A fluky confluence of penalties left the teams playing with only three skaters each, instead of the usual five, for more than a minute. Suddenly, there was open ice for skilled players. The pace got faster. There were fewer collisions and better scoring chances. Compare it to highway driving.
Traffic jams are tense, but fine cars running at high speeds can be both tense and exciting.
Perhaps this was a hint of how the sport could be improved. In recent days, ideas have come from respected figures like Wayne Gretzky, part owner of the Phoenix Coyotes, and Ken Dryden, president of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Gretzky has suggested eliminating the center red line in offsides passes. This might spread players out and speed the tempo. Dryden has suggested playing with four skaters instead of five.