My friend called me at work today and said that her dad bought her and I a ticket to go the the Pens and Redwings #6 playoff game. I have tried to watch hockey, but I do not understand nothing about it . Can anyone share anything to kind of help me understand it a little better, so I am not completley lost tomorrow? Thank you in advance!

I'm sorry, I don't know anything about it either.

First off, you are very lucky; there is nothing like Playoff hockey, let alone the Stanley Cup Finals. You have to try and get the puck pass the goalie. If penalties are called the team goes short handed a man, while the other team has to kill off the penalty then they are back 5 on 5. I hope that helps.

Yeah, that does help about the penalities. Do you know why sometimes they start in the circles down by the net instead of in the middle?

If the puck goes into the crowd they'll faceoff in the circle by the goalie. Also if icing is called they face off in the circle of the defensive zone of the team that iced the puck. In case you don't know what icing is, it's when a player on his own side of the red line dumps the puck all the way past the opponents goal line without the puck going into the net. Sometimes icing gets waved off but I won't explain the reasons because I'm sure I'll really get you confused. I agree with rightwhereineedtobe Playoff hockey is the best hockey you'll see. You're very lucky to be there. Hope this helps and hope you understand it!

Well explained... I love hockey especially the playoff 's too.... I have boys so it gets pretty loud in here... but it's all good it's pretty addicting!!! Have a blast!!!

Have a question... why do some of the players get away with harrassing - knocking the heck out of some and then others get penalized? (not bad ref calls - is there actually a position that gets to do this?)

Purely BS officiating They can check (hit opposing players, a lot of times into the boards) but they have to be careful how they do it. It's a fine line between a clean hit and a penalty sometimes.

Also, in playoff hockey, the refs will let a lot of stuff go that they would call in regular season play.

I'm a native Detroiter, so I *must* do it:

YEAH WINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It can get pretty rough, just like some other sports.. there are a lot of calls that leave us fans like wth?? I don't like the ' dirty shots' that some players give but if it isn't legal they do get penalized for it... ... ... some things they let slide and others they don't it does depend on the ref and where we are in the season.. playoffs are more tense.. like anything else it has it pros and cons... I love the high energy games.

I love our Edmonton Oilers but since they're not in the playoffs I'll say it along with you:

YEAH WINGS!!!!!!

I do feel bad in a way for the Penguins, because it would've been nice to see Sidney Crosby win the cup but I was cheering for Detroit.

Thanks for the tips, it really helped me understand it a lot better. It was an awesome experiance just being there, but I am really bummed the Pens didn't win

I know I'm a little late but you can check this our for future games. Our family are big Hockey fans, especially the Columbus Blue Jackets.

http://bluejackets.nhl.com/fanzone/HockeyRules.htm

Just Cheryl and family are big hockey fans too!! She would be a great go-to person on the sport.

Yes, we are! LOL, I think though they gave you some really good basics about the game. The calls are frustrating to watch. Witnessed that at last nights game on the tube of course. LOL Just hope they don't go into overtime. They just keep playing and playing and playing, can be a long night. Have a wonderful time! Someday, I'll have to hit one of those Stanley Cup games.

Girl was the game last night not WILD!!! im a preds fan..season tickets till the strike..now i just pick games...I like the new RULES makes the game faster!!!!! oh I was pullin for the red wings!!! GO RED WINGS!! LOVE HOCKEY!!!!

I have a feeling we'll be seeing Sid the Kid hoisting Lord Stanley's Cup over his head very soon He's pretty awesome. And their goalie, Fleury--A-friggin'-MAZING! It just was the Wings' year pretty much from the start.

All is right in Hockeytown tonight