Game 7

I know I'm a few days late on this, but I've been busy.

Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals was an amazing, fitting end to a fantastic Stanley Cup playoffs. During the game I was scribbling all sorts of notes so I could remember things enough to write a coherent post. Instead, I have decided to basically just list all the stuff that made Game 7, the entire playoffs, and hockey in general so damn cool.

Fernando Pisani: what a name and what a scoring touch.

Cam Ward: Edmonton native,22 years old, won the Conn Smythe Trophy and wasn't even the starting goalie when the playoffs began. His stretching pad save with a couple minutes to play saved the Canes season. He won more games (15) in the playoffs than he did in the regular season(14).

Dwayne Roloson carried Edmonton for three rounds. The Oilers were given no chance once he got injured in Game 1 of the finals. The rest of that team raised there level of play and made it a series. Gutsy.

The clean, freight train checks that both teams dished out. Lots of shots of guys hunched over barley able to reach the bench after being crushed.

Chris Pronger seemingly never leaving the ice.

Great traditions: playoff beards, the post- series handshake and skating the Cup around the rink.

Kevyn and Craig Adams,Carolina's grinders. Every championship team has unheralded, glue guys like those two.

The fans in both cities were spectacular. Edmonton's fans must be the loudest ever. I love how they sing aloud both the Star Spangled Banner and O, Canada. And Carolina's fans didn't sit down for the entire Game 7. very neat.

Of course, game 7 is always bittersweet because no matter how great it is, it is the last game of the season. Caps fans, be optomistic: Next season maybe they can jump up and make it three straight Cup winners from the Southeast (formerly worst in hockey) Division. (I can dream, right?

Is it October yet?