My Most Memorable NHL Playoff Moments

I love this time of year.  The temperatures are warming up and the kids are shaking loose of their cabin fever; getting the bicycle tuned-up and hitting the trails after a long, inactive winter; and, of course, the NHL playoffs are getting underway.

These are the reasons I love this time of year.  The following is an unordered list of my most memorable NHL playoff moments:

• The Save.
• Super Mario parting the North Stars' D like the Red Sea.
• 8-0 win for the Penguins first Stanley Cup.
• The shoulders of Ronnie Franchise carrying the team after Graves' slash breaks Lemieux's hand.
• Kevin Stevens' guarantee.
• 11 straight wins to capture the Penguins second Stanley Cup.
• Kevin Stevens' face shattered as he hits the ice unconscious, Ron Francis' tying goal, and David F%$%#$ Volek.
• Kaspar's sliding on his belly and the team piling on after his Game 7 OT winner against the Sabres.
• Mario's "final" goal at home.  Hollywood couldn't have written a better script.
• The post-handshake, "final" ovation and the chants of "Mar-i-o!"  At the Philadelphia Spectrum!!!
• Joe Sakic defers and Ray Bourque lifts his first and only Stanley Cup.
• Petr Nedved beats the Capitals in 4 overtimes.
• Keith Primeau finally ends it at 2:30am, 7 hours after the opening faceoff.
• Max ties Game 5 in the final seconds and Petr Sykora calls his shot in OT.
• The Cup is finally awarded on Mellon Arena ice as the Red Wings take Game 6 in the Penguins barn.
• Max Talbot silences the Flyers.
• Alex Ovechin and Sidney Crosby trade hat tricks.
• Marc Andre Fleury stones Alex Ovechkin, crushing the Capitals hopes in Game 7.
• Evgeni Malkin dominates the Hurricanes, including a hat trick capped off by a move that can only be described as "The Geno."
• The Penguins get the rematch they wanted as the Red Wings finish off the Blackhawks.
• Game 6 - The crowd chants "Fleur-y!" as a show of support for the goalie that got pulled in the previous game; Jordan Staal's shortie; Tyler Kennedy's game winner; Fleury stopping Cleary on a breakaway; and Rob "The Piece" Scuderi stopping everything.
• Game 7 - The captain goes down, but "Superstar" Max Talbot responds; "The Save, Pt. 2" and Sidney raises the cup.
• The worst way to close the Igloo.