from Adam Proteau of The Hockey News,

It’s tough to forgive sometimes, particularly when you’ve been hurt and lied to and taken for granted by the same people on more than one occasion. So it would have been perfectly natural for hockey fans, having suffered the slings and arrows associated with the outrageous fortunes the NHL and NHLPA fought over during the 2012-13 lockout, to be the bitterest of Betties and hold a grudge long after the league returned to action.

However, the way the NHL has come back – capped off by the astonishingly entertaining first round of the post-season – has resulted in a wave of forgiveness from those same fans. Just as you couldn’t blame them if they chose to stay away in droves, you also have to understand why people who love the game have rushed back with such reckless abandon. And as much as it might kill you to do so, you have to give credit to those involved in the high quality of entertainment we’re seeing.

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