The NHL always exceeds fans expectations in the playoffs. The good news is that its not too late to start watching. In the new NHL, anyone can win the Stanley Cup.

I remember it vividly: the moment I became a fan of NHL hockey. In the final game of the Eastern Conference Finals, the New Jersey Devils trailed the New York Rangers late into the third period. With each passing moment, my hopes of seeing the Devils win the Stanley Cup dwindled. Thanks to Rangers’ defensemen, Brian Leetch, they led 1-0 from a second period goal. With a mere 7.7 seconds remaining, Valeri Zelepukin completed a mad scramble in front of the net beating the outstretched Rangers goaltender, Mike Richter. My father and I went crazy. The Devils still had a chance. Unfortunately, the celebration did not last. In the 2nd Overtime, Rangers’ forward, Stephane Matteau whirled around the net and put in a wrap around goal sending them to the Stanley Cup Finals.

The playoffs began tonight and its not too late to brush up on your rink side knowledge to gear up for the excitement ahead. Even if you’re not a hockey fan, give it a chance. I guarantee you’ll find most of the matchups and athleticism worth the watch.

Offensive Players to watch

The new NHL rarely disappoints. Although the NFL and MLB dwarf the league’s fan base on orders of magnitude, hockey is alive and well in the United States. Fans love the sport for many reasons. Its fast-paced, requires agility, strength, speed, and endurance. The season is grueling—82 games, causing ebb and flow in the standings throughout the entire season. But all fans look forward to April and the NHL playoffs. That means its not too late to jump in to the season right now, without missing a beat.

The chance to see your team carry Lord Stanley’s Cup, the most famous trophy in sports, rivals no other fan experience. This hope makes the NHL Playoffs one of the most exciting postseasons in sports. Watching an NHL Postseason Game is guaranteed to be a lot of things: unexpected, exciting, passionate, and inspiring, and downright enjoyable.

You won’t be disappointed if you tune into this season’s playoffs. The playoffs officially began today, and unlike other sports, all 16 teams have a shot at the Cup. In addition, this year’s talent is top notch, as the NHL may have the most talented young players of any pro sport. The number one reason to watch this year’s playoffs is undoubtedly to experience the all around magnificence of Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals. Ovechkin is the quintessential all around player. He will deliver a bone-crushing hit at one end of the ice and then follow it up with a jaw dropping goal at the other end.

While Crosby is a franchise player, the Penguins this season play better, statistically, without him.

Even the NHL commissioner hopes that the Capitals and Penguins will meet this post season. Had it not been for Sidney Crosby’s knee injury that sidelined him for 4-6 weeks, Ovechkin’s race for MVP may have been more competitive. Pittsburgh’s Crosby is always a joy to watch as his vision and playmaking ability are unparalleled. With Crosby now healthy, the Penguins appear even more ferocious in the postseason.

Other players to watch:

Jarome Iginla of the Calgary Flames is one of the top offensive players in the Western Conference as he led his team in every major offensive category. However, this superstar is also willing to mix it up and play a very physical and aggressive style.

Marian Gaborik of the Minnesota Wild is coming into the postseason as one of the hottest scorers, posting 4 goals and 1 assist in his final three games, including two game winners.

Goaltending, the King of the Rink

Few positions in sports are more crucial than the hockey goaltender. The postseason gives you the chance to see some of the greatest goalies of all time. Be sure to watch Dominik Hasek (Detroit Red Wings) and Martin Brodeur (New Jersey Devils).

Brodeur will need to carry his Devils in the postseason. The team struggles to score goals, ranking 26th in the NHL for goals scored.

Both goalies have had phenomenal careers and this season has been no different. Two other netminders may rise up and lead their team to the cup this season. Jean Sebastian Giguere of the Anaheim Ducks is no stranger to the Stanley Cup Playoffs and is sure to be a brick wall again over the next two months. The Washington Capital’s success late in the regular season is just as much due to Cristobal Huet as it has been Ovechkin. The Caps picked up Huet in a trade deadline deal with the Montreal Canadiens). Huet will be a player to watch, due to his inexperience in the postseason.

If you want exhilaration and entertainment, the NHL Playoffs are a great source. This year’s edition will be one of the best yet. It includes young talented stars, old savvy veterans, and the possibility of edge-of-your-seat-sudden-death-overtime thrillers.

Matchups

Each of the matchups is linked to a video at ESPN previewing each of the series. They’re worth the watch if you want to sound like you know what you’re talking about with your buddies.

Eastern Conference:

Canadiens(1) v. Bruins(8)
Penguins(2) v. Senators(7)
Capitals(3) v. Flyers(6)
Devils(4) v. Rangers(5)

Western Conference

Detroit(1) v. Nashville(8)
Sharks(2) v. Flames(7)
Wild(3) v. Avalanche(6)
Ducks(4) v. Stars(5)

Schedule

If you want to know when to watch the games, check out the full Stanley Cup Playoff Schedule. This includes the television stations presenting each game.

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