Playoff Hockey Rocks

I don't post too often about other teams' games(unless it involves Caps humiliation), but I have to say that I love the Tampa-Boston series, and it is a prime example of what makes playoff hockey the best game around. While much of yinzer nation is busying waxing Wines Hard's genitalia, I after a brief period mourning that he did not tear an ACL while "winning" DWTS went back to the greatest game on earth, and was not disappointed. Tonight's 5-4 win by Tampa forced a game 7 for the right to join Vancouver in the Stanley Cup Finals. This game came down to the wire, with Boston pressing hard and dominating play over the final six minutes in an effort to tie the game, while Tampa dug in and held on to a one goal lead. The action was fast and physical, a very small snapshot of what it takes to win the big silver trophy. You have to win 16 of those wars for a chance at that! This series has it all. Tampa starts off with a convincing 5-2 win, and looks invincible. Boston promptly takes the next two games and a 2-1 series lead before jumping out to a 3-0 lead in game 4. Things looked bleak for Tampa, and I wondered aloud if the glass slipper had been broken. Roloson, the main reason the Lightning were here, looked bad, and was replaced by Mike Smith. The next thing you know, Teddy Purcell scores two goals in 64 seconds, the place goes nuts.....GAME ON! Tampa then completes the comeback scoring 3 more unanswered goals to take a 5-3 win, and tie the series! Boston looked defeated, and many thought a collapse like that would spell doom for the Bruins. How do you recover from blowing a lead like that? So what happens now? Boston comes out and beats Tampa again, 3-1, chasing Roloson for the second game in a row. Smith again gives up zero goals, and most think he may have taken the job from Rolo. Boucher shows some courage, and give Roloson the nod in tonight's tilt despite the fact that Rolo looks like he might be fading. He did not look too good actually, and the way Thomas had been playing, Rolo coughing up 4 goals would normally spell doom for them. Not tonight! In a back and forth game, a game that started with a goal in the first minute by Tampa, you saw the best of playoff hockey unfold. Boston answers the Tampa goal with two of their own, dominating play for an extended period and going up 2-1. Tampa then scores three unanswered to go up 4-2. Boston scores to close within a goal, and just as you say Tampa may be in trouble, Downie sets up St. Louis and they get the back breaker as they restore a two goal lead seconds after Boston closed to within one. Boston had other ideas though, and they close back to within one goal with 6:32 left in the game. After a furious onslaught, and some epic net front battles, Tampa survives to force a Game 7 for the right to play for hockey's holy grail. If you don't like playoff hockey, perhaps a lobotomy is in order! Fun stuff for Friday night, and a dilemma for me. On one hand, I would like to see a friend of mine experience the thrill of watching his Bruins win the Cup for the first time in his lifetime. That would be cool to see! On the other hand, I HATE Colin Campbell and watching his son skate with the Cup would be kind of like that feeling you get when you zip your jeans BEFORE everything is safely put away. Ouch! Add to that, I kind of like Guy Boucher, Steve Yzerman, and Martin St. Louis. So, I think I will kick back Friday with a cold one or three, and watch one of the best events in sports, a game 7 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Even better, I can enjoy the outcome regardless of who wins!