HOCKEY IN HIGH HEELS: NHL STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS LESSON 1
We are well into the Stanley Cup playoffs, which means that NHL fans everywhere are on the edge of their seats waiting to see what will happen. Last night’s games were quite interesting and it seems as if that is a trend that will continue.
So what ARE the Stanley Cup playoffs? Before I figure that out, I guess I should figure out what the Stanley Cup is! Chances are, it is not about that dude in the Eminiem video that was obsessed with Slim Shady. (That would actually be, uh, very creepy.) I also seriously doubt it has anything to do with Stan Lee or Stanley Tucci. (Not going to lie though, a Stan Lee event would be awesome!)
I know my hockey loving friends are rolling their eyes at me now, thinking ‘typical Sammi,’ but the truth is, I have no clue what the heck any of this is. I know one hockey player (Wayne Gretzky) and that some dude from the New York Rangers was on Dancing With The Stars. Oh, and Joey Gladstone loves the sport.
Other than that, it looks like a bunch of dudes channeling the love child of Apolo Ohno and an NFL quarterback chasing a puck with a stick.
I guess I should start with what the Stanley Cup is and slowly start learning more terms and how the playoffs work. (My previous lessons are under the ‘hockey’ section of the site.)
Stanley Cup: The definition is simple: it is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoff winner.
Sammi Thought 1: Oh,so it is their version of the Mirror Ball Trophy!
Sammi Thought 2: Did anyone named Stanley ever win? Or more accurately, did a winning team ever have a player named Stanley? If so, would he get first dibs on keeping it?
So then, what are the playoffs? According to my research, it’s an elimination tournament in the NHL consisting of four rounds of best-of-seven series. Eight teams from each of the two conferences qualify for the playoffs based on regular season points totals.
Sammi Thought: Two conferences=Jets vs. Sharks. Eight teams getting knocked out=reality show elimination or game of knockout. Final 2=play for the win.
So basically it is a game of knockout meets West Side Story meets a reality show competition.
More later on how these conferences work!
