That is a very good question and one that hits home with me personally.  I’ve been a Flames fan for a while and still pay particular attention to what is going on with them, but living in the east, I can’t always stay awake until 2 am until the end of their games.  So, I’ve been following the Bruins for a while as well and watch their games.  But how can you not turn the TV on when the Pens or Caps(not Craps!) are playing with the exiting players on both teams.  Then you have the drama of the NYR/Devs series!  To answer the question, I am more of an NHL fan than a fan of one particular team.  I will watch any team, any game, any time!  Once my team(s) have bailed, my TV won’t be going black!

Posted by Mac from Canada on 04/14/08 at 12:52 PM ET

I’m a die hard Penguins fan, but have enjoyed a number of the other series. The Habs/Boston series has been fantastic. I even managed to get to the rink for the Caps/Flyers game on Sunday—unfortunately the Flyers won. The Dallas series has been great to watch as well. I’ll be watching hockey until the Cup is lifted—I’ll just enjoy it all the more if the Penguins are the ones doing the lifting!

Posted by penguinsfan on 04/14/08 at 01:17 PM ET

All teams, all series. There are great matchups from top to bottom. As a Pens fan, I am watching the Devils/Rangers closely, as we will face the winner, most likely. The Western series are just as entertaining… Minny/Avs, Sharks/Flames, Stars/Ducks… the only series I have no interest in is the Red Wings/Preds… unless it is the only game on, I won’t watch…

Posted by RussianDefect71 on 04/14/08 at 01:44 PM ET

i watch as many games as i can…but i did this before the lock-out too.

Hockey was good then too…

Posted by bp from Raleigh, NC on 04/14/08 at 01:48 PM ET

I guess the first season back after the lockout, I watched as much hockey as I could including during the playoffs. Last year, however, I only watched the Wings games until they lost in the conference finals. This year so far, if I’m not studying I’m watching playoff hockey on Versus or Center Ice.

Posted by Christy from Ann Arbor, MI on 04/14/08 at 01:55 PM ET

I watch as many games as I can find that aren’t on at the same time as a Wings game

Posted by halomasterd4n on 04/14/08 at 02:01 PM ET

Mostly my team and a few others that have caught my interest.  I usually find the first and last rounds most interesting - the second (and somewhat the third) are less interesting for some reason.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 04/14/08 at 02:28 PM ET

I like to catch the first game of each series, then focus on a just a couple matchups to the end. I’ll reset the next round and pick the best matchups and then ride those. Once we get to the conference Final its every game until the Cup is lifted.

Posted by Hockey1919 from Montreal on 04/14/08 at 02:54 PM ET

This year I’ve been more interested in the playoffs (in general) than I can remember.

Posted by Chris from GR on 04/14/08 at 03:06 PM ET

Shortly prior to and during the lockout, I became a part of 3 seperate NHL boards to discuss what we thought Bettman and the players should be doing to make the CBA work etc.  Since those boards were relatively small (or at least only a small portion of the members were holding up the conversation) we got to know each other on a personal level and discussed each other’s teams.  Not many there thought that they’d ever be friends with a Leafs fan (as I am), but now they are.  As a result of these friendships, I pay closer attention to their teams/players since I have more of a personal tie to them - and vice versa.

Also, during the lockout I diverted a lot of my attention to junior hockey.  As you know, those players don’t always make it to “the show” and when they do, they don’t always play for the team that they originally signed on with.  So, I’m following several rookies scattered all over the NHL.

I can’t speak for everyone but, even though I paid attention to other teams prior to the lockout, I hadn’t involved myself as much.  I believe that the above two reasons are part of why I’m attempting to learn more about everyone else’s team as well as my own.

Posted by desdemona from Toronto on 04/15/08 at 01:33 AM ET