As a former hockey player and hockey fan whose interest has been dwindling for several reasons, I have been unable to resist the excitement of this year’s first-round NHL playoffs.

The last week has deposited me right in the middle of playoff fever.

The Leafs from across Lake Ontario laid an egg in Game 1, but captain John Tavares was everywhere in Game 2. Why isn’t such a highly paid athlete “all over the ice” every game? He’s making over $8 million per season!

Then, two thrilling one-goal wins, including coming back from a 4-1 deficit to win Game 4 in overtime on the road in Tampa.

Butler’s Sports Bar was rocking and I hope the Leaf fans will allow me to take a place on  their bandwagon for the rest of the playoffs. I will have to practise my exhortations to fit in. “Come on boys!” and “Here we go!” and “This is it!” seem to be the most popular call-outs.

My hockey emotions have been up and down like a toilet seat. At a mixed party.

In the midst of the excitement, there was not one mention of gambling in the bar. There was much profanity, in fact an amazing amount of naughty language, but no one seemed to care about the over-under or any parlays.

There is an exhausting amount of gambling advertising by big name stars and Wayne Gretzky (which is very weird) before, during and after the games, but who is doing all the actual gambling?

One generation ago, there was almost no advertising in and around the rinks. Now, the ice surface resembles a Glidden Paint billboard and the boards have scrolling ads. Pepsi and Canadian Tire are spending piles to show their logos in a 360-degree fashion.

These ads, shown on the Canadian television feeds, are joined by “Purex, the official laundry detergent of the NHL.”  Maybe Ivory soap should become the official “wash out your mouth with soap” soap for cursing hockey fans in NOTL.

My mother would be appalled, as were two families having dinner in the side room at bar.

Now, just asking:

Do we still think good punch-ups are a necessary part of our fast and exciting game? Goodness me, New Zealand rugby players don’t chuck knuckles. And their game is tough.

Why do team owners and coaches allow star players to fight? Auston Matthews and Steve Stamkos? Those four hands are worth millions of dollars.

Curiously, Leaf star forward Ryan O’Reilly still plays without a protective shield or cage. Just last week, an NHL star was cut for 75 stitches so close to his eye, by a razor-sharp goalie skate during a skirmish in the crease.

I am loving this Toronto Maple Leaf playoff run, but may I ask what happened to the talking heads “expert panel?”

Each game, a hockey savvy, well-spoken and intuitive female hockey star provided insight.

Now she is gone and the panel has been joined by, wait for it, Derek Lalonde, whose claim to fame seems to be that he is the coach of the Detroit Red Wings. He layers on the usual oft-heard cliches and the other four talking heads nod in agreement.

The Leaf playoff games promise to thrill us. Let’s think about the whole package.

This may make me seem like an old fuddy duddy, but I don’t think Mitch Marner and his mates should be looking at an iPad or tablet when they are on the bench.

Go Leafs go!