Why do so few people pay attention to pro hockey?  The playoffs are really intense, the play is tremendously physical, and the skills of players like Crosby and Ovechkin are amazing.

Albeit, the regular season is too long and boring, but the playoffs are genuinely exciting.  Why not watch?

Gooooo Blackhawks! I must admit I prefer football, baseball and pretty much anything else, but I have watched the playoffs and I have fallen in love with hockey! Its so exciting and now that our (hawks) games are actually broadcasted it is easier to follow them!

I prefer college hockey but hockey in and of itself is one of the greatest games on earth.  Even God plays ice hockey...it's a well-known fact.  The season is not too long...not too boring... the speed, the creativity, the contact, the brutality, the artistry, courage, conditioning...  everyone knows that there is a hockey rink with 2 zamboni's on every street corner in heaven.  it is also rumored that there is a daily provider vs client pick-up game in the beer league there.  (ps  I played D1 hockey (30+ years ago) so I am a bit biased in my outlook)

go Penguins!

I started playing in a fantasy hockey league a few years back and that renewed my interest but this year was spectacular.  The 4 on 4 over times and the shoot-outs helped a ton.

When the NHL was on ESPN is was very easy to follow, they had a great lineup of games, "National Hockey Night".

That stupid year long lockout was what lead ESPN to drop the NHL. Since then they have lacked a contract in which they appear on TV with any regularity. I know they are on NBC here and there once a week and that network VERSUS, which most people don't even have.

That along with the fact that the game will never be as big here as it is in Canada might lead some to believe it isn't followed here. But I follow it as much as I can. Seeing a hockey game live and in person might be the coolest sporting experiance there is.

The game is much more exciting in person than on TV.  Also, many people (like me) are turned off by the fights.

They are much better in person....If I ever get to Chicago, I'll take you to one. Awesome pics BTW.

Gary Bettman needs to learn how to market the NHL the way David Stern markets the NBA. How many ad slogans can anyone recite from the NHL? The NBA does an excellent job in promoting and marketing its product globally.

I've seen most of the playoff games, which I must admit doesn't really make the family terribly happy.  Like most sports, it's better in person, but that's tough when you live in the desert.

I've seen tons of games live and even more on television.  I find the TV experience to be fine, except all the hockey announcers all talk through their noses.  They must be paying homage to Foster Hewitt Canada's first hockey announcer who spoke like he stuffed corks up his nose.  But he was one of the great drinkers, so hats off to him.

The team filed for bankruptcy, their attendance has been consistently at the bottom of the league. And the geniuses at the NHL are fighting with the current owner, who wants to sell the team to the guy who founded RIM (aka blackberry)
The NHL says the current owner doesn't have the right to sell the team. I love it when millionaires fight!

Despite their early exit from the playoffs, the team has become the darlings of Washington. Considering our local options(Prince Danny Snyder) and the Skins, the Nationals( with maybe the worst bullpen in modern history) and the Wizards (minus Gilbert this past season for the most part) I understand that isnt saying a lot.
However, The Caps are made up of guys that just try hard, are not premadonnas and actually seem to like and appreciate us, the fans.

Anyone can go see them practice at any time. They act like regular people..honest.
In Washington this unheard of! For those who dont live around here, use your wildest imagination in visualizing the egos of those you see on TV and you might get a sense of your government officals attitudes towards you, their subjects. The typical pro ball players are much more approchable by comparison but still there are limits.

People were speechless when they learned they could walk up to Alex Ovechkin and say hi and he would say hi back! OMG..This caused people to actually go to a game and find it was very intense plus much more exciting then on TV. Caps games became a place to be seen if you could glam on to a ticket.

Next year maybe we can even live up to our potential..

I'm a fan of most major sports, and watch them all, but playoff hockey is by far the best.

were good in bed. Lots of stamina and into rough sex.

As great as the college game is, nothing compares to Minnesota High School Hockey...  Still Love NHL and College hockey though.

Don Cherry, and thats about it