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Stanley Cup Playoffs: The most wonderful time of the year
By Aaron Garland
On April 15, 2012
Well, it's that time of year again. It's time for unmaintained, rugged beards. It's time for the ordinary to
become extraordinary, dreams, heartbreak, grittiness, gutsiness, nastiness and everything in between.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs, along with all the excitement that ensues, return tonight for the 2012 edition.
The 16-team tournament is the best two months that sports has to offer. Everything about the playoffs
shows the brilliance of hockey.
They showcase hard-nosed play that features teammates sacrificing themselves for the betterment
of the team. Players are willing to do anything for the glory of hoisting the most iconic trophy in
professional sports - the Stanley Cup. The 35-pound trophy carries more weight than advertised, as it is
the driving force behind players battling as hard as they do to win.
Watching the playoffs is a breath of fresh air because it is evident that players are not playing for the
money - but for each other and for a city, on top of the large trophy. Hockey isn't highly regarded in
most of the country, but in reality, hockey players are some of the most selfless athletes there are. They
play for glory as opposed to money. In a sense, pro hockey players are like modern-day gladiators.
One-game playoffs are enjoyable to watch in football and in the NCAA tournament, but there is nothing
like the grind of a seven-game series on the ice.
Talent alone doesn't win championships. So often, teams with the most talent are ousted from the
playoffs because they are not tough enough mentally or physically to withstand an opponent superior in
those areas.
There are examples of that nearly every year. In last year's cup finals, the Vancouver Canucks were more
talented than the Boston Bruins. However, the Bruins prevailed in seven games because they bullied and
physically manhandled the Canucks, who could not keep pace for a full seven games.
Come playoff time, aggression separates the men from the boys, the elite teams from the good.
Another aspect that elevates the tournament over all other sports' playoffs is the thrill of sudden-death
overtime. Overtime in the playoffs may be the most nerve-racking, exhilarating and breath-taking event
a fan can experience.
One miniscule mistake by an individual in overtime and they become the goat. Contrarily, just one
(sometimes more) moment of greatness can turn any player into a playoff legend. Think Ray Emery in
the 2006 playoffs for the former, and Chris Drury for the latter. The joyous celebration is an incredible
scene after an overtime winner.
Despite the fierce play two teams exhaust on each other in a series, there is always respect for one
another at the end of the day, evidenced by one of the greatest traditions around. The handshake line at
the end of a series shows the admiration and pride players have for the game.
So this spring, enjoy the delight of the games, along with the rich tradition of Grizzly Adams' beards that
demonstrate the players' dedication to their respective teams' Cup runs. There is no greater pleasure
than watching the journey to raising Lord Stanley's Cup unfold. Watch for the players that take their play
to another level, a triple-overtime marathon and who, if anyone, can grow a better playoff beard than
Lanny MacDonald did for the 1989 Cup-winning Calgary Flames.
What history will be made this year? Time will tell, and I am going to take in every second of it.
Aaron Garland can be reached by email at garland.record@live.com.
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