The Stanley Cup playoffs are special. Careers are quite often made, and sometimes ruined during this special time of the year. For me, I could not wait for the playoffs. Just like the kid at Christmas or that blushing bride on her wedding day, it was a time filled with excitement, great expectations and hope. It was a time that if you were successful, you would be able to realize a life long dream – to win the Stanley Cup.

So many hockey players have this dream, but in reality so few actually get to experience the joy of winning it. I never did, I came close twice but hockey’s holy grail eluded me. People say that it’s great to have just been there, at least you got to experience it.

I say BS, because I “almost won it” makes it even harder to accept that I never did win the prize that my teammates and I put our hearts, sweat and blood into earning.

I watch the playoffs way more than I watch the regular season, as I said at the beginning, the playoffs are special! Every player, regardless of how many minutes he plays, has to play above expectations, every shift, every period of every game has meaning to it.

The first round quite often is the best one of the playoffs, there are always upsets, rivalries playing against each other for what must seem like the 100th time. The story line for each post season is quite often is what team’s superstar is going rise to the occasion and what unknown player will make a name for himself during the playoff run.

I remember my playoffs like they were yesterday, most of them are good memories, but as I have said many times, I’m not particularly fond of the endings! I guess it’s for this reason that I never watch the end of the final series.

I’ll watch the final game but not the celebration. To see the team celebrate brings back too many what ifs. I guess I relive the various games too many times because, to me, celebrating an achievement with your teammates is the best feeling in the world, and we came so close.

My first playoffs, I was a member of the Atlanta Flames, we finished 6th overall that year and our first round playoff opponents were the Toronto Maple Leafs who finished 9th. We lost 2-0, back then the first round or the preliminary round was a 2 out of 3. It was an odd playoff format.

The winners of each division got a bye into the Quarter finals, the remaining 8 playoff teams were seeded based on points regardless of their division. So that year you had the Flyers playing Vancouver and the NY Rangers playing the LA Kings. A lot of air miles in those series.

In my series, we lost the first game 2-1, during the game there was a huge bench clearing brawl, I ended up paired with one of my boyhood idols, Darryl Sittler, and we both got kicked out of the game. The second game was not good for us, all of the momentum was with the Leafs after winning game 1 in Atlanta and we lost 7-4. I was pissed, very upset and cried like a baby after the game, all of my Stanley Cup dreams gone. I guess I really thought I was going to win it in year 1!

The following year I got my second chance to win the Stanley Cup, but it was not much better - we lost again in the first round. Then, to add insult to injury, our team was sold to Calgary. We lost to the NY Rangers 3-1, yes they changed the format to the best out of 5 games that year. We finished ninth overall and the Rangers finished eighth. It was my first time (of several) that I lost to the NY Rangers, no wonder I cheer for them to lose at every opportunity.

My favourite round one (or preliminary round as they called it back them) memory came as a member of the Calgary Flames, it was our first year in Calgary. The expectations were big and the pressure to win our first ever playoff round was tremendous.

Our playoff opponent for the first round was the Chicago Blackhawks who were ranked tenth overall, while we were ranked seventh. I can’t remember who won the regular season series but we were the favourites, simply based on our home ice record. We had an incredible record at home. The series was the best out of five once again, we won the first two games at home, which set the stage for a very dramatic game three in Chicago. The game went into overtime, then double overtime.

What an awesome feeling to be part of that atmosphere in Chicago, I was enjoying every moment of it. It felt great to be not only back in the playoffs but this time in the driver’s seat. Big Willi Plett finally scored with about five minutes left in the second overtime period. What a feeling, you have never seen so many guys jump off the bench and over the boards as quickly as we did that night, especially the guys who had been in Atlanta for so many playoff disappointments.

Finally, we were on to round 2… More about that next time. Now for my predictions for this year's postseason. Who is going to win this year’s Stanley Cup? The quest begins tonight – get comfortable, make sure that you have a TV remote in your hand and get ready to enjoy.

My predictions for Round One:

Please keep in mind that my predictions are simple, not complicated – I did not go into any in depth analyse of the rosters – just my two cents on who I think will win or in some cases who I want to win.

Bruins vs. Wings – Call it a gut feeling. Call it sentiment. I’ll go with my old team - Red Wings to win in a huge upset. There is always a big upset in the first round, anyway. Why not this one?

Penguins vs. Blue Jackets – Pittsburgh. I like Sidney Crosby. I am a little worried about their goaltending though; Fleury just cannot seem to get it done in recent years.

Canadiens vs. Lightning – tough call. The lone Canadian team in the playoffs vs. a Steve Yzerman managed team. I’ll go with my national pride and pick Montreal, but only because goaltender Ben Bishop for Tampa is injured and really not sure when he will play.

Flyers vs. Rangers – no brainer for me. Flyers. So much resiliency on this Philly team. While the Rangers have the better goaltending and defense on paper, I like the Flyers' group of forwards and depth -- plus the superstar ability of Claude Giroux -- above the Rangers group. Philly is also better defensively and in goal than some folks think.

Ducks vs. Stars – Ducks. Stars are a young, up-and-coming team. But they aren't ready yet to make a run in the playoffs.

Avs vs. Wild – I’ll take Colorado. I like what Patrick Roy has done there.

Blues vs. Hawks – Hawks – Blues lost their last 6 or 7 games of the season, Hawks are a very sound team and I like their depth a little more.

Sharks vs. Kings – I am going with the Sharks, after years of playoff disappointments, this maybe the year for them to do some damage.

More of my playoff thoughts and memories next week!

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