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Vancouver’s loss is the NHL and hockey fans’ gain

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Fans react as they watch TV coverage of the Vancouver Canucks playing the Boston Bruins in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup final in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Wednesday, June 8, 2011. The Canucks lead the best-of-seven game series 2-1 going into game four. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darryl Dyck)

AP

As strange, stunning and memorable as Patrick Kane’s overtime Stanley Cup-clinching goal was last year, there were at least a handful of hockey fans who were sad when it happens. That group wasn’t exclusively made up of Philadelphia Flyers fans, either; many of us simply wanted to see a Game 7 in a series that was quite a bit closer (and a lot more fun) than expected.

My bet is that you’ll see some variation of the statement “Simply put, there’s nothing like a Game 7" approximately 1,000 times if you read enough about Wednesday’s contest. As maddening as cliches can be sometimes, it’s true that Game 7’s tend to be the most fun, even if the games don’t always live up to our wild hockey expectations.

Yet when you think about the 2011 NHL playoffs, it would only be fitting if tomorrow’s game ends up being unpredictable and thoroughly entertaining. From an unbelievable first round to a strange second one and some great conference finals contests, hockey fans have often been spoiled by this lengthy postseason. Every single round of the postseason featured at least one series that went a full seven games; it makes you wonder how the 2012 playoffs will top this. (Hopefully this isn’t a sign that Mayans were correct that we simply won’t see another postseason, right?)

One almost wonders if there is a small part of every Canucks fan - probably located far, far from their damaged hearts - that is half-glad this happened. Obviously, they don’t want their team to lose, but it extends the party and the speculation and the excitement for two days. It also gives them one more home game to latch onto before the long wait begins for October.

With the NBA finals further in the rear view mirror and little else but baseball to distract casual fans, this should be one of hockey’s great chances to captivate the sporting public. Who knows what kind of “product” the two teams will churn out. It could be a carbon copy of the other skin-tight games played in Vancouver or the pressure/randomness of a Game 7 could dictate a blowout for either side.

The biggest hope is that the teams decide it, rather than the officials or some other outside factor. Despite the Canucks’ unexpected belly-flopping in Boston, both teams fought hard to get this far and each team is worthy of the Stanley Cup.

Hockey fans - from casuals to diehards - are worthy of a great final game, too. Stick with us as we try to stoke the flames of what should be a fascinating Game 7.