Every spring, the post-season for the National Hockey League begins. In the middle of April, the regular hockey season comes to an end and the top teams compete in the hockey playoffs.

The ultimate reward in the professional hockey league is called the Stanley Cup. The trophy is named after one of the past Governor Generals of Canada. In the NHL, there is the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference. The top eight teams from each conference make the post-season and are appropriately rated based on the amount of points at the end of the regular season.

There is great patriotism that fans show when their favoured team makes the playoff round. This excitement and camaraderie is visible as long as the team remains in the post-season. Fans will wear hockey jerseys, hats and shirts to support their team. They will also hang flags from their cars or homes. Fans celebrate the success of their teams with great joy and excitement.

There are four rounds in the post-season. The final round consists of the championship series. Every round can leave not only the players anxious but also its fans. Some teams will play the full seven games in the best-of-seven series. There are other teams that will be defeated in a quick four games.

In the 2010-2011 NHL playoffs, the Vancouver Canucks of the Western Conference have made it past the regular season. If the Canucks win the Stanley Cup, it will be the first time this franchise has won the trophy. The team has played in the championship round twice in the past, but was defeated both times. Once they were defeated by the New York Islanders. The other time, the Vancouver Canucks lost to the New York Rangers.

In the Eastern Conference, the Boston Bruins are playing to win the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1972. In the 2010-2011 series, they have defeated both the Philadelphia Flyers and the Montreal Canadians. The Bruins even swept the Flyers, beating them four to nothing in the series.

In the regular season, if there is a tie at the end of the three periods, the game goes to a five minute overtime period with only five players on the ice. If there is still a tie after the five minutes, there is a shootout until a definitive winner is chosen. In the post-season, there is twenty minute overtime periods with six players on the ice. The overtime period is called sudden death, meaning when the first goal is scored, the game ends. Players play as many overtime periods needed until one team scores a goal.

The winning team of the final round receives the Stanley Cup. The NHL commissioner presents the team captain with the Stanley Cup and then the captain hoists the trophy in the air and skates around the ice. The Cup is then passed from teammate to teammate as they celebrate their win. This is the defining moment when you know that the hockey playoffs are finished and there are a few months until the next season of professional hockey begins.

Author Bio: Looking for a goalie for hire Toronto? Then be sure to get the best rental goalies available at www.Mypuck.com – where you can rent a goalie Toronto by just submitting a quick form.

Category: Sports
Keywords: rental goalie Toronto, goalie rental Toronto, rent a goalie Toronto