The Stanley Cup playoffs are under way and it's fantastic. Like the opening round of the World Cup there's a game every day, often two or three. But even better than the world cup there are no meaningless games - every single match matters and the play is incredibly intense. After a massive 82 game season it's amazing that the players still manage to turn it up a notch for the playoffs.

Winning the Stanley Cup means winning 4 best-of-seven series. Each game is played till there's a winner - there are no draws or shoot outs. If the score is tied after 60 minutes they play 20 minutes of sudden death overtime (first goal wins). If the scores are still tied they play another 20 minutes. Then another. In the first game of the Vancouver Canucks vs Dallas Stars series went to the fourth period of overtime. Put another way they had played two full games flatout back to back and were just starting on the third. Not only is the Stanley Cup the most impressive trophy in any sport I really think winning it is the ultimate sporting achievement.

Alas it won't be my Montreal Canadiens this year. They were just pipped at the post and didn't qualify for the playoffs. It's also starting to look like it may not be the Calgary Flames either. They are currently 2-0 down in the series to Detroit, but the good people of Calgary are hoping the team will do better at home in the Saddledome. I hope they do - apparently if the Flames can get a good run going the atmosphere builds and builds in the city. You can sense it already; Flames flags fly from lots of cars, pubs and bars are bedecked with Flames logos and even the local cake shop near work has a hockey stick and goal display in the window. Not to mention Calgary's infamous Red Mile which is just waiting to go. So they may not have the songs but that's one thing that's very different from sport at home - here EVERYONE follows the home team and I love the way everyone gets into it, from the local news to the city buses flashing the message "Go Flames Go" on game day.