The Stanley Cup Playoffs

Chris Zelkovich and an anonymous headline writer at the Star let NBC and the NHL have it with both barrels:

NBC spanks NHL and the league likes it

NBC made a business decision here, choosing high-priced horse advertising over a commercial-free overtime.

But what does this say about the NHL?

It says the league is so desperate to please American networks that it's willing to take this kind of abuse. This is the same league that scheduled Saturday's game for 2 p.m. to appease NBC. That decision deprived Ottawa fans of a traditional Saturday night spot while costing the loyal CBC hundreds of thousands of viewers and countless dollars in ad revenues.

For kowtowing to NBC, the league gets a slap in the face.

More accurately, it got a slap in the face, a punch in the solar plexus and a kick in the rear with a frozen boot.

 

Actually my brother called Anaheim-Ottawa from a while back. I think he linked Bettman to the NBA conspiracy theories and his new theory is that it's always a sunbelt team against a Canadian team to grow the game, but keep interest here in Canada. Given the past couple finals, maybe he's on to something.

 

Anaheim has been a Cup contender from the get-go. Detroit is one of the elite teams from the old days that it matters whenever they get into the finals. It's Ottawa that's been the real story (at least in the playoffs) and that's a good thing.

Of course, I'd think Bettman would love to see Toronto and Montreal battling each other for a Cup finals spot while Chicago (I know this is a pipe dream) and Detroit duke it out in the "Western" Conference finals.

 

DOOMED! ;D

 

Scary thought for today: Anaheim, which is damn good enough, was one ping pong ball away from going to battle with a certain No. 87 playing for it.

 

You have to read this story (CTV aired this story last night on the National News): :'(

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=9f4cdd28-4c01-4b80-87c1-042c6d614fe4&k=20956

The Senators are playing with Elgin in mind and should they win the Cup, they are dedicating the win to him. Mike Fisher promised Elgin that they would win the Cup. Elgin has heard the anthem of Oh Canada, which was his favorite song and he passed away after he saw his team, the Senators advance to the Cup final. When Mike Fisher was interviewed on CTV for the on air story, he looked visibly upset about the loss and said that he has touched his life in so many ways.

 

Thanks for posting that, Cansportschick. You helped me make up my mind. I'm rooting for the Sens.

 

And where will you be watching it?

 

In front of my TV.

 

And they've just released the schedule for the Final.

http://mirtle.blogspot.com/2007/05/stanley-cup-final-schedule.html

All games at 8:00 EST which means we don't have to put up with Saturday afternoon games.

Christ, the Senators should book a cruise.

 

One of the more lame "traditions" in recent memory (BTW – how long does something have to be going on to be considered a tradition?).

Alfie barely touched the trophy, and certainly didn't pick it up. It was Redden who took it to the bench and then apparently Melnyk took it to the dressingroom after that. According to Redden anyways.