It's been two years since the last time playoff hockey was going on this time of year, and I can remember thinking at that time just how distraught I was with the level of play in the league, lack of parity, and all the denials about how much money certain teams really were losing.

            Now we have the new NHL, and it took a whole season lost for it to happen.  Certainly, the result of the lockout and subsequent implementation of the salary cap resulted in a redistribution of many of the league's entrenched veteran stars, such as Jaromir Jagr or Peter Forsberg, much to the chagrin of fans who thought some of these players would never play anywhere else.

            But the new deal is working.  We're only halfway through the first round of the first playoff season since the lockout, and so far, the overall level of play has been astounding.  The action is faster, there are fewer useless whistles, and more players seem willing to just shut up and play.  Teams are also more evenly matched.  The Colorado Avalanche were nearly 15 games above .500, and they got a seven seed.  In the past, one could sometimes expect a seven seed to give a two seed problems, but the games just weren't as intense, and eight seeds certainly stood no chance against the best team in each conference.  Even when lesser seeded teams did win, it was obvious that they were playing way above their heads.

            The Detroit Red Wings, part of that old Western guard of hockey teams that made the NHL utterly predictable and uninteresting to the casual fan each year, are floundering against the eight seed Edmonton Oilers, even though the Wings were the best in the West and seemingly poised for another Cup run.  Edmonton is loaded with scoring power compared to their eight seed counterparts in the past (Chris Pronger, Ryan Smyth, Michael Peca, just to name a few) as well as a surprisingly competent goalie (another eight seed rarity).  Are the Oilers just an anomaly?  Evidently not.

            Back East, the Carolina Hurricanes were picked by many in the media (paging ESPN) to blow by Montr