(AFP/Getty Images/Bruce Bennett)

To tell you the truth, I was going to blow off the Stanley Cup finals this year. I'm not a real fan of the Anaheim Ducks (sorry boys and girls) nor do I follow the Ottawa Senators that closely. In fact, after writing yesterday about Mike Comrie and Oleg Saprykin, I developed a mild interest in the series and figured that I would catch a game or two.

Many hockey purists and bloggers can call me less of a fan if they'd like as it wouldn't bother me in the slightest. For some reason, I wasn't that interested in the outcome.

Last night, my attitude changed.

The opening game of the Stanley Cup finals should cause any sports fan to turn on to the sport of hockey. Typically, when two teams haven't met before a particular playoff series, both play a conservative game waiting for the other team to make the critical mistake. Last night's game was the complete opposite and was one of the best hockey games I have seen all year.

The Senators came out ready for a battle until it showed late in the game that a nine day layoff can hinder a team's performance. The Ducks were better five-on-five and the Ducks fourth line was just better than the Senators fourth line.

Even though the adage of the best players need to be the best players can be a meaningful cliché, the supporting players need come up huge in important games and they did for the Ducks last night.

Game one was incredible. So, hockey draws me back in for two more weeks…and I'll be a better person for it.

Original post by PB and software by Elliott Back

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