One story ends. A more thrilling one is set to begin.

Saturday brings us to the end of the regular season for the Pittsburgh Penguins. We end the regular season at home with a game against the Carolina Hurricanes. The Pens go into the game losing the past two with some poorly played hockey and will look to end the regular season on a winning note. Though, it was a short time ago that the Pens clinched the top seed in the Eastern Conference, so these losses have meant nothing to our position in the standings. However, it might not be the best thing to come into the playoffs with a losing streak with games featuring some mistakes. Therefore, the Pens will look to correct their mistakes and will look for a boost in the return of James Neal and Paul Martin this Saturday.

Win or lose Saturday though and the Pens are still in the playoffs. That is a nice feeling to have and one Pens' fans as of late are used to. We haven't had to battle for the 8th spot in the Conference for some time, but that does not mean that we have had smooth sailing once in the playoffs. As we all surely know. Last year's first round loss to the Philadelphia Flyers was extremely disappointing. A first round loss, no matter the opponent, this year would be even more disappointing. A first round loss again would surely mean some changes in the organization. This team is expected to perform well and a mediocre or dismal playoff season just will not do. Making the playoffs for some teams is an accomplishment all in itself (Congratulations Toronto!). But not the Pens. For the Pens, it's just a beginning.

While some teams will pack their things this weekend and go their seperate ways, the Pens will join 15 other teams in closing the book of the regular season and begin to prepare for the story of NHL playoff hockey. Every team begins a season with the sole purpose to begin this second story, one that each team hopes will end with another book chronicling what each team member did with the Stanely Cup on their day with the sacred trophy. Only one team will prove to be the best, the toughest, the most skilled, the hardest working, the most complete, the Stanley Cup winners. It most certainly is not an easy task. Upsets will happen, good teams will fall, better teams will prevail, series sweeps will occur, overtime hockey means much more, and perhaps a game 7 or a few will go into overtime where everything will be on the line. History will be made.
Playoff hockey is another level of hockey. Teams know what they have to do to accomplish their dream of raising the Stanely Cup. Next week each of these 16 teams will begin this journey. Each of the 16 teams will be just 16 wins away from their goal. Only one team will make it through though. We won't know until June who succeeds. Of course, we have our expectations and hopes and wishes. But that's the thing about playoff hockey: It is usually impossible to predict. Playoff hockey is meant for surprises; it is meant for exciting hockey. Playoff hockey is meant to bring fans to the edge of their seat or to their feet. Playoff hockey is meant to bring tears of disappointment or tears of pure joy. Playoff hockey is meant to make you nervous, excited, sad, happy, angry and just about any other emotion one can have. Playoff hockey is like nothing else. Therefore, each story will be unique, but only one team will be able to end their story how they want: by raising the most prestigious trophy in sports, the one and only (sort of) Stanley Cup.

So, while the Pens hope to end the season on a winning note, either way the story will end and a new one will begin. One that is much more important, one that has a possibility of a much more meaningful end.

Are you ready for some playoff hockey?