Nothing beats playoff hockey | Mike Kern

Really, is there anything better than playoff hockey? Or, to take it a step further, overtime playoff hockey?

I used to be a pucks guy. Actually, a four-for-four guy. And I still am. But it's not quite the same. There was a time when I knew every third-line winger in the NHL, just because. Just like I knew nearly every player on almost every team in just about every pro league. Sports was the biggest thing in my life, which is why I got into what I'm doing. But then you start covering other things, like suburban high schools and later colleges. And, well, over time you start losing at least a bit of your whatever. Maybe I'm simply older. Of course, there were fewer teams back then, and I played fantasy basketball. Fanatically, I have to admit. And I could pronounce a lot more names. Now I'm still a fan, and I still try to keep up, but it's not necessarily the priority it once was. And that's OK. I still appreciate things when they're worthy.

That's why I'm not a regular-season guy, unless it's the NFL. I guess the others just go on too long, with too many games that don't seem to matter. And I don't like shootouts. Sue me.

Maybe I have a hard time understanding how the Flyers can be the best team in the world for a couple of weeks, when they were finally scoring goals, but then don't even make the playoffs, largely because they couldn't find the net any more. And don't even get me started on why they haven't had a goalie since Ron Hextall, who I really thought could take them to a Stanley Cup. You do remember what that felt like, right? Just checking. Anyhow, the postseason is now upon us. And it seems like I'm watching a completely game. In many ways, it is.

Sometimes, I'm probably not as up as I should be on my hockey IQ. The subtle nuances. The X and O part. Which is why 2-1 games in mid-January don't always keep me from flipping over to the Food Channel to see what Bobby Flay might be whipping up. But, at this time of year, it's almost impossible to turn away. Because you might miss something. Something that could turn the game, turn the series or determine your ultimate champion. Every shift is important. Every deflection, every check, every hit post. There's no escaping it. Because one goal can mean everything. And while 2-1 games can be boring when it's your third game in five nights, in the playoffs it's almost welcome. If not embraced.

And for even the non-purists, that's mostly must-watch stuff.

It's not really like that in football or basketball. The only thing that comes close is baseball, which goes through a similar transformation in October/November. Then, every pitch is magnified. And guys can define careers with a few good, timely at-bats. And you yell at the TV when the ump misses a call behind the plate that changes the count and gives someone an advantage maybe they shouldn't have had. It's the details that often get lost over 162 games. But at some point it's what makes the sport so attractive again.

In the NBA, we pretty much know that LeBron James and the Cavaliers are going to meet the Warriors for the third straight year in the finals. And that might be great. But the six weeks leading up to that probably won't be. I mean, it's hard to get into the Spurs-Rockets when Golden State is waiting for the winner. Sorry. But in the NHL you rarely really know. Other than the fact that the Caps will be the best team over 82 games but probably can't find a way to get past the second round for like the fifth time. Good thing they have Alex Ovechkin.  I mean, the Flyers came within two games of winning it all when they barely made the playoffs. And Chicago just got swept in the first round out West. Could you imagine the Cavs getting swept by the Pacers? Or the Pacers even taking them to the full seven? Or anywhere close? Didn't think so. And that's OK too. Having your stars in the finals is never a bad thing. But neither is the almost annual unpredictability of the NHL playoffs. It's why they make vanilla and rum raisin.

And this year, I even got to see two of hockey's rising young stars -- Toronto's Auston Matthews and Edmonton's Connor McDavid, who's still playing by the way -- for extended periods for the first time. Good for all of us. It's one thing to see highlights for five months, and quite another to watch 60 minutes or more on an almost nightly basis. Who knew?

I remember when the Flyers beat the dreaded Penguins in five OTs in Game 4 of the 2000 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, down 2-1 in the series. One of the best non-title nights in Philly sports history. And I watched the whole thing with my son, who was 15. Well, almost the whole thing. I finally sent him to bed at 2 in the morning, after the fourth OT, since he had school the next day and I wasn't sure if it would end before sunrise.  I know, I'm a bad dad. When Keith Primeau sent everyone home about 30 minutes later, I actually jumped out of my lounger and yelled out loud. And my son shouted out from upstairs, "What happened." So I l had him come down to see the replay, which they only showed about a dozen times. So he sort of didn't miss it. Which made me feel a little better. And the next day, not only did the Daily News have the story, thanks to our later deadlines, but then-beat writer Les Bowen had quotes. Are you kidding me? I was proud to work at the same paper. I don't know what would have happened had the game gone on much longer, but in the days before online websites, we were able to share the story with the entire city. And somehow I managed to function the following day without much sleep. I assume my son did, too. I forgot to ask him. I assume he's let me off the hook for not getting to see it live.

I'm confident that over the next month or so I'm going to see more riveting puck moments. And fall in deep like with some players I've never heard of before. Last year it was Pittsburgh's Phil Kessel, who could have been the Conn Smythe winner. Don't hold it against me. I'm going to appreciate all the little things that I tend to ignore otherwise. I was kind of rooting for the Caps, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen. Silly me. I should have known better. But whatever the journey brings, it'll be fun and compelling. All the way through. Maybe McDavid can go up against Crosby, if he gets over his concussion issues. They say it's the hardest title to win, and I wouldn't disagree. It's a grind. I'm not saying that what LeBron is going through isn't, especially since he's doing it for the seventh straight year. But I don't know if he's taking a body hit every time he touches the ball. Or maybe he is. Hey, I'll get into the NBA too. But for right now, I'll take a little more of that possession-by-possession intensity on the ice. Or even a lot. And toss in a few triple OTs, just because.  Hope I don't have anywhere to be the following morning.