from Larry Brooks of the New York Post,

... The decisive goal was scored at 10:27 of the fifth overtime, which is to say at 90:27 of extra time, which is to say that after 150:27 of hockey and six hours on the clock.

And across the hockey universe, there was near universal endorsement of the tug of war that included a mind-numbing 110:04 of scoreless hockey between Yanni Gourde’s tying goal at 0:23 of the third period and Brayden Point’s winner midway through the eighth period. Six hours and apparently no one could get enough of it. “Epic” was the term most often used to describe the fourth-longest game in NHL history. , during which Jackets netminder Joonas Korpisalo made a record 84 saves. Excitement could not be contained. Except excitement had been contained for about the last two-plus hours of the telecast.

But is it blasphemous to suggest that there were large swatches of tedium throughout extra time? More than that, though, this game became the alleged perfect specimen to cite as evidence that, yes, the Stanley Cup is the hardest trophy in professional sports to win. That narrative has taken control of the tournament to an obsessive degree that overshadows all other elements. Why care about that? Do you think Patrick Mahomes was tempted to give back the Vince Lombardi Trophy after winning the Super Bowl because it was too easy?

The playoffs have increasingly become a war of attrition and less a test of skill. Teams are battered after the first two rounds then have another two to go. No wonder the level of hockey in the Cup finals is rarely memorable. Macho, macho hockey.

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