Paul Kukla is the man behind the excellent Kukla’s Korner blog site. The longtime NHL fan and devoted Red Wings’ supporter is joining NHL.com as a regular contributor this season. His blogs are a must read for hockey fans.


Game 7 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs is like no other, and we have two of them tonight. The sporting world will have their eyes on both games tonight, and many casual observers will tune in just to see what all the hubbub is all about!


Yes, I said casual observers. Before my head hit the pillow last night, I tuned into a few national late night sports talk radio shows. Guess what! They were talking hockey, replaying the audio of the goals from last night, actually saying the NHL playoffs are the most exciting of any of the major sports!


They were talking about our game, the game that supposedly was dead. Maybe they are catching on, maybe they are now seeing what we as fans have known all along, our game is great, our game is exciting, thrilling and now maybe, just maybe, others are realizing it too!


Not only were the sports jocks talking hockey, but hockey fans in North America were calling. Joe from San Jose, William from Ottawa, Pam in D.C. All calls were positive and refreshing to hear. I fell into a deep sleep, with a smile on my face.


That smile is still there today, knowing my evening will be occupied watching two elimination games. Who wins isn’t important to me, all I know is hockey wins tonight and that should put a smile on your face too. Heck, this is only the end of the first round of the playoffs, we have three more to go and the chatter will only get louder.


The NHL could not have scripted a better first round than the one we have witnessed. It ends tonight, but then it just gets better and better in the coming weeks. What other sport can give us non-stop action, leaving us drained by the end of the game but wanting more of the same the next night?


What other sport has athletes playing with injuries that would keep us in bed for two weeks? What other sport tests not only the physical strengths of a player, but also the mental side?


The answer to the above questions is none. We know the makeup of the NHL players, and now the rest of the sporting world has the opportunity to witness what we already know.


Keep watching, keep spreading the hockey word, keep telling everyone you know to tune in tonight and then pass on the conference semifinals schedule to them when it comes out. Who knows, maybe they will be thanking you for turning them on to the game we love!


In case anyone wants to know, home ice comes into play tonight. That means Washington and San Jose move on, at least in my opinion. Philadelphia and Calgary fans, you can email me here .


See you at the rink, if not, next week will do.


The fear of the unknown will soon end, only to reappear the next game- the self-appointed hockey philosopher, Paul Kukla