May 28, 2015. Harper, Texas. Hockey Playoffs.

This year, the four teams left in the Stanley Cup Playoffs are all excellent. Ken commented the other evening that he had never seen such sustained, high quality play ever in his life. Even if a person was not a hockey fan, it would be worth watching some games just to see the expertise and skill on display. Both series are going to the 7th game, which is the first time in years that both the western and eastern championships are going to the full series. Ken and I have watched at least a part of every game and have thoroughly enjoyed them. The coaches are clever and imaginative and the players work hard. Some years, teams just get lucky and win a series and get into the semi finals with not much left to work with. But these four teams are all excellent teams in their different ways and deserve to be fighting for their league championships. Tomorrow evening, New York Rangers will play the Tampa Bay Lightning in their 7th game. An added interest to me is the coach of the Lightning. He is young and coaching in the NHL playoffs but he has not played a minute as a player in the NHL. This a first. During one early series, Ken and I were watching Detroit beat Tampa Bay and finally went to bed, knowing full well that Detroit would win that game and then go on to win the series. But we were wrong. The next morning, we discovered that Tampa Bay won that game and then went on to win the series. Now we will find out if they are up to one more game before they finally get to play in the Stanley Cup Championship. On Saturday, The Chicago Blackhawks will play the Anaheim Ducks in their 7th game. No telling how the game will turn out. I love to watch the Chicago style. Their team is fast and quick and clever. But I suspect that the Ducks will not be denied. I wonder what the Canadian fans will think if a California team plays a Florida team for the Stanley Cup. We might find out!!