My kids LOVE hockey. </p>
<p>This year I have gone 2 or 3 times to games. Why? I support my kids. One of my kids works for…The KINGS!</p>
<p>Go KINGS!!!</p>
<p>Thank goodness the Wings are switching divisions next year - no late-night west-coast games in 2014!</p>
<p>Ah, bevhills, the things we do for our kids! I’m not a hockey fan, but the Penguins fans around here are much less obnoxious than the Steelers fans, so I sometimes watch the playoff games. A kid from our area is playing for the Blackhawks now, so I hope he does well too. That is the extent of my hockey knowledge!</p>
<p>I believe my Caps are, as romani suggests, one of the teams just hitting their stride. Given their past playoff record, my expectations this year are high…</p>
<p>smdur, yes, the Caps had a strong finish. I seem to remember soccerguy315 is also a Caps fan so you’ll have company here. </p>
<p>Two of the three games last night went to OT. Tonight it’s the Leafs/Bruins, Islanders/Penguins, Sharks/Canucks. All three games are on tv here so I think it’s going to be a late night!</p>
<p>Congrats to CardinalFang’s Sharks who are the only team to win over the higher seeded team so far. Last night’s games were not the close games of the night before. Sloppy and nervous play for the Leafs against the Bruins, with a helping of inexperience thrown in. Jagr has played more playoff games than almost the entire Leaf team combined. The Penguins, with Malkin back though still without Crosby, as expected, totally dominated the Islanders. I didn’t stay up to watch all of the Vancouver/Sharks game.</p>
<p>Tonight is game one for Montreal/Ottawa and Rangers/Caps, and game two for LA/St. Louis and Detroit/Anaheim.</p>
<p>Always a Pens fan. LET’S GO PENS! We can still win without Crosby.</p>
<p>Not sure if any of you have access to CBC, but I thought you might enjoy this year’s Hockey Night in Canada playoff video.</p>
<p>[CBC</a> has impressive playoff video](<a href=“http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/2013/05/02/nhl-cbc-hockey-night-in-canada-opening-video/2128929/]CBC”>CBC has impressive playoff video)</p>
<p>The Nucks/Sharks game was entertaining. I’m so glad the Sharks didn’t get the Blues. Not only do the Blues own the Sharks, but watching a Blues/Sharks game is like watching grass grow. It would only have been four or five games, but it would have seemed like twenty.</p>
<p>The Canucks and Sharks, on the other hand, was a fast-moving, hard-hitting game. I had hoped that Luongo would look rusty and terrible. Sadly for me, he was, in fact, great, especially in the first period.</p>
<p>I hate to admit this, but I’m almost starting to like Raffi Torres. When he isn’t headhunting, which he has not done as a Shark, he’s a good player. Maybe he has learned his lesson. (Nah, who am I kidding. But the Sharks probably won’t have a long run, so maybe he won’t get around to trying to kill someone this playoff season.)</p>
<p>Happy Caps fans tonight at our house! Holtbeast rocked!</p>