As the NHL playoffs heat up, a glaring trend has emerged: the top contenders have been remarkably injury-free and, by extension, remarkably unphysical all season. The usual suspects, including the Colorado Avalanche and the Toronto Maple Leafs, have largely avoided the kind of intense, hard-hitting hockey that often marks a team's path to success. But does this lack of physicality truly matter when it comes to the playoffs, where every hit and every block can be the difference between victory and defeat? As the postseason gets underway, fans and analysts alike are left wondering: can teams still win it all without throwing a punch?
The Stanley Cup Favorites Barely Threw a Punch All Season - Does Physicality Still Matter in the Playoffs? Sports Gambling Podcast
