Let’s be honest…in the NHL 8 out of 15 teams in each conference make the play offs.  So, most of the regular season doesn’t really make a difference.

But the playoffs are wonderful.

This is the first season where I’ve had an HD TV and a HD Cable, and trust me, hockey in HD makes all this crap worthwhile.  The detail is amazing…and yes, it makes it easier to see the puck as well.  Weird thing tho, not all teams have HD cameras installed.  Like the Flames…no HD.  But for the most part the added detail of HD is incredible.

Picks for this year?  I have to go with Pittsburgh and Detroit in the Stanley Cup…mostly because this matchup would be unbelievably awesome.  You have the veteran Wings against kids like Crosby and Malkin.

I have to say the Rangers are looking good too, and the Habs are doing well against an easy matchup.  Surprisingly Dallas is up 2-0 against the defending champs the Ducks…but really Dallas won’t go past the second round.

And Calgary is giving the Sharks a tough time.  Yesterday they came back from a 0-3 deficit to win.

The point is, playoffs are pure goodness.  And even better in HD.

Go Wings!

The Detroit Red Wings were in town this weekend, and I was lucky enough to find some incredible seats on craigslist.  Like, right near the glass, it was insane.

Of course, the Wings won, taking the sharks down 6 to 3.  And my god are they a good team.  Their passing was impeccable and they skated around the sharks like they were a junior hockey team.

Here are a couple pics from the game.

The NHL has had a rough season.  This year, the stanley cup finals were broadcast on…the Versus network.  Never heard of it?  Probably because it’s on a higher channel…It’s on 81 in my region.

In any case, the Ducks won the cup tonight, with Scott Niedermayer recognized as the MVP.  Sadly for the NHL, the finals ended in only 5 games, with tonight’s match over by the 2nd period.

Still, it may be a benefit that this year’s cup was won by a team in a huge sports market (and one without a football team, at that).  And you have to give props to the ducks, formerly the Mighty Ducks, a relatively new team founded in 1993 by Disney…and named after a movie.

But what the NHL really lacks is a Jordan, Gretzky or Lemieux-like star to bring the game to a wider audience.  Maybe 19 year old Sidney Crosby, who led the NHL in points…one more time…he LED the NHL in points at age 19…is the answer.

In any case, this year’s season is over…thankfully.  Hopefully the league built up some momentum to secure more prime time TV slots, and solidify it’s future for at least a few more years.

The Detroit Red Wings finished up their first round matchup against the Calgary Flames tonite with a 2-1 win in double overtime.  The first and third periods were scoreless, with Jarome Iginla and Robert Lang scoring in the second period.

The first overtime was incredible, with the Flames killing a 4 minute double minor and avoiding several very close calls, while the Wings also got lucky with Calgary missing an open net.

But the game winning goal came from Johan Franzen, who only yesterday was the victim of a cheap shot by the Flame’s backup goalie Jamie McLennan.  Yes, revenge was sweet and the Wings avoided the decisive 7th game and another first round loss.

Next up for Detroit is either Dallas or San Jose.  This will be decided tomorrow following game 7 of the Vancouver/Dallas series.

You gotta love spring with all these great playoff games.  I mean, I think the NHL would benefit if their playoffs weren’t at the same time as the NBA, but oh well.

And how about the Warriors, who beat the Mavs, on the road?  Sweet win for Golden State who barely made the playoffs in the first place.

It’s hard to expect a series win by the Warriors, but the way they’re playing, they could be in the finals.

It’s no secret that the NHL isn’t doing well.  I mean, most of their games are on the VS (versus) network, which for me is all the way on Channel 81.

But the NHL playoffs are always exciting.  I’m a Detroit Redwings fan, and I’ve been really enjoying their first round matchup vs. the Calgary Flames.  It’s been a really hard fought series, and Game 5, which Detroit won yesterday, was probably the best game yet (for Detroit fans, at least).

Check out this clip from Youtube.  It’s started with a penalty shot by Cleary - one of the rarest events in Playoff hockey.

You’ll also notice that late in the clip Calgary backup goalie McLennan takes a blatant hack at the wing’s Johan Franzen.  I mean, this was a cheap shot by all accounts, and hopefully it will drive the wings to close up the series today in Calgary.

Chris Simon, of the New York Islanders, has been suspended indefinitely for his brutal attack on Ranger’s forward Ryan Hollweg.  With 6:31 remaining in the game, Simon took a two-handed swing at Hollweg’s face, immediately sending the Ranger to the ice where he lay motionless for several seconds.

Simon’s attack was in retaliation to a hard hit by Hollweg moments before.  However, Hollweg’s hit did not draw a penalty, and after Simon recovered from the hit he quickly approached Hollweg and swung.

This is one of the more brutal attacks that has taken place in recent years.  Todd Bertuzzi, who blindsided Steve Moore with a punch to the head was suspended for a total of 17 months - although much of this time was during the NHL lockout.  Simon’s hit is arguably more severe, since he used his stick as a weapon.  Simon also has a history for suspensions, likely forcing the NHL to send a strong message with a long suspension.

Here’s a quick video of the attack:

Last night there was one of the better hockey fights of recent memory.  12 players involved, with 100 penalty minutes issued.

Plus, GOALIE FIGHT.  Ottawa goalie Ray Emery seemed to be clobbering Sabres goalie Biron pretty good - and he seemed to really be enjoying it too.  Even more astounding is that Emery got into it with Peters, a skater.  Emery held is own, but you don’t really see to many skater and goalie fights.  Goalies are at a big disadvantage due to their limited mobility. 

My guess is that either ottawa players thought that Emery could hold his own against a skater, or, no player wanted to man-up against peters, or, they don’t really like Emery and wouldn’t mind if he took a beating.

In any case, great game.  Went to a shootout which the sabres won.  Go Wings!

Here are a couple of gootube vids.  The first is raw game footage, the second is off of ESPN with Barry Melrose commentary.