OT: Which pro playoffs are the best?

[RuffRuff]

I used to feel this way until I started watching, that every goal was essentially an accident and it was basically just chaos. It's not. When you get into it and start to understand the rhythms of the game you appreciate how much skill is involved. There are goals that are the product of some unbelievably skilled puck movement, or incredible individual skill, and sometimes there are goals where somebody just rips a clapper off someone's ass.

But the NHL playoffs are fantastic. There are few experiences like having a rooting interest in OT of a game 7.

I saw a key goal bounce accidentally off of another offensive players skate last year - when I said, this sport is kinda dumb, to me. It's just not my thing. I'm sure if I spent the time to understand it more, played it, had a child play it, I could get into it. I just don't have it in me to learn that sport. I'm not downplaying the skill at all, I think it takes a ton - I'm simply stating viewing the sport from a TV set loses my attention fast.

Again, I prefer sports where there is an organized back and forth, a clear defense and offense. In hockey, it's just all kinda blended together into one chaotic mash. Not into it.

 

[nomar]

I used to feel this way until I started watching, that every goal was essentially an accident and it was basically just chaos. It's not. When you get into it and start to understand the rhythms of the game you appreciate how much skill is involved. There are goals that are the product of some unbelievably skilled puck movement, or incredible individual skill, and sometimes there are goals where somebody just rips a clapper off someone's ass.

But the NHL playoffs are fantastic. There are few experiences like having a rooting interest in OT of a game 7.

I barely watch, but when the team you're rooting for is on the power play down a goal or tied or is short-handed and trying to protect a 1-goal lead late in the game, there's probably nothing more exciting in sports.

I'm not really a hockey fan anymore but in the early 1990s I was a gigantic Rangers fan, and holy s did Mike Richter (and the goalpost) face an onslaught against Vancouver.

 

[Rich]

NHL for me. For my money you cannot beat the speed, skill and excitement and it seems that every single game presents some sort of cliffhanger ending. I particularly enjoyed last season's Oilers/Stars matchup.

IMO

 

[HCCForever]

I agree that NHL is the most exciting. I love baseball so MLB is up there as well. NFL follows closely and NBA is a distant fourth,