playoff hockey is so far different from regular season hockey... players really lay there bodies on the line when there playing for the cup, no way they can play at that level all year long. also seems that teams really grow by leaps and bounds over the course of the season so alot of times the 5-8 teams are actually playing better hockey at the time the playoffs start then the 1-4 teams. I think that The home ice is important as it still can feed the team but its not always as clear cut to who the better team is.

Basketball the home court advantage team is normally clearly the better team, but the crowd can really pump up a team... from the pistons of the late 80's to the atlanta/phili teams this year.

Football... just to hit and miss, with a one and go home...