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10 things I’ve noticed in the first 10 days of the NHL playoffs… 

  1. GENERAL MANAGERS: The networks show the general managers a lot more. I don’t think we saw Kevin Cheveldayoff once during the regular season but during the playoffs we see his reaction to every goal.
  2. ANTHEM SINGERS: These people take on a much more important role during the playoffs. The right singer plays a crucial role in firing up the crowd. The dude in Chicago makes me want to run out and crosscheck my neighbor with a rake.
  3. REFEREES: Fans hate most of their calls during the regular season, but in the playoffs the wrong call at the wrong time can cause a riot. The refs are always out to get YOUR team. “The fix is in!”
  4. COACH’S PRESS CONFERENCES: Unpredictable and awesome in the playoffs. The postseason starts and these guys suddenly turn into cavemen. From threatening the other team to criticizing the officiating, the coaches save their best stuff for the postseason. And you know you’ve got a really emotional series when the GM decides to jump in front of a microphone. The GM press conference is usually reserved for a team that is convinced it’s getting SCREWED.
  5. DIRTY HITS: Every round comes with at least one controversial hit by some asshole no one respects. And of course the fans completely overreact. “Suspend him forever!” “We want retribution!”
  6. THE NO-NAME PLAYOFF STAR: Going back as far as Chris Kontos and John Druce, every playoff year produces some fourth line hero you’ve never heard of. Sometimes the player in question is lucky enough to parlay their out-of-nowhere success into a big contract.
  7. THE PLAY-BY-PLAY GUY: Bob Cole, Doc Emrick, Jim Hughson, Chris Cuthburt… The soundtrack of the playoffs. They understand the importance of every situation and deliver the drama in poetic fashion.
  8. THE PLAYOFF DRAFT: This brings out all types. The condescending hockey dork who over-prepares, the girl who knows nothing about hockey, the guy who only drafts from his favourite team. Good times.
  9. HOCKEY PLAYERS ARE TOUGH: NHL players now realize that spitting out broken teeth on the bench makes them folk heroes in Canada. Thus, the practice is becoming more and more common. So is playing with 10 stitches on your face. Hockey players are tough SOB’s and they like making sure you never forget it.
  10. SLEEP DEPRIVATION: Late games, overtime games, double overtime games, getting half-snapped when your team wins a big game. For a variety of reasons, hockey fans lose a lot of sleep in the playoffs. Hopefully your boss isn’t too much of a dick about it.  ENJOY THE MADNESS!