With three Game 7s tonight, NHL will show why its post season is best in all of sports

NEW YORK —

Three Game 7s tonight.

If you're a fan of hockey, it doesn't get much better than this. And it's nights like these that demonstrate just why the NHL's post season is better than any other sport's.

One of the games — Los Angeles at San Jose — has historical implications.

The Kings look to become only the fifth team in NHL history to overcome a 3-0 series deficit to win a series. It was last done in 2010 when the Flyers came back from 3-0 down to beat the Boston Bruins in the conference semis (the first time it had happened since the Isles overcame the deficit in 1975).

In Denver, we hope the Avalanche can pull off the Game 7 win at home because, quite frankly, we never want Zach Parise to ever win another playoff series the rest of his career.

We don't want this guy to get
another playoff-series win
ever again. Ever that is.

And of course, in New York, coming off a 5-2 win in Philly, one might expect this to be the Flyers' game to win — but as Kevin Cocca reminded me yesterday, Madison Square Garden puts an incredible fear into the Flyers. So this game may as well go to overtime.

Could you imagine that?

I get heart palpitations just thinking of it.

So while I hate predictions, here are mine

— Los Angeles wins in OT

— Colorado wins comfortably

— Rangers/Flyers go three OTs, and someone scores at the stroke of midnight.

Attendance Watch: Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013

There were 10 games in the NHL on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013 — and all but one game sold out. The non-sellout was Columbus at Minnesota — where 17,584 (97 percent full) saw the game.

The Wild have only sold out one of four home games. So much for signing Zach Parise and Ryan Suter.

The Xcel Energy Center, home of the Minnesota Wild,
was the only NHL building not sold out on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013.

League attendance, thus far, is at near capacity

So much for the fans not coming back.

The Xcel Energy Center has only been sold out
for one of Minnesota's three home games.
Welcome home, Zach Parise!

Nearly every game in the NHL has sold out, though there have been a few exceptions.

The only home-opener not to sell out, thus far, has been the Lightning, who still played to 97.2-percent capacity.

The Islanders had 15,000 plus for Monday afternoon's game at the Coliseum.

And, of all ironies, the Minnesota Wild, which sold out its first game, was 1,000 and 2,000 under capacity for home games 2 and 3 at the Xcel Energy Center. (Yes, they've played three home games in a four-day-old season — the quirks of a shortened season).

I must admit to being very happy to see Zach Parise's new team has only been able to sell out one of three —with significant empties last night.

Craig Leipold nauseates me

After not getting to see most of the Devils game, I decided to switch over to see how former captain was doing in Minnesota. And lo and behold. this dope appeared on my screen. Did I mention — he causes me nausea?