Stanley Cup Playoffs

What other sport calls their post-season by name of their championship trophy ? In the NFL, do you hear of the Vince Lombardi Win or Go Home Tournament ? I think not. In the NBA, do you hear of the Larry O'Brien Playoff Tournament ? Not even. And that brings us to the greatness that is hockey. No other sport has named their post-season as such. The Stanley Cup Playoffs ! Majestic ! What other sport has the tradition of after the deciding game players from both sides lining up for the handshake. I mean, these guys have been going at it for 4 to 7 games every other night, madder at eachother than the previous game. These guys have been dukeing it out picking up 5 minute majors and at the end shake hands ? No other sport exemplifies the class that hockey players have. Hockey players have a genuine respect for one another. I love it ! I have only been a fan of the game since the Minnesota NorthStars moved to Dallas and became the Stars. I feel so fortunate to have been a fan of a Stanley Cup Champion and runner-up the following season. Dallas has been a success as far as the survival of hockey is concerned and yes, it is due to the fact that the Stars have been a relatively successful franchise when you consider that since 1993, the Dallas Stars have missed the playoffs only twice, this season included. And then there was the lockout year, no one made the playoffs that year. Since 1993, Dallas has been Stanley Cup Playoff-less only three times. Can the Winnipeg-Phoenix franchise say the same ? Will hockey survive in Atlanta ? And really, how much of a fan base do the Florida and Tampa Bay franchises have ? My Dallas Stars lost almost 400 player games due to injury and yet missed making the playoffs by only 7 points. If you ask me about heart in sports, I will ask you to look up the 2008-09 Dallas Stars... Not the 2007 Dallas Cowboys nor the 2005-06 Dallas Mavericks, but the '08-'09 Stars. You will be hard pressed to find a team equal in heart to these guys, unless of course say the Anaheim Ducks pull off the not-so-unthinkable and dispatches the Saint Joseph Sharks to their tee-times and family vacations. Does Pittsburgh make it back to the Final and prevail this time ? Can Columbus really do what a lot of people think they can do and beat Detroit ? How 'bout Chicago ? Sure, I am Western Conference biased with the exception of the Penguins. I follow the Western Conference closely and the East is an afterthought, to me that is. My apologies to my yankee brothers, but outside of Pittsburgh and Boston, I really don't see anyone else other than Washington challenging for the Final. Sorry, fans of the Devil. Your team is old. The west is wide open. Detroit is beatable, but unbeatable if a team fails to capitalize on their vulnerabilities. The Sharks ? We saw them get beat by Ducks ! Calgary is a nice team, but I don't think they'll beat Chicago. Vancouver will make a quick series out of St. Louis. But the Sharks and the Red Wings vulnerabilities open it up in the west. I certainly will enjoy all the way to June !!!

Hi, 7 years ago.

And the Dallas Stars are whipping that A this year!  The best team in the league, pal!