2015 Stanley Cup playoffs

Also, it has to be noted that the Tampa Bay policy of not letting people wear Blackhawks jerseys to the game is total bush league amateur hour b.s.

 

It won't last past the first lawsuit, which should be filed by 8 p.m. tonight.

 

That's how I understand it, maybe because of all the Rangers jerseys during the last series. I think they were also only selling tickets to people with Florida addresses. They were interviewing Andreychuk on Chicago radio yesterday and giving him a little bit of the business about it, and he was hemming and hawing about how Florida fans are supportive and they need to take care of them first, etc., etc.

Nashville did a lot of the same stuff in the opening round series.

The consensus in Chicago does not seem to be amusement. Take sports radio for what it's worth, but they were saying - and these aren't meatheads, but pretty down-to-earth morning guys - that they thought Bettman needs to step in.

 

For what?

 

I guess we are watching two different games. Bishop has let some real soft goals in that have had nothing to do with the way his team has played. I would say the goaltending matchup is fairly even.

I see each having a shutout potentially and each giving up 5 or 6 at one point.

 

That's fair enough. Bishop's given up a couple of soft goals, but the amount of goals is not like him. He's usually pretty good at keeping the team in the game. Just inexperience in the postseason, I'm sure. I'd say it's pretty even, as well, but I just think Crawford is more likely to just have a horrible game. Remember, he was basically platooning in the first round. Though he has been better recently.

 

Clarification: The Lightning has been selling tickets only to people with in-state credit cards through their website throughout the playoffs. And the team is not allowing jerseys in the club section only, also from the start of the postseason. Those folks will be asked to move or take off their jerseys. The rest of the fans are free to support either team. But yes, it is all total BS.

 

You bought a ticket and they're not letting you in because of colors? That's fraud, especially if you bought your ticket through your own team or the NHL.

 

Interesting take on this ....

Lightning’s ticket limits stir serious debate, as well as howls | TBO.com and The Tampa Tribune

“A ticket is a license,” said William Sutton, director of the Sport and Entertainment Management program at the University of South Florida.
And it can be revoked if you don’t abide by the terms.

...

The federal appeals court ruled that the fan forfeited his constitutional right when he agreed to buy the ticket and must abide by policies the Buccaneers established. The court also said the Buccaneers can revoke game tickets for any reason.

And to my point earlier:

Most Blackhawk fans are likely to buy from the secondary market, anyway, where there are no zip code restrictions, and the team clothing ban affects people sitting in only 1,400 of the more expensive seats at the 19,000 seat Amalie arena.

 

Are tickets for the Finals team issued or league issued, as at the Super Bowl? Would make a big difference legally. Why league just doesn't tell them policy is outlawed is beyond me, but NHL has no governance to speak of.

 

Pretty sure they are controlled by the home teams, for the most part. Hence, you couldn't buy through the team's website with an out-of-state card, but you could buy on the secondary market.