But no, seriously.
I don't think I've ever watched a more exciting playoff run from so many different teams than I have witnessed this year. As per usual (and as I've written in previous blogs) the Leafs have once again missed the post-season. And believe me, I'm not here to dwell on that by any means.
Come spring time, I always find myself watching the playoffs with no real investment or interest in who checks who, who scores or even who move on to the next round. But this year, something changed.
I'd heard tidbits from my Dad about all the excitement out in Vancouver re: the end of the Canucks regular season, winning the Presidents Trophy and having to face their demons in the form of the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round. It peaked my interest, as I do love a good ole' hockey rivalry (The Leafs and Sens might just be my favourite). So as the series began, I made sure to tune in to see what all the excitement was about - and after the Canucks won the first three games, I though they were a lock for the second round. As we all know, that's not exactly how it turned out.
Game 7 was one of the most exciting games I've ever watched! When the game was tied at one at the end of the third and headed for overtime, I couldn't even sit down. There was just too much anxiety driven nervous energy built up in my stomach. Every move in the first few minutes was absolutely intense - and then with 14:38 left in OT1, Alex Burrows happened.
"It's a wonderful day for an exorcism" - Jim Hughson
That still gives me goosebumps. I'm in the Eastern time zone, so when this all went down it was close to 1am. When that goal went in, I woke everyone in my house up - they know who won the game that night.
And that game was the hook, line and sinker. Not only was I invested, I found myself with the overwhelming urge to have a Canucks jersey of my very own! Now I'm from a fairly small city and after 8 different shops the only place I found anything remotely close was at Sport Chek and even then it wasn't what I wanted. Apparently they order their stock on supply and demand, and there's no demand here. My last resort was putting an order in directly to Vancouver and by the end of that week, my brand new jersey was ready to be worn.
And wear it I have, since game two of the series against Nashville. That series seemed like it was going to play out much like the Chicago series, especially after game five when the Canucks were up 3 games to 1 with a chance to close the series and get some much needed time off. They came close, with Kesler really getting into it, but so such luck. It was back on the road to Nashville and the so-called "Yellow Out" (or Yellow Fail if you ask my Dad) where they managed to pull of the win and finish the Preds in six. The entire Canucks community was able to breathe a giant sigh of relief, and I was finally able to focus on work and other things - at least until the other Western series between the Red Wings and Sharks was decided.I was surprised when I found out that series would be going to 7, especially after the Sharks had been up 3 games to none. The Sharks won the game and I received a text from my Dad that said "Well, it looks like we'll be dining on fish rather than wings." No truer words have ever been said.
While the team needed the break between series after going 13 games with no more than two days off in between, the wait as a fan was brutal. That's definitely the one downside of the playoffs...you get so used to seeing a game every second day that when you are deprived for three days or more, it's almost torturous. Call it a big case of the instant gratification-isms.
Finally after a 6 days wait, game one against the Sharks was played this past Sunday and boy-howdy was it a good one! The first 30 minutes had me worried, I'm not going to lie. When that fluke goal went in after a failed clearing attempt by Lu, I found myself beating up the pillow beside me, an act that I had become infamous for while watching the Leafs play in post-season games pre-lockout. That's when the light bulb went off in my head - I wasn't just watching the Canucks because they are the last remaining Canadian team or because I'm a post-season bandwagon jumper. They've actually stolen a bit of my hockey heart, which I never thought was possible. The range of emotions I get while watching then play rival any of those I've had watching the Leafs. And I wouldn't have it any other way.
After a huge Canucks win in game one, I'm absolutely thrilled to see what the Canucks can do in the remainder of the series against the Sharks - and even more excited for the very real possibility of a shot at the Stanley Cup. I just wish I could be out there experiencing it all first hand, because the Canucks have some of the best fans I've ever seen, ESPECIALLY the Green Men (they are the best part of a Canucks power play)!
So if any fans out there hear a distant scream at a ridiculous call or play and a cheer when something is played to perfection, it will be me sitting in front of my TV during game two tomorrow night; the newest, junior Canucks fan.
