So - my FIRST NHL playoff experience last night...Lightning beat the Devils...and I went as a Lightning fan, since my Rangers are battling Atlanta right now (
).
Anyway, I always said playoff hockey would be the best sporting event to watch in person, and despite a
somewhat lack luster fan base (compared to NY, Avs, Boston, etc), it was EVERYTHING I thought it would be...the playoff atmosphere is 2nd to none, I think (although, in all fairness, I've yet to experience any other sport in the post season
).
For comparison's sake, I was at the Pepsi Center the last time the Avs won the cup (against the Devils), for Game 6 (while they were on the road, watching it on the jumbotron) - they won and forced the game 7 back in Denver and went on to win the cup...AMAZING! And right back in downtown LoDo watching Game 7 at Old Chicago 3 blocks from the stadium...and INCREDIBLE experience, but alas, NOT in the stadium with 20,000+ fanatics. My point - those were memorable sports moments, as was the victory parade later on, but BEING there is EVERYTHING it's cracked up to be!
In other news - this BULLSHIT the NHL has pulled with NBC and VS airing the games, rather than ESPN (and their 10 stations...you know, so we see ALL the games), is CRAP!!!
