There was what felt like about a six-minute stretch there in the third period of Game 3 in the Stanley Cup final that reminded me why I was excited about a Detroit-Pittsburgh matchup.

No whistles. End-to-end chances. Lots of hits. Uninterrupted excitement.

Even CBC play-by-play guy Bob Cole, by then breathless, kept repeating, ‘What a pace.’

It was the highlight of the playoffs so far. Two good teams going at each other.

Too many talk focuses on who's going to win the Cup and how many games. If you don't cheer for the Pens or Wings, who cares?

Something else has to draw you to watch. That flurry (and the play of Gary Roberts -- why on earth the Pens sat that steamroller out in Game 1 on the road is beyond me) was enough to make me interested in Game 4.

With Detroit pushing for the equalizer, there were plenty of quality chances. That's what the NHL lacks these days -- not goals. Let the players produce chances like that and you'll take a 3-2 or 2-1 game any day.

It won't help to shrink the goalies or widen the nets. Look at the way Detroit starts its rush from its own end with its defence and has the forwards hitting the opposition blue line flying towards the goal.

That's the way the game should be played. You can tie up guys in the neutral zone all you want but you can't do it if they're not standing still.

Great hockey in Game 3. Let's hope there's more to come.