I love to watch hockey. It's been even more fun since my hometown has actually gotten a team again. However, I must say this: There is something wrong when more than half of the teams in the league are in the playoffs.
Don't get me wrong, I like the idea of wild cards, where a team that maybe was a great team but was in a tougher division can get in and have a shot, and in baseball I must add, to some great success.
However, 16 of 30 teams? Why even call it a playoff, why not just call it, I don't know, the regular season?
NCAA basketball tournament starts with what, 64 teams? That isn't an eighth, much less half of the NCAA schools. Baseball is what, 8 of 28? 1 per division and a wild card in each league. Not bad.
But 16 of 30!
And No, I'm not talking about thi sbecause the Thrashers didn't make it. I wwasn't surprised they didn't. They did have a good run at it though.
Posted by Skywalker at April 17, 2006 11:10 PMI went to a fight the other day - and a hockey game broke out!
Haha....yeah....I know that's an old one but....
Posted by: mrs. muddy at April 18, 2006 12:27 AMThe thing about hockey is that inm any given playoff run, any team in the final 16 could end up in the finals. The league is very even, top to bottom. Teams with records below .500 very rarely ever make the playoffs, in fact i can't remember the last time that actually happened. The NFL allows less teams in, but it is a lot less likely for a low seed to get to the finals than in hockey.
Playoff hockey is the most exciting sporting event there is. Live or on TV, for me anyway. I have no complaints about having 16 teams make the second season. none of the other major sports can come close to matching the intensity and passion of the NHL playoffs. If anything I'dd like to see the regular season shortened to make every game that much more crusial to a teams success, and therby making the playoff intensity spill over into january and february and march...
By the way, if you ahve't been to a live NHL playoff game, it is one of the things that really should be on your list of need to do before you die... especially in any of the following cities: Montreal, Toronto (any other canadian city) Boston, Philadelphia, Detroit... don't miss out on the NHL playoffs, and don't complain about too many NHL playoff games. that is like saying you get way too much chocolate or sex.
Posted by: glenn at April 25, 2006 07:11 AM