Not too much to say about tonight's game that you won't read elsewhere since I recorded the game since I was out and watched it quickly.
However, notice the difference in the two games between the Rangers and Devils this year, most notably in penalties and power plays.
Arguably, the two teams played basically the same in both games. Sure, maybe the Rangers weren't as good tonight, but they both played the same style - fast-paced, slightly gritty, kind of dirty.
Yet, on Monday, October 5, 18 penalties were called in 3 periods. That does include some co-incidental minors that didn't result in a power play (an Ales Kotalik hooking call with a Nicklas Bergfors diving penalty; Aaron Voros and David Clarkson both for roughing in the 3rd), but there were no fights. All 18 penalties were two-minute minors. Each team had 6 power play opportunities.
On Thursday, October 22, 6 penalties were called. Two were from the same fight, and there were only 4 two-minute minors called, and one of them was with 24 seconds left.
What was the difference, you ask? Was it John Tortorella showing the Rangers videos of their penalties so they don't repeat the same mistake? Possibly, but how to account for the Devils only taking 3 minors as opposed to 9? I think there was another factor in play.
Dare I say it? The difference is the network that the games were played on. The first game (10/5) was on Versus, where they want to bring in new viewers. What do "fringe fans" want? By fringe fans, I mean, say, people who normally don't watch hockey but turn it on from time to time; or people who have no rooting interest in one of the teams playing but are watching anyway; or people at a bar watching it because it's on. Fringe fans want to see goals. More penalties = more power plays = more goals and exciting chances.
If Calgary is playing Columbus, I have no reason to watch a 1-0 game since I'm a Ranger fan and have no rooting interest in it. But if it's 6-5, 4-3, or even 6-5, I'll watch because it looks like an exciting game. Same for people who don't ever really watch hockey - they won't watch a 2-0 Devils shutout but they'll watch a 3-2 Rangers win with back-and-forth action and breath-taking saves by both goalies.
Now, tonight's game (or technically, last night's game) was on MSG or MSG+. Odds are, if you're tuning in to a Rangers/Devils game on MSG instead of the Yankee playoff game where they have a chance to win the pennant, you're a big fan and will watch the game no matter what. If it's 5-on-5 play the whole game, I'm still watching.
I constantly say how much I dislike the games on Versus, not only for their annoying broadcasts (although last year was much worse than this year) but for the facts that the referees constantly blow the whistle for phantom calls and bogus penalties.
If you don't believe me, keep an eye out during the next Rangers game on Versus. That game is November 17 at MSG against Washington. Think the NHL doesn't want Poster Boy Alex Ovechkin, Nik Backstrom, Mike Green, and Alex Semin to score 8 power play goals that night? That game might break the record for two-minute minors.
Two friends. Two bitter enemies. Two obsessed fans. One Rivalry.
Showing posts with label Versus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Versus. Show all posts
Friday, October 23, 2009
Monday, October 5, 2009
Brian Boyle is Like Flash...
Here are 4 reasons I don't like when Ranger games are on Versus:
1) Doc Emerick annoys me. Not just his homer-ism for the Devils - I understand that, and he leaves a lot of it behind when the game is on national TV - but the way he talks, his phrasing, his know-it-all attitude. I know a ton of you will disagree with me, but it's one reason I don't like watching Versus games.
2) It's one big advertisement. I didn't notice it as much tonight, but last year, it seemed like every 10 seconds I was being force-fed a Bud Light or rodeo commercial.
3) My DirecTV doesn't carry Versus anymore, so I have to find watch the game elsewhere.
4) It's one big power play. It always seems that every game on Versus has more penalties called than regular games that are only on local TV. I would imagine that the referees are conditioned to call more penalties than normal for these games so that "fringe fans" can see more power plays and goals, but it really screws over the real fans who are only watching Versus because MSG or MSG+ doesn't show the game. They make those phantom calls all game long, much like when a team is playing the Penguins.
* * *
- I saw someone speed down the ice to make a defense play. As I tried to see the number on the back of the jersey, my mind only had 3 names in mind: Callahan, Dubinsky, or Lisin. magine my surprise tonight when the number read "22" and the name on the jersey was "Boyle." It's looking like Aaron Voros will be the odd man out when Sean Avery returns.
- Speaking of Brandon Dubinsky, he looks like a beast out there. Besides his scoring, his skating looks excellent and he's stronger on the puck this season than last. However, don't get too excited. Remember how awesome he was last year in the beginning? He had 12 points in 13 games in October '08 before dropping off the planet. That probably won't happen as dramatically this year, but it's still something to think about.
- I wanted Alexei Semenov to be a Ranger this year, and I felt bad that he wanted to be a Ranger, Glen Sather wanted him to, and John Tortorella wanted him to, but his wife nixed it. However, I don't think that a 7th defenseman is entirely necessary right now. Matt Gilroy has been playing great and scored his first goal tonight; Marc Staal and Dan Girardi aren't lighting it up, but they haven't been messing up; and Mike Del Zotto has looked great. He scored the past 2 games, and he had two open nets in the Penguins game where he just couldn't get his stick on the puck. Plus, he's manning the point on the power play pretty well considering he's a 19 year old who was thrown into the fire.
- What happens if and when the Rangers do find a 7th defenseman? One would hope that Wade Redden or Michal Rozsival would take a seat, but would Sather let Tortorella do that? One of Tom Renney's big mistakes was not only never sitting either of them, but relying on them for the power play. Tortorella isn't relying on them, per se, but he is using them on the 2nd unit, which is a huge mistake. I know he said he didn't watch many Ranger games before he took over last year, but didn't he hear about why Renney got fired?
1) Doc Emerick annoys me. Not just his homer-ism for the Devils - I understand that, and he leaves a lot of it behind when the game is on national TV - but the way he talks, his phrasing, his know-it-all attitude. I know a ton of you will disagree with me, but it's one reason I don't like watching Versus games.
2) It's one big advertisement. I didn't notice it as much tonight, but last year, it seemed like every 10 seconds I was being force-fed a Bud Light or rodeo commercial.
3) My DirecTV doesn't carry Versus anymore, so I have to find watch the game elsewhere.
4) It's one big power play. It always seems that every game on Versus has more penalties called than regular games that are only on local TV. I would imagine that the referees are conditioned to call more penalties than normal for these games so that "fringe fans" can see more power plays and goals, but it really screws over the real fans who are only watching Versus because MSG or MSG+ doesn't show the game. They make those phantom calls all game long, much like when a team is playing the Penguins.
* * *
- I saw someone speed down the ice to make a defense play. As I tried to see the number on the back of the jersey, my mind only had 3 names in mind: Callahan, Dubinsky, or Lisin. magine my surprise tonight when the number read "22" and the name on the jersey was "Boyle." It's looking like Aaron Voros will be the odd man out when Sean Avery returns.
- Speaking of Brandon Dubinsky, he looks like a beast out there. Besides his scoring, his skating looks excellent and he's stronger on the puck this season than last. However, don't get too excited. Remember how awesome he was last year in the beginning? He had 12 points in 13 games in October '08 before dropping off the planet. That probably won't happen as dramatically this year, but it's still something to think about.
- I wanted Alexei Semenov to be a Ranger this year, and I felt bad that he wanted to be a Ranger, Glen Sather wanted him to, and John Tortorella wanted him to, but his wife nixed it. However, I don't think that a 7th defenseman is entirely necessary right now. Matt Gilroy has been playing great and scored his first goal tonight; Marc Staal and Dan Girardi aren't lighting it up, but they haven't been messing up; and Mike Del Zotto has looked great. He scored the past 2 games, and he had two open nets in the Penguins game where he just couldn't get his stick on the puck. Plus, he's manning the point on the power play pretty well considering he's a 19 year old who was thrown into the fire.
- What happens if and when the Rangers do find a 7th defenseman? One would hope that Wade Redden or Michal Rozsival would take a seat, but would Sather let Tortorella do that? One of Tom Renney's big mistakes was not only never sitting either of them, but relying on them for the power play. Tortorella isn't relying on them, per se, but he is using them on the 2nd unit, which is a huge mistake. I know he said he didn't watch many Ranger games before he took over last year, but didn't he hear about why Renney got fired?
Friday, October 2, 2009
The NHL Is Absolutely SCREWED
There are a lot of people out there who write about hockey. Unfortunately, many of these people are awful at their jobs. Channeling the spirit of Fire Joe Morgan (but with a lot less snarkiness), here's our response to a recent article that was particularly loathsome.
A new season is dawning and life for the NHL can't get any worse ... or could it?
Yes, it could get worse. MUCH worse. Remember five years ago, when there WASN'T a new season dawning?
I'm talking about a league that in three months went from showcasing one of the greatest exhibitions of playoff hockey in decades -- the seven-game Stanley Cup Final between the Red Wings and Penguins -- to dismissing Wayne Gretzky as collateral damage in a bankruptcy case that even with a judicial decision remains unresolved. There was also the dispute between DirecTV and Versus that threatened to black out opening night games, rumors of fiscal distress in South Florida, Atlanta, Long Island and elsewhere, yet another owner (Boots Del Biaggio) doing the perp-walk for investor fraud, fallout from Dany Heatley's ugly forced trade, a hijacked players association, and a young star in handcuffs for allegedly pummeling a 62-year-old cab driver over 20 cents change.
OK, let's compare this to the NFL. This year, the NFL reinstated the recently jailed Michael Vick after a whopping two-game suspension. They have a top-10 draft pick who intends to sit out the season because he wants more money. An insane amount of retired players are either dead broke, horribly brain damaged, or both. One of their star players is in jail for shooting himself in a night club. NFL players are suspended on a weekly basis for drug abuse or off-field discipline problems. And the NHL is the league with a problem? Please.
BTW, that "great exhibition in playoff hockey" aired on a Friday night and wasn't even shown in New York bars because most New Yorkers thought a regular season game between the Mets and Yankees was more important. Great game (Wings-Pens, that is), but let's not pretend it was some seminal moment in sports history.
You want to say it can't possibly sink any lower. Not even the NHL can slide so far so fast, but there is cause to wonder: If all that was what the summer brought, what's on the horizon for fall, winter and spring? Thankfully, there is some good news:
The games are back.
Whew. I was really beginning to wonder what was on the horizon for fall, winter and spring. I forgot hockey players actually play games. Thanks for the reminder.
Joining Ovechkin at the top are the twin stars of Pittsburgh: Sidney Crosby (the Penguins' second coming of Lemieux, albeit in a much smaller package) and Evgeni Malkin, last season's scoring champ and playoff MVP. In Boston, Vezina Trophy-winning goalie Tim Thomas and Norris Trophy defenseman Zdeno Chara are the inspirational forces for a surging team. They are supported by the vastly underrated Marc Savard, who feeds slick passes to a player many Bruins fans consider the Next Cam Neely: winger Milan Lucic.
There is strength of size and number in Philadelphia where the complete game of Jeff Carter and heady play of Mike Richards have fans speaking in tones reserved for the days when Bobby Clarke and Bill Barber carried the Broad Street Bullies to glory. It doesn't hurt (unless you're the competition) that the Flyers brought over the much-feared Chris Pronger to anchor their improved defense. If Ray Emery competes to the level of his ability in goal, the Flyers should contend for a spot in the Cup final this spring and could well win it all.
In the West, the still-potent Red Wings will try to blend the usual mix of veteran stars and emerging talent and reach the Cup final for the third time in as many seasons. Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg and Nicklas Lidstrom anchor the group, but the supporting cast is hungry for a chance at redemption. That will happen only if the multi-talented Sharks can't find their game again in the postseason, or if the swift, determined Blackhawks of andJonathan Toews continue to grow.
This thing reads like a NBC press release. A whole paragraph about the Flyers, who lost in the first round last year. Half a paragraph about the defending Stanley Cup champions. Half a paragraph about the Bruins, who have had exactly one good season since the lockout. Meanwhile, the Red Wings get two sentences and the Sharks and Blackhawks get to share one whopping sentence. Sounds about right.
After building on a startling jump in momentum coming out of the 2004-05 lockout and largely delivering on its promise for a better, faster, more exciting game, the league's momentum, at least regarding public perception, appears to have stalled. One might argue that it has actually crashed.
Public perception has "crashed", even though the league has better TV ratings than it did before the lockout. That the NHL has done this with ESPN going out of its way to avoid covering hockey, if not sabotage the league altogether, is huge. Furthermore, good luck finding even one hockey fan who gives a rat's ass about the "public perception" of the NHL.
A rising tide of anger doesn't bode well, especially when the league, which might have laid claim to the higher ground after the costly lockout brought the owners' much-wanted salary cap, is grieving almost every issue that comes before it, costing the players time and money and building an overriding sense of ill will. As a fan, you might argue that all this shouldn't matter, that these are professionals who are (highly) paid to play. But hockey players are people, too, and the issues that are rocking their usually secure world are taking a toll.
I have no idea what this paragraph means. That's especially true of the 80-word introductory sentence.
Most aren't likely to go away, not without another fight or three, but at least there is hockey on the ice now, hope in the hearts of fans, and a very good chance the game will produce a season every bit as memorable as the last. For those who truly love hockey, pretty much all we can do is hope...that we can see the games.
OOH! A shot at the NHL's TV contract! How original!
In what has become an eternal quest to find a TV provider other than ESPN, the league's current U.S. cable provider, Versus, is in a snit fight with satellite distributor DirecTV. The dispute has scuttled some 14 million viewers. It's a problem that may yet be resolved, but it smacks of the kind the league had with Madison Square Garden over internet rights, and it seems to open the door for MSG or some other regional network to cut a deal separate of league partners and concentrate on serving places where hockey draws an audience without trying to air games in areas where people simply refuse to watch.
These run-on sentences are making me nauseous.
Oh, and MSG can barely service New York and New Jersey. I'm sure the other 48 states will be no problem.
Of course, those people will be missing some good stuff on the ice. So, yes, let us hope for the best -- especially that things don't get worse.
YES. Things are SO awful now. Patrick Kane punching a cab driver is far, far worse than a lost season and the legitimate fear that the league would fold. Godspeed, NHL.
Versus...
Imagine my surprise today when I come home from work to put on the 10:00 game on Versus, and I'm greeted by a blue screen from DirecTV, some elevator music, and a note about "outrageous fees" and "Comcast charging" and "we don't want to pass fees onto our customers." Alas, no hockey game.
I had briefly heard about this during the summer, but hadn't heard about it since. I figured then that it would blow over and we'd have hockey, and since I hadn't heard more about it, I figured it did blow over and we were going to be able to watch hockey.
So, does anyone know anything about this? What's my next move? Canceling DirecTV and getting Verizon? If the Rangers or Islanders are on Versus and DirecTV doesn't carry Versus, can I still watch it on MSG or MSG+?
Anyone know?
I had briefly heard about this during the summer, but hadn't heard about it since. I figured then that it would blow over and we'd have hockey, and since I hadn't heard more about it, I figured it did blow over and we were going to be able to watch hockey.
So, does anyone know anything about this? What's my next move? Canceling DirecTV and getting Verizon? If the Rangers or Islanders are on Versus and DirecTV doesn't carry Versus, can I still watch it on MSG or MSG+?
Anyone know?
Friday, June 5, 2009
Worst Stat Ever Stated?...
Up until last night, the stupidest stat I had ever heard was a few years ago while watching my 4th repeat of ESPNews, a TV show I used to watch religiously until I got tired of seeing Pittsburgh Pirates and Kansas City Royals highlights.
The stat: Someone had hit a home run, and it was his birthday. They then mentioned that he was the 4th player to ever hit a home run on his birthday when his age matched his jersey number. So, for example, he wore number 33, and he turned 33 that day and hit a homer, joining this exclusive club.
Yesterday was the stupidest hockey stat I might have ever heard.
The stat: Jordan Staal's shorthanded goal was the first for a Penguin in the Cup Finals since 1992! The first since Bob Errey scored in Game 2 against Chicago!
My Lord! Stop the presses!
Let's figure this out. They Penguins played 2 more games in the Finals that year, as they swept Chicago in four games. They then played 6 last year and 3 games this year in the Finals without scoring shorthanded.
It was the Penguins first goal in 11 Finals games that came shorthanded. Wow. What an accomplishment. It's not like the Penguins had played in the Finals 6 times since then '92. They had made it two times, and one time they didn't score a shorthanded goal.
Maybe it wasn't even the stat that was completely stupid, it was the way they had said it. They said it like it was some sort of amazing feat, similar to the Chicago Cubs making the World Series (or in hockey terms, the Toronto Maple Leafs winning the Cup or the Florida Panthers making the playoffs).
They were so astonished by this incredible 11-game shorthanded goal drought that they said it twice. They said it once, confusing me. Then, Christine Simpson did a between-period interview with Jordan Staal and said it to him, and then they flashed the stat on the screen.
Sleep easy Penguin fans. Your team has finally scored a shorthanded goal in the Finals after 11 tries. Now that the monkey is off your back, perhaps the team can get back to actually playing and forget about that. I heard that was hovering over them like a black cloud on a sunny day.
(For the record, the entire 2005-06 Rangers team only had 4 shorthanded goals in 82 games, less than 1 in 20. Imagine how crazy the Versus broadcast would've gone had they seen Jason Ward put one away while a man down!)
The stat: Someone had hit a home run, and it was his birthday. They then mentioned that he was the 4th player to ever hit a home run on his birthday when his age matched his jersey number. So, for example, he wore number 33, and he turned 33 that day and hit a homer, joining this exclusive club.
Yesterday was the stupidest hockey stat I might have ever heard.
The stat: Jordan Staal's shorthanded goal was the first for a Penguin in the Cup Finals since 1992! The first since Bob Errey scored in Game 2 against Chicago!
My Lord! Stop the presses!
Let's figure this out. They Penguins played 2 more games in the Finals that year, as they swept Chicago in four games. They then played 6 last year and 3 games this year in the Finals without scoring shorthanded.
It was the Penguins first goal in 11 Finals games that came shorthanded. Wow. What an accomplishment. It's not like the Penguins had played in the Finals 6 times since then '92. They had made it two times, and one time they didn't score a shorthanded goal.
Maybe it wasn't even the stat that was completely stupid, it was the way they had said it. They said it like it was some sort of amazing feat, similar to the Chicago Cubs making the World Series (or in hockey terms, the Toronto Maple Leafs winning the Cup or the Florida Panthers making the playoffs).
They were so astonished by this incredible 11-game shorthanded goal drought that they said it twice. They said it once, confusing me. Then, Christine Simpson did a between-period interview with Jordan Staal and said it to him, and then they flashed the stat on the screen.
Sleep easy Penguin fans. Your team has finally scored a shorthanded goal in the Finals after 11 tries. Now that the monkey is off your back, perhaps the team can get back to actually playing and forget about that. I heard that was hovering over them like a black cloud on a sunny day.
(For the record, the entire 2005-06 Rangers team only had 4 shorthanded goals in 82 games, less than 1 in 20. Imagine how crazy the Versus broadcast would've gone had they seen Jason Ward put one away while a man down!)
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Rare MSG Guests: Minnesota Wild...
The last time the Rangers played the Minnesota Wild, it was a disastrous occasion that culminated in Marion Gaborik scoring 5 goals and being desperately fed the puck for a sixth goal that never actually happened. That was December 2007 in Minnesota.
Tonight's game (on Versus, don't forget) marks only the 3rd time since the lockout that these two teams are going to meet. It's the second time since then that the Wild will be at Madison Square Garden.
As it happens, I will be at tonight's game (thankfully, so I won't have to watch the Versus telecast... someone please inform me who the Bud Light Drinkability Player of the Game is). And as it happened, I was at MSG the last time, as well.
Since that game was in December 2005, let me remind you how it went down...
... Dwayne Roloson was in net for Minnesota. He nearly won a Cup later that season with Edmonton.
... Henrik Lundqvist had just starting playing regularly when Kevin Weekes got injured in November.
... Petr Prucha (remember him?) had 2 power play goals, his 8th and 9th goals of the season.
... Martin Rucinsky had 3 assists.
... Martin Straka scored the other Rangers goal (an empty-netter)
... Future and former Ranger Pascal Dupuis scored the lone goal for Minnesota. Alexandre Daigle (remember him?!) had an assist during his short-lived comeback tour.
... Mikko Koivu, far and away the team's leading point-getter this year, was a healthy scratch. he will miss tonight's game as well with a knee injury.
... And my $36 seats in Section 333 are now closer to $60.
* * *
It doesn't matter if the Rangers win tonight in regulation, overtime, or the shootout, so long as they win. Giving an extra point to Minnesota doesn't hurt them at all, they just need 2 themselves.
The Wild sit in 10th place. Two points tonight puts them tentatively in 8th place, as Nashville and Anaheim will have a game in hand.
Both teams desperately need a win tonight, the Wild maybe a little more, so I expect a pretty fast moving game. It should be more like last season's game as opposed to the 2005 Neutral Trap Game I witnessed.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Playoff Tickets...
I got my playoff ticket invoice today. Madison Square Garden is telling me that for $3,888, I can 2 tickets to 16 home playoff games. That assumes that not only will they have home ice advantage throughout the playoffs, but that every series will go 7 games.
Home ice advantage? They aren't even technically in the playoff picture. They had two objectives today - get 2 points, and stop the Carolina Hurricanes from getting any points. They failed in both.
But don't worry. If I pay nearly four grand, anything left over from games not played or series (don't know the plural of "series") not played goes towards my tickets next year.
All of this on a day when the offense thought Tom Renney was behind the bench. And to be honest, with all the ice time - and power play time - that Michal Rozsival and Wade Redden had, I thought Tom Renney was behind the bench. Wasn't one of his biggest problems his over-reliance on players who didn't ever help the offense? John Tortorella comes in claiming "change" and "hope" and "a better economy" and we get #33 passing the puck continuously and #6 getting busted on goals time and time and time again.
The first period of tonight's game was sporadically exciting but mostly boring. The second period I enjoyed, very fast, up-and-down. Steve Valiquette was excellent for most of the game. Sean Avery was a monster all game, especially on one shift when he left the penalty box and rocked 3 hits in 10 seconds. The 3rd period made me wish I hadn't napped earlier in the day. It was boring, horrendous hockey with uninspired play.
Wade Redden is making $6.5 million dollars this year (or enough to buy 3,433 people playoff tickets for all 16 home games). Maybe he can take some of that money, catch up with Dorothy, go to Emerald City, and buy some heart.
* * *
I must say, as much as I hate the Hurricane's "cheerleaders," I hate the Versus broadcast even more. I appreciate that they take on hockey and lead in with shows about dead deer, but every Monday night game on that channel makes me cringe. The first 3 minutes were like watching a stop-motion movie (I think Coraline was more fluid than the Versus' choppy camerawork). I knew before the game that the Canadiens fired Guy Carbonneau, I didn't need everyone to tell me throughout the whole game and intermission. I can't stand hearing Eddie Olczyk being referred to as "Edzo."
But above all else, I wish they would leave a non-commercial-time-out alone. Every time the whistle blew for an icing, penalty, or offsides, we were treated to the Marines.com Player of the Game (where you could find out for the 8th time that Rod Brind'amour was in his 600th game as a Hurricane). Or maybe it was the Bud Light Drinkability Stat of the Game.
Ridiculous. Thankfully they only have 2 games left on Versus, and I'll be at one of them so I won't have to watch it.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Oh, Hey, 2009, How Are You?...
Finally, a Ranger game!
It feels like a week ago that Versus treated us to the analytical stylings of Joe Beninati and Billy Jaffe during the Islander-Ranger game at MSG (that I sold my tickets to).
In reality, it was something like 4 and a half days ago, and by chance, Joe Beninati will be at Saturday night's game also, as he is the play-by-play voice of the Washington Capitals.
I truly hope Sam Rosen will be doing the game, but something tells me we'll have to suffer through John Giannone. It's not that I don't like Giannone, it's that a) he is better served as an in-studio analyst and b) Sam Rosen is one of the best in the NHL.
Let's also hope they have an answer for the Capitals and Ovechkin. As we all know, last time they played, they predictably blew a 4-0 lead and lost in overtime. They were lucky to even hold off for that point, as they got up 4-0 then completely stopped playing.
Ryan Callahan and Nigel Dawes have been playing solid lately. Petr Prucha's re-return has proved fruitful, as well. I don't have concrete evidence on what they did over their break, but let's hope it involved champagne, cocktail wieners (you know, pigs-in-the-blankets), and a week-long search for Brandon Dubinsky's Game that he apparently lost on or about Halloween Night and hasn't found since.
Scott Gomez, Wade Redden, and Michal Rozsival playing for their combined $18.5M (this season alone!) would also be nice.
And I hope Glen Sather's New Year's Resolution was to read this here blog in the weeks leading up to July 1 (the start of free agency in the NHL) so he can read our insight. Either that, or he'll be paying Erik Cole $7M next year and Marion Gaborik $9M and we'll group them with that free agent disaster named Redden (whom we predicted would be awful not only this year but 6 years down the line).
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Game of the Year
No, I'm not talking about today's Islanders-Flyers game. I will never understand the logic of scheduling games on holidays where half the working and college worlds will be unable to watch. Sure, kids are off from school, but it doesn't mean parents are automatically going to take their kids to the Coliseum. Hell, I worship hockey, and I wouldn't even spend a personal day at a hockey game. Days off from work are supposed to be spent doing as little as possible.
Anyway. Happened to catch the Red Wings-Penguins game on Versus tonight, and it's everything hockey should be. This isn't just because of the 7-6 final, though the high number of goals certainly doesn't hurt. The game was played at a high intensity throughout, and the Penguins' road comeback from a three-goal deficit is certainly something we're going to remember for a long time. (Note: Islander fans can now stop killing their team over Saturday night's game; even Stanley Cup winners blow three-goal leads at home to Pittsburgh.) With the national spotlight on this game, both teams delivered. If every game was like this, hockey would be back on the map in no time. Oh wait, I forgot... ESPN still won't pay attention because they don't air NHL games. Sorry.
Still, this was one of the best games I can remember seeing. It's probably the best I've seen since the memorable Finals between these two teams. People love to say how hockey used to be better in the '80s because of the high scoring, but it also had no defense and horrific goaltending. Tonight's game had the goals, but also some great defensive work and quality netminding by both Chris Osgood and Marc-Andre Fleury. Just about every player made at least one great play. That's all you can ask for.
As an Islander fan, I know the Stanley Cup isn't on the horizon anytime soon. So all I ask of my team is that someday, they play a game like this one. Give us a game we'll never forget, even if the result is a loss. We deserve at least that much. Same goes for Ranger fans as well. It doesn't need to be a championship. Just three hours of greatness. Is that too much to ask?
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Time For DP To Make "The Leap"
Is this the year Rick DiPietro joins the league's elite?
Sorry to conjure memories of one of the NHL Network's most played ads, but it's a question worth asking. Some would say he's well on his way. Others would argue he's already there. Still, others say he'll never be any good and that his 15-year contract is the worst in NHL history. Clearly, there's no consensus here.
My personal opinion is that DiPietro played like a top-five goaltender (and that's top five in the NHL, not the Atlantic Division) for the first half of the season, then was never the same after "f'ing up his hip" at the Skills Competition. As fate would have it, it was at that same Skills Competition when we saw exactly what Rick DiPietro can be in this league.
Everyone points to his post-All-Star Game fade, but people forget that DP was just about made a star during All-Star weekend. He was probably the athlete the hosts talked to the most during the Skills Competition, he wore a mic during the game, and got hyped up pretty good by Versus. Oh, and he also started the All-Star Game itself and only let in one goal the entire weekend - and that was when one of the idiot announcers was talking to him. Despite being a goalie in the offense-heavy All-Star Game, he was a solid MVP candidate - not too bad for someone many considered lucky to be there.
So it all came crashing down after that. So what? Those who watched the Islanders play in the first half know how many games DiPietro singlehandedly won for them. If the Vezina vote took place in February, he would have gotten some serious consideration, not to mention quite a few votes. That's half a season of stellar goaltending, which is certainly an upgrade over the years when Tommy Salo and Felix Potvin graced us with their presence.
The challenge, now, is translating that half-season of greatness into a full year of Vezina-quality goaltending. Is DiPietro ready?
Well, here's the thing. He pretty much has to be.
The Isles are going to struggle to do much of anything this year, at least as far as making a playoff push goes. If they're going to have a decent year - and they're going to need to in order to attract free agents - DP needs to be spectacular. But it goes deeper than that. DiPietro himself needs to have the kind of year that really puts him on the map across the league. Believe it or not, he was drafted eight years ago. It's time for him to step up - and, at this point, we all pray his hips can keep him up.
And then, there's this. The NHL is dying to shove DiPietro down our throats, a la Crosby and Ovechkin. It just hasn't worked out yet. Why? Because DiPietro hasn't turned in that superstar-caliber year that would put his team over the top. Look at the aforementioned Crosby and Ovechkin. Crosby took a team that was headed to Kansas City and made it a Cup Finalist in three years. In that same amount of time, Ovechkin took a crappy Capitals team with crappy uniforms and filled the Verizon Center like never before. These teams are no longer bottom-feeders; they're exciting teams that people want to watch. This is why they're on NBC every Sunday.
Could DP preside over such a rebuilding act? In terms of hockey, doubtful. In terms of image, though, it's not that far off. If the Islanders can stay competitive this year and DP has a great season, that's a start. The following year, if the Islanders manage to make the playoffs and steal a round, then the stage is set for DiPietro to really set the hockey world ablaze. That's something the Islanders need. It's one thing to have a goalie locked up for the next twelve years; it's an entirely different thing to have one of the game's best players for the rest of his great career. We're hoping for the latter.
We're also hoping that this year is the continuation of what we saw more often than not last year - game-saving plays, smart goaltending, and quality leadership. If DiPietro can make "the leap" this year, it won't only help his stature out, but it'll drastically change the perception of the New York Islanders. Instead of being a laughingstock as they're said to be now, they will be seen as a team on the rise. And that just might be the kind of thing that can get the ball rolling.
Sorry to conjure memories of one of the NHL Network's most played ads, but it's a question worth asking. Some would say he's well on his way. Others would argue he's already there. Still, others say he'll never be any good and that his 15-year contract is the worst in NHL history. Clearly, there's no consensus here.
My personal opinion is that DiPietro played like a top-five goaltender (and that's top five in the NHL, not the Atlantic Division) for the first half of the season, then was never the same after "f'ing up his hip" at the Skills Competition. As fate would have it, it was at that same Skills Competition when we saw exactly what Rick DiPietro can be in this league.
Everyone points to his post-All-Star Game fade, but people forget that DP was just about made a star during All-Star weekend. He was probably the athlete the hosts talked to the most during the Skills Competition, he wore a mic during the game, and got hyped up pretty good by Versus. Oh, and he also started the All-Star Game itself and only let in one goal the entire weekend - and that was when one of the idiot announcers was talking to him. Despite being a goalie in the offense-heavy All-Star Game, he was a solid MVP candidate - not too bad for someone many considered lucky to be there.
So it all came crashing down after that. So what? Those who watched the Islanders play in the first half know how many games DiPietro singlehandedly won for them. If the Vezina vote took place in February, he would have gotten some serious consideration, not to mention quite a few votes. That's half a season of stellar goaltending, which is certainly an upgrade over the years when Tommy Salo and Felix Potvin graced us with their presence.
The challenge, now, is translating that half-season of greatness into a full year of Vezina-quality goaltending. Is DiPietro ready?
Well, here's the thing. He pretty much has to be.
The Isles are going to struggle to do much of anything this year, at least as far as making a playoff push goes. If they're going to have a decent year - and they're going to need to in order to attract free agents - DP needs to be spectacular. But it goes deeper than that. DiPietro himself needs to have the kind of year that really puts him on the map across the league. Believe it or not, he was drafted eight years ago. It's time for him to step up - and, at this point, we all pray his hips can keep him up.
And then, there's this. The NHL is dying to shove DiPietro down our throats, a la Crosby and Ovechkin. It just hasn't worked out yet. Why? Because DiPietro hasn't turned in that superstar-caliber year that would put his team over the top. Look at the aforementioned Crosby and Ovechkin. Crosby took a team that was headed to Kansas City and made it a Cup Finalist in three years. In that same amount of time, Ovechkin took a crappy Capitals team with crappy uniforms and filled the Verizon Center like never before. These teams are no longer bottom-feeders; they're exciting teams that people want to watch. This is why they're on NBC every Sunday.
Could DP preside over such a rebuilding act? In terms of hockey, doubtful. In terms of image, though, it's not that far off. If the Islanders can stay competitive this year and DP has a great season, that's a start. The following year, if the Islanders manage to make the playoffs and steal a round, then the stage is set for DiPietro to really set the hockey world ablaze. That's something the Islanders need. It's one thing to have a goalie locked up for the next twelve years; it's an entirely different thing to have one of the game's best players for the rest of his great career. We're hoping for the latter.
We're also hoping that this year is the continuation of what we saw more often than not last year - game-saving plays, smart goaltending, and quality leadership. If DiPietro can make "the leap" this year, it won't only help his stature out, but it'll drastically change the perception of the New York Islanders. Instead of being a laughingstock as they're said to be now, they will be seen as a team on the rise. And that just might be the kind of thing that can get the ball rolling.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Your Guide To The 2008 NHL Entry Draft
Tomorrow night, young prospects from all over the world will convene at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. The first round will be shown in prime-time on Versus. Look no further than The Rivalry for your one-stop shop for information about the Draft. We're not going to do a mock draft or anything like that; after all, the one thing in common about all the draftees is that we don't know anything about any of them. That said, we'll still be watching, as we think all hockey fans should.
And away we go!
When and where is the draft taking place?
The 2008 NHL Entry Draft will be at the ScotiaBank Place in Ottawa. The Draft will be split up into two parts. The first round will take place Friday night at 7 PM. The Draft resumes Saturday morning at 10 AM, when the remaining six rounds will take place.
How can I watch the Draft?
For the second straight year, the first round is airing in prime-time on Versus. Saturday's portion of the draft will be broadcast on the NHL Network.
What can we expect to see?
We have yet to see even one second of footage of any of the top prospects at the Draft. So we have no idea of who will be picked where, which teams are likely to take what players, or any of the actual "draft" stuff. However, there are a couple of picks we're willing to take to the bank. And, since it's hard to get excited about a player we might not even see for five years, these items provide the most entertaining part about the draft.
And away we go!
When and where is the draft taking place?
The 2008 NHL Entry Draft will be at the ScotiaBank Place in Ottawa. The Draft will be split up into two parts. The first round will take place Friday night at 7 PM. The Draft resumes Saturday morning at 10 AM, when the remaining six rounds will take place.
How can I watch the Draft?
For the second straight year, the first round is airing in prime-time on Versus. Saturday's portion of the draft will be broadcast on the NHL Network.
What can we expect to see?
We have yet to see even one second of footage of any of the top prospects at the Draft. So we have no idea of who will be picked where, which teams are likely to take what players, or any of the actual "draft" stuff. However, there are a couple of picks we're willing to take to the bank. And, since it's hard to get excited about a player we might not even see for five years, these items provide the most entertaining part about the draft.
- At least thirty mentions that this is "the deepest NHL Entry Draft in years".
- An awkward introduction by Gary Bettman where he thanks the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins for great TV ratings... err, a great Stanley Cup Final.
- Steven Stamkos showing up to the Draft with his parents, wearing a suit that combines the colors black, blue, and silver.
- Only one team will provide its' first-round pick with a jersey with the player's actual number on it - the Tampa Bay Lightning (Stamkos, #91).
- Each team will send a gaggle of executives and one alumni member to the Draft. The group will make a 5-minute speech, congratulating the Red Wings on their Stanley Cup win and thank the Ottawa Senators and city of Ottawa for their hospitality. Then, the pick will be announced, and the last name of the player will definitely be mispronounced.
- Lots of footage of the draftees, accompanied by lots of awful jerseys and lots of corporate sponsors all over those jerseys.
- Lots of bad interviews with players who are either nervous wrecks or are overly relieved to be chosen (or both). The phrases "happy to be here", "the organization", and "looking forward to training camp" will be said approximately ten thousand times. Each.
- Versus will air that Dockers commercial they showed a million times during the playoffs another fifty times on Friday night alone.
- Live cut-ins to Draft Parties around the country, where at least one team's fanbase will boo the pick of a player that they've never even seen play.
- Plenty of lagged interviews with GMs who will state that they got who they wanted, even if it's a blatant lie.
What will the local teams be doing for the Draft?
The Islanders, no strangers to high draft picks, will be hosting a Draft Party at the Coliseum. John Buccigross gets the night off from the Boston sports circlejerk that is SportsCenter and is slated to be the MC. Jack Hillen and Robin Figren, with a combined two games of NHL experience between them, will be there to greet fans. The event will feature interviews with Garth Snow, Ted Nolan, and whomever the Islanders pick.
The Rangers... um... don't get to have a Draft Party anymore now that the NHL hates them and wants to kick Charles Dolan out of the league.
As for the actual Draft?
Well, the Islanders' draft promotion says it all. "2000: Rick DiPietro. 2006: Kyle Okposo. Who's next?" I guess they'd like us to forget about Raffi Torres (traded for Janne Niinimaa), Jason Spezza (traded for Alexei Yashin), Robert Nilsson (traded for Ryan Smyth) Petteri Nokelainen (traded for the immortal Ben Walter), and Ryan O'Marra (also traded for Smyth). In other words, Isles fans, don't get your hopes up.
The Rangers have recovered from the era of Pavel Brendl and Jamie Lundmark to have a very impressive draft record in recent years, particularly in the later rounds. If they don't wow you early on, just be patient - they'll get at least one or two solid NHL players in this draft, which is more than can be said for a lot of teams out there.
Will there be any trades?
Tough to say. We have all heard for months about how deep this Draft is and how nobody wants to trade their picks. Is this true, or was all that talk simply posturing for a bigger deal later on? We'll find out this weekend. The truth is, the sure thing of a quality player now means more to GMs than a player who might be good down the line, especially with a lot of teams feeling like they're just one or two players away. This year's free agent crop is pretty weak, which might force a few hands this weekend, so don't be shocked if there's a good amount of trade activity. However, don't be surprised if teams opt to simply take the best players they can with the picks they already have.
Anything else?
Nope. We hope you enjoy the Draft; after all, Versus could use good ratings so that they can bring us more quality NHL action next season. Seriously, even though these prospects are all mysteries to us, we still watch the Draft each year and are entertained by it. Hey, why not? It's hockey.
Oh, and if you actually care about who's good in the Draft, here's TSN's Top 60 Prospects. Enjoy!
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Proud Of Our Game
This Stanley Cup Final has had a lot of everything. Great action. Ridiculous ratings. The awkwardness of Ed Olczyk pretending he doesn't hold a grudge against the team that fired him. 24-7 coverage on the NHL Network, which is bordering on annoying.
But for us hockey fans, it's a little bit more than all that.
Think back to three years ago... or, technically speaking, two years and eight months ago. The NHL was just coming back as "The New NHL". A few months prior, the league held its' annual draft in a hotel conference room. The league had just literally given its' broadcast TV rights to NBC for no money. Perhaps worse than that, they had just signed with a network called the Outdoor Life Network for cable coverage. Of course, nobody got the Outdoor Life Network. ESPN effectively boycotted the NHL, pushing hockey virtually off the map in America.
Look at our game now. The quality of play is the best it's been since the mid-90s. The NHL boasts legitimate superstars that people who don't watch hockey actually care about. The OLN changed its' name to Versus and became an all-sports network, with hockey as its' centerpiece. The NHL held the Winter Classic this year, and what was once a one-off game in Edmonton has since become an annual affair whose destination is savagely debated. The NHL has its' own network that shows hockey throughout the day. Perhaps most remarkably of all, TV ratings are better than they were before the lockout.
How did the NHL do this? Consider for a second that the NHL built itself up from pretty much nothing to reach the highest points it's reached in a decade. And it was all without the promotional arm of ESPN shoving the sport down people's throats. What were the keys?
- The Lockout. It sounds stupid, but it's true. The lockout itself did a world of good for the game. The old NHL was broken. Too much trapping, too much clutching and grabbing, not enough scoring. The economics of the game were totally out of control, to the point that the league would have been in serious trouble without the work stoppage.
Over the last three years, many have asked if the lockout was worth it. Looking at the game now, I'd have to say it definitely was. Just about everything good about hockey is because the league took the opportunity to totally reinvent itself. Would Sidney Crosby be such a breakout superstar under the old rules? I doubt it.
- Versus. Of all the insults the major sports media throws at hockey - and God knows there are more than a few - the leader of the pack seems to be shots at the NHL's TV deal with Versus. Sure, the channel was hard to get at first; I didn't get it until Game 1 of the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals. But now, it's available on just about every digital cable system, meaning that argument doesn't hold too much water.
What's most important about Versus' contribution is the way they present the game. When the NHL was on ESPN, you got the impression that The WorldWide Leader was more concerned with cutting to SportsCenter or a late NBA game than going in-depth into hockey. That's not a problem on Versus, who has really given the NHL a home. We get weekly games on Monday and Tuesday with Versus, along with proper pre-game and post-game shows. That goes a long way toward building loyalty with viewers. Not to mention the fact that Versus pretty much shuts down in April and May to show every playoff game they can possibly get on air. If the NHL were still on ESPN, their games would be bumped onto ESPN Classic so they could show more NBA shows on ESPN and ESPN2.
(Speaking of ESPN, doesn't it say something that even they have been forced to significantly up their coverage of the NHL these playoffs? That might be the biggest sign of all that the NHL is back.)
- Pittsburgh vs. Detroit. The game has been improving steadily over the past three seasons, both in quality and in building an audience. But it takes casual viewers to make something a hit, and this year's Stanley Cup Final was the perfect way to showcase "The New NHL". It's not so much that hockey died in America as much as nobody had a reason to care about it. I'll admit, it's hard to sell a casual sports fan on the merits of the Edmonton Oilers or Ottawa Senators. But the Penguins, with all their star power, and the perennial giants in Detroit? That's just too much.
And the proof has been in the pudding; in this case, TV ratings. The night the Detroit Pistons were bounced from the NBA playoffs, more people in Detroit were watching hockey. This year's ratings have almost doubled last year's across the board, and Game 5's rating is comparable with what the NBA has been getting for their playoffs. Mind you, this is with infinitely less promotion and media coverage. And if you incorporate Canadian viewers, it's quite likely that more North Americans are watching the Stanley Cup than the NBA.
As happy as I am to see the Finals go one more game - even if I was asleep when the goal was scored - I'm so much happier for the game of hockey. Even after the lockout, just about all of us have silently wondered if the NHL would make it. This is a tribute to all of those fans who kept watching in spite of the insults of just about everybody else. Finally, we have our day in the sun - we've certainly earned it.
But for us hockey fans, it's a little bit more than all that.
Think back to three years ago... or, technically speaking, two years and eight months ago. The NHL was just coming back as "The New NHL". A few months prior, the league held its' annual draft in a hotel conference room. The league had just literally given its' broadcast TV rights to NBC for no money. Perhaps worse than that, they had just signed with a network called the Outdoor Life Network for cable coverage. Of course, nobody got the Outdoor Life Network. ESPN effectively boycotted the NHL, pushing hockey virtually off the map in America.
Look at our game now. The quality of play is the best it's been since the mid-90s. The NHL boasts legitimate superstars that people who don't watch hockey actually care about. The OLN changed its' name to Versus and became an all-sports network, with hockey as its' centerpiece. The NHL held the Winter Classic this year, and what was once a one-off game in Edmonton has since become an annual affair whose destination is savagely debated. The NHL has its' own network that shows hockey throughout the day. Perhaps most remarkably of all, TV ratings are better than they were before the lockout.
How did the NHL do this? Consider for a second that the NHL built itself up from pretty much nothing to reach the highest points it's reached in a decade. And it was all without the promotional arm of ESPN shoving the sport down people's throats. What were the keys?
- The Lockout. It sounds stupid, but it's true. The lockout itself did a world of good for the game. The old NHL was broken. Too much trapping, too much clutching and grabbing, not enough scoring. The economics of the game were totally out of control, to the point that the league would have been in serious trouble without the work stoppage.
Over the last three years, many have asked if the lockout was worth it. Looking at the game now, I'd have to say it definitely was. Just about everything good about hockey is because the league took the opportunity to totally reinvent itself. Would Sidney Crosby be such a breakout superstar under the old rules? I doubt it.
- Versus. Of all the insults the major sports media throws at hockey - and God knows there are more than a few - the leader of the pack seems to be shots at the NHL's TV deal with Versus. Sure, the channel was hard to get at first; I didn't get it until Game 1 of the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals. But now, it's available on just about every digital cable system, meaning that argument doesn't hold too much water.
What's most important about Versus' contribution is the way they present the game. When the NHL was on ESPN, you got the impression that The WorldWide Leader was more concerned with cutting to SportsCenter or a late NBA game than going in-depth into hockey. That's not a problem on Versus, who has really given the NHL a home. We get weekly games on Monday and Tuesday with Versus, along with proper pre-game and post-game shows. That goes a long way toward building loyalty with viewers. Not to mention the fact that Versus pretty much shuts down in April and May to show every playoff game they can possibly get on air. If the NHL were still on ESPN, their games would be bumped onto ESPN Classic so they could show more NBA shows on ESPN and ESPN2.
(Speaking of ESPN, doesn't it say something that even they have been forced to significantly up their coverage of the NHL these playoffs? That might be the biggest sign of all that the NHL is back.)
- Pittsburgh vs. Detroit. The game has been improving steadily over the past three seasons, both in quality and in building an audience. But it takes casual viewers to make something a hit, and this year's Stanley Cup Final was the perfect way to showcase "The New NHL". It's not so much that hockey died in America as much as nobody had a reason to care about it. I'll admit, it's hard to sell a casual sports fan on the merits of the Edmonton Oilers or Ottawa Senators. But the Penguins, with all their star power, and the perennial giants in Detroit? That's just too much.
And the proof has been in the pudding; in this case, TV ratings. The night the Detroit Pistons were bounced from the NBA playoffs, more people in Detroit were watching hockey. This year's ratings have almost doubled last year's across the board, and Game 5's rating is comparable with what the NBA has been getting for their playoffs. Mind you, this is with infinitely less promotion and media coverage. And if you incorporate Canadian viewers, it's quite likely that more North Americans are watching the Stanley Cup than the NBA.
As happy as I am to see the Finals go one more game - even if I was asleep when the goal was scored - I'm so much happier for the game of hockey. Even after the lockout, just about all of us have silently wondered if the NHL would make it. This is a tribute to all of those fans who kept watching in spite of the insults of just about everybody else. Finally, we have our day in the sun - we've certainly earned it.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Awesome
I'm trying to watch Sharks-Stars on Versus. It's on the regular channel, but not on the HD feed. Why not? Turns out they're showing some golf tournament that happened earlier today. I know it happened earlier today because it's sunny outside on TV. They've since gone into a rousing telecast of "Golf Central".
Now, I understand that Versus and The Golf Channel share an HD channel, and I understand that Versus has bumped golf programming in the past. I also understand that Versus has done a ridiculously good job with this year's playoffs. But come on! I really wanted to watch this game, but HD is hard to live without when you get to experience it on a daily basis. So, thanks to the transgressions of Versus and/or The Golf Channel, I'm stuck watching the game in a small box on the bottom right hand corner of my screen. The Mets are on the West Coast and in HD; obviously, they get the nod here.
Again, not knocking Versus here. I'm just nitpicking. To prove it, here's a tidbit about Versus that you won't hear reported anywhere - their ratings are better than the ratings ESPN2 got when they broadcast the NHL before the lockout. Given the issues with distribution and Versus' less-than-favorable position on most TV dials, that's a great achievement. Kudos to all involved.
Now, I understand that Versus and The Golf Channel share an HD channel, and I understand that Versus has bumped golf programming in the past. I also understand that Versus has done a ridiculously good job with this year's playoffs. But come on! I really wanted to watch this game, but HD is hard to live without when you get to experience it on a daily basis. So, thanks to the transgressions of Versus and/or The Golf Channel, I'm stuck watching the game in a small box on the bottom right hand corner of my screen. The Mets are on the West Coast and in HD; obviously, they get the nod here.
Again, not knocking Versus here. I'm just nitpicking. To prove it, here's a tidbit about Versus that you won't hear reported anywhere - their ratings are better than the ratings ESPN2 got when they broadcast the NHL before the lockout. Given the issues with distribution and Versus' less-than-favorable position on most TV dials, that's a great achievement. Kudos to all involved.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Round 2... So Far
It's a bit early to make judgments about the second round. But why not make them anyway?
- Detroit-Colorado: This series is pretty much done already. Jose Theodore's magic is gone, and I don't mean Propecia. Peter Forsberg is injured yet again, and the only thing that could save the Avs is a big win at home in Game 3. However, I'm not too optimistic. I can't see Colorado winning more than one game the rest of the way. They sure as hell aren't going to be winning any games at Joe Louis Arena anytime soon.
- Montreal-Philadelphia: It's a shame this series isn't getting more publicity. It's going to be a good one. Montreal's offense vs. Philadelphia's physical play. You can tell that even though this series is going to be a war, the goaltending is what's going to decide it. Montreal might have won tonight if not for the stellar play of Martin Biron. Similarly, Carey Price will most likely be stealing one for the Habs at some point in this series. It's very possible that the winner of this series will have the Token Hot Goalie required to make a Cup run.
- Pittsburgh-Rangers: The aforementioned Habs-Flyers tilt might actually be the more competitive series, but this is the one that NBC and Versus are creaming their pants over. We already explained the appeal of this series, and it's great that we get to see it. The blood is already starting to boil, and it might not be long before the chippiness reaches the levels we saw in the Rangers-Devils series. This is one of those series where it's not going to really matter who wins to the neutral observer - it's just great to see these two teams beat the hell out of each other, making the young guys on both teams better and watching this become a big-time rivalry. You just hope the refs don't become bigger stars than the players, as was the case in Game 1.
- San Jose-Dallas: I can't get into Dallas for some reason. But I love watching the Sharks play. And if the Sharks want to reach their potential this year, they will have to dispose of a tough Stars team. Most people expected San Jose to take Game 1 at home, but they lost it in overtime. They should bounce back; however, this series is far from a cakewalk. Hell, everyone thought Calgary would be easy pickings for the Sharks, and look at how that turned out. I still see the Sharks winning this series, but it's going to test their mettle big-time. After all, it's hard to imagine San Jose doing well against Detroit coming off two slugfest series. As for Dallas, now that they've captured home ice, you never know... but I don't see the Sharks going down too easily.
Now that Versus is showing nearly every game, my Center Ice package is pretty much useless. It's been a good run. It's also really hard to watch hockey in bed while considering the needs of a sleeping (or crying, as the case may be) baby. Anyway, we'll see about re-upping on Center Ice next year - I really enjoyed seeing the West Coast games I never would have seen otherwise. One thing's for sure, though - I absolutely cannot live without the NHL Network.
- Detroit-Colorado: This series is pretty much done already. Jose Theodore's magic is gone, and I don't mean Propecia. Peter Forsberg is injured yet again, and the only thing that could save the Avs is a big win at home in Game 3. However, I'm not too optimistic. I can't see Colorado winning more than one game the rest of the way. They sure as hell aren't going to be winning any games at Joe Louis Arena anytime soon.
- Montreal-Philadelphia: It's a shame this series isn't getting more publicity. It's going to be a good one. Montreal's offense vs. Philadelphia's physical play. You can tell that even though this series is going to be a war, the goaltending is what's going to decide it. Montreal might have won tonight if not for the stellar play of Martin Biron. Similarly, Carey Price will most likely be stealing one for the Habs at some point in this series. It's very possible that the winner of this series will have the Token Hot Goalie required to make a Cup run.
- Pittsburgh-Rangers: The aforementioned Habs-Flyers tilt might actually be the more competitive series, but this is the one that NBC and Versus are creaming their pants over. We already explained the appeal of this series, and it's great that we get to see it. The blood is already starting to boil, and it might not be long before the chippiness reaches the levels we saw in the Rangers-Devils series. This is one of those series where it's not going to really matter who wins to the neutral observer - it's just great to see these two teams beat the hell out of each other, making the young guys on both teams better and watching this become a big-time rivalry. You just hope the refs don't become bigger stars than the players, as was the case in Game 1.
- San Jose-Dallas: I can't get into Dallas for some reason. But I love watching the Sharks play. And if the Sharks want to reach their potential this year, they will have to dispose of a tough Stars team. Most people expected San Jose to take Game 1 at home, but they lost it in overtime. They should bounce back; however, this series is far from a cakewalk. Hell, everyone thought Calgary would be easy pickings for the Sharks, and look at how that turned out. I still see the Sharks winning this series, but it's going to test their mettle big-time. After all, it's hard to imagine San Jose doing well against Detroit coming off two slugfest series. As for Dallas, now that they've captured home ice, you never know... but I don't see the Sharks going down too easily.
Now that Versus is showing nearly every game, my Center Ice package is pretty much useless. It's been a good run. It's also really hard to watch hockey in bed while considering the needs of a sleeping (or crying, as the case may be) baby. Anyway, we'll see about re-upping on Center Ice next year - I really enjoyed seeing the West Coast games I never would have seen otherwise. One thing's for sure, though - I absolutely cannot live without the NHL Network.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
So Long To The Bottom Eight
The first round is complete. We began with sixteen teams; now, only eight remain. So, what of the other eight? We won't be hearing from these teams until the Draft (unless any of them fire their coaches), so let's devote some space to where they may be going from here. Think of it as sort of a eulogy for those teams who couldn't make it out of the first round.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
- 3)Washington (Lost to Philadelphia in 7). Heading into these playoffs, I saw the Caps as this year's version of last year's Penguins - a young team that had the potential to be great, but wasn't ready to make a playoff run just yet. I can't say I saw the Capitals and Flyers going at it in overtime of Game 7, but that's hockey for you. It's a shame that the Caps lost, but they have a tremendous future ahead of them.
- 4)New Jersey (Lost to Rangers in 5). The Devils seemed to think they'd be able to beat the Rangers if they simply pounded them into submission and let Martin Brodeur take care of everything else. Maybe they could have done better with a more offense-oriented philosophy. But it doesn't matter now. Brodeur wasn't as sharp as he needed to be, and maybe that's because he's played over 70 games in every season but one since the lockout - and I mean the lockout in 1995.
- 7)Ottawa (Lost to Pittsburgh in 4). What can you say about Ottawa that hasn't already been said about the 2007 Mets? The latest in Ottawa is that Ray Emery is on the trading block - tell us something we don't know, Bryan Murray. He's a lock to end up going somewhere else and excelling. Anyway, it's hard to imagine the Senators bringing back the same team next year. Something's got to change.
- 8)Boston (Lost to Montreal in 7). The Bruins had a great season, especially given their talent level, so you really can't fault them for going out in the first round. Who knows where they go from here. In my eyes, the most important thing they did (aside from getting three home games worth of playoff revenue) was generate a good amount of interest in hockey in Boston. Milan Lucic seems perfect for Boston, and if they can build around him, they may have a winner sooner rather than later.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
- 3)Minnesota (Lost to Colorado in 6). The Wild seem to have settled nicely into the "Great Regular Season, Lousy Playoff Team" mold. It's a shame that Marian Gaborik's prime has been pretty much wasted in Minnesota - he's one of the league's best, and yet nobody knows about him. Minnesota deserves a great team; you'd hope the Wild can acquire the pieces necessary to make a Cup run before Gaborik's best years are behind him.
- 4)Anaheim (Lost to Dallas in 6). So it turns out that Scott Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne impersonating Roger Clemens had the same effect - a first-round exit. I still can't figure this team out. J.S. Giguere is unstoppable in the playoffs in odd-numbered years (2003, 2007), yet is absolutely a sieve in even-numbered years (2006, 2008). If the NHL is serious about reducing the size of goaltender equipment, Giguere may be in serious trouble next year.
- 7)Calgary (Lost to San Jose in 7). In March, I predicted Calgary as a sleeper in the playoffs. In April, I picked the Sharks to beat the Flames in five games. I guess I should have stuck with my gut. The Flames did a tremendous job against the Sharks, and they very nearly pulled off the upset. They sort of remind me of the Islanders in that they play teams tough, but don't seem to ever be able to put forth a serious Cup threat. One thing to watch this off-season is a potential feud between coach Mike "Captain Hook" Keenan and goalie Miikka Kiprusoff. Kiprusoff was benched twice in this series; I'm sure he didn't appreciate that.
- 8)Nashville (Lost to Detroit in 6). Another team that always gets in, draws a crappy seed, and gets bounced in the first round. It's unfortunate because even though people love to trash Nashville and its fanbase, they draw 17,000 a game and probably could get behind a great team. The problem is building that team. This is a team that has brought in Peter Forsberg, Paul Kariya, and countless others over the past few years; none of them could get the job done. What's the answer? They may find it on July 1.
Now that we've gotten all that out of the way, let's look at the first round predictions. To make things easier, let's do this with a points system. We'll give one point out for picking the winning team, and four extra points if the correct number of games were picked. If the number of games is only one off (i.e. picking Pittsburgh in 5 games), that gives out three points. Within two games, that's two points. One point would be given if a sweep was predicted and the series went seven games, or vice versa. And, just to be fair, we'll give one point if a seven-game series was predicted and actually happened, but the wrong team won. Got it? Good.
In the East, Zach had Montreal in 5 (three points), Ottawa in 7 (zero), Washington in 7 (one), Rangers in 7 (three). That's seven points. Out West, he had Detroit in 5 (four), San Jose in 5 (three), Colorado in 7 (four), and Anaheim in 6 (zero). Eleven points in the West means Zach gets a score of 18.
For the East, Bryan had Montreal in 6 (four points), Pittsburgh in 4 (five), Philadelphia in 7 (five), Rangers in 6 (four). Eighteen points so far. In the West, he had Detroit in 6 (five), San Jose in 7 (three), Colorado in 7 (four), and Anaheim in 7 (zero). Twelve points out West gives Bryan a total of 30.
So, for the first round, the final ends up being 30-18 in favor of yours truly. Let's see how the second round shapes up. We should have predictions up sometime soon. Or at least Zach will. The new baby runs my life. Tonight I got a taste of what's in store for me - I wanted to get home from the hospital in time for Sharks-Flames. So I told my wife I'd stay until she fed the baby one last time. Of course, it took two hours for the baby to stay awake long enough to be fed. Then, we had to change her, wheel her down to the nursery, get my wife into bed, get dinner for myself, then get home. I turned on Versus just in time to see the intro to WEC Wreckage. How nice.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
The NHL's Dilemma
I know a lot of Ranger fans aren't exactly looking forward to a potential first-round matchup with Pittsburgh. You may have read Zach state earlier that he's hoping for a date with the Flyers. Maybe some others are hoping to see the Capitals or Canadiens; they'd probably really like to meet Boston, but it's not feasible at this time.
Pittsburgh would probably be the toughest matchup for the Rangers. But it'd be a dream come true for the NHL, not to mention those of us who live and breathe the game. Imagine the marketing fiesta the NHL would have with this one. The biggest U.S. market takes on the biggest star in hockey. Two of the league's best young goalies in Henrik Lundqvist and Marc-Andre Fleury. Hell, most people would be entertained by Sean Avery and Jarko Ruutu trying to kill each other. Can't miss, right?
Well, that's part of the problem. If you look at this situation from an objective perspective, you might say to yourself that you'd rather see the Rangers and Penguins meet in the conference finals. After all, why waste such a marquee matchup in the second round when it could draw big ratings in the third? That's when you have to remind yourself of one fundamental fact - it doesn't matter when these teams play because nobody's really watching anyway.
Forget that ratings increased significantly this year, not just for all three local teams, but on Versus and NBC. We're still fighting an uphill battle against the mainstream sports media. For every sign of progress we see - Steve Somers began his WFAN radio show on Friday with a Rangers monologue - there's another reminder of where the sport really stands. In this case, it'd be a 20-20 Update just after Somers' monologue in which every MLB score was read before the NHL was even mentioned. That's right, the epic tilt between the Kansas City Royals and Oakland Athletics took precedence over the deciding game in the Rangers-Devils series. And this is on a station that broadcasts Devils games!
With the NBA starting its playoffs this weekend, publicity will be even tougher to come by. Speaking of basketball, your lead sports story on Saturday? The Knicks' search for a new head coach. Never mind that Rangers actually had better ratings on MSG this year - and we all know how important the almighty ratings are. Even though I don't know a single person who watches the NBA regularly (same goes for a lot of people), the NBA always seems like it's such a bigger deal than the NHL. I'm not going to even pull out the ESPN card here, as tempting as it is; they've actually done a pretty good job with their playoff coverage so far. Then again, when you expect nothing and you get a little something, that little something seems like a pretty big deal.
That's where the Rangers and Penguins come in.
Everyone talks about how great it would be if Crosby's Penguins met up with Alexander Ovechkin and the Capitals in the playoffs. Truth is, Pittsburgh would kill the Capitals at this point in time. You're talking about five games, maybe six. But the Rangers and Penguins? Now we're talking. You're looking at seven intense games with plenty of offense, great goaltending, and some pretty good physical play. You'll have two great fanbases filling up the arenas, getting fans and non-fans alike whipped into a frenzy, creating a great buzz about the series and giving the NHL some much-needed publicity. And that's all we're looking for right now. Sure, New York City and Pittsburgh isn't a great traditional rivalry, but once emotions reach a boiling point after two or three competitive games, it'll be the series to watch.
I'm not saying the Rangers and Penguins would solve the NHL's ratings problems. But it might be a pretty good start towards increasing the league's fanbase to a respectable level. At this point, anything that gets hockey a more prominent spot on the back pages of New York is a good thing.
Pittsburgh would probably be the toughest matchup for the Rangers. But it'd be a dream come true for the NHL, not to mention those of us who live and breathe the game. Imagine the marketing fiesta the NHL would have with this one. The biggest U.S. market takes on the biggest star in hockey. Two of the league's best young goalies in Henrik Lundqvist and Marc-Andre Fleury. Hell, most people would be entertained by Sean Avery and Jarko Ruutu trying to kill each other. Can't miss, right?
Well, that's part of the problem. If you look at this situation from an objective perspective, you might say to yourself that you'd rather see the Rangers and Penguins meet in the conference finals. After all, why waste such a marquee matchup in the second round when it could draw big ratings in the third? That's when you have to remind yourself of one fundamental fact - it doesn't matter when these teams play because nobody's really watching anyway.
Forget that ratings increased significantly this year, not just for all three local teams, but on Versus and NBC. We're still fighting an uphill battle against the mainstream sports media. For every sign of progress we see - Steve Somers began his WFAN radio show on Friday with a Rangers monologue - there's another reminder of where the sport really stands. In this case, it'd be a 20-20 Update just after Somers' monologue in which every MLB score was read before the NHL was even mentioned. That's right, the epic tilt between the Kansas City Royals and Oakland Athletics took precedence over the deciding game in the Rangers-Devils series. And this is on a station that broadcasts Devils games!
With the NBA starting its playoffs this weekend, publicity will be even tougher to come by. Speaking of basketball, your lead sports story on Saturday? The Knicks' search for a new head coach. Never mind that Rangers actually had better ratings on MSG this year - and we all know how important the almighty ratings are. Even though I don't know a single person who watches the NBA regularly (same goes for a lot of people), the NBA always seems like it's such a bigger deal than the NHL. I'm not going to even pull out the ESPN card here, as tempting as it is; they've actually done a pretty good job with their playoff coverage so far. Then again, when you expect nothing and you get a little something, that little something seems like a pretty big deal.
That's where the Rangers and Penguins come in.
Everyone talks about how great it would be if Crosby's Penguins met up with Alexander Ovechkin and the Capitals in the playoffs. Truth is, Pittsburgh would kill the Capitals at this point in time. You're talking about five games, maybe six. But the Rangers and Penguins? Now we're talking. You're looking at seven intense games with plenty of offense, great goaltending, and some pretty good physical play. You'll have two great fanbases filling up the arenas, getting fans and non-fans alike whipped into a frenzy, creating a great buzz about the series and giving the NHL some much-needed publicity. And that's all we're looking for right now. Sure, New York City and Pittsburgh isn't a great traditional rivalry, but once emotions reach a boiling point after two or three competitive games, it'll be the series to watch.
I'm not saying the Rangers and Penguins would solve the NHL's ratings problems. But it might be a pretty good start towards increasing the league's fanbase to a respectable level. At this point, anything that gets hockey a more prominent spot on the back pages of New York is a good thing.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Random Notes - Again
1) Rough night on TV last night. I was so looking forward to San Jose-Calgary, but it was on Versus. Which meant it wasn't being shown on Center Ice. So when Philadelphia-Washington ran late, I couldn't catch the late game, even if I paid $169 for the right to watch every game this season. Thankfully, nothing really happened in the first period... or so we're told.
2) At the close of last night's studio show on Versus, Rick DiPietro said he hopes the Islanders miss the playoffs so he could come back and do more analysis. He was joking. I think. Anyway, he didn't do too badly. That said, I still maintain that if the Isles could have gotten into the playoffs, DP could have stolen them a round. And after that, nobody would have had a problem with an Islanders-Rangers Winter Classic. Still, nice to see DP marketed as a star - the NHL needs to do more things like this.
3) Speaking of the Islanders, kudos to their TV team. You can always tell who the good announcers and analysts are by their post-season assignments; that is, if you're sitting at home during the playoffs, you're probably nothing special. The Islanders have Deb Placey (aka Deb Kaufman) and Butch Goring in the MSG studio - not the biggest deal, but it's something. Howie Rose is doing his usual great job with the Mets on WFAN, and Billy Jaffe is working for Versus. We're spoiled by good announcers in the New York area; I, for one, certainly appreciate it. I still miss Gary Thorne on SportsChannel and ESPN, though.
4) The new trend this year in the playoffs is (home team color)-outs. It used to be something you'd see in Winnipeg/Phoenix, Calgary, and pretty much nowhere else. The Islanders did it in 2002, but never did it again. Then the Miami Heat did it when they won the NBA Finals two years ago, and now everyone's back on the bandwagon. I'll admit, it looks pretty cool. No, it looks really cool.
But it's sort of teetering on the point of ridiculousness now. The Flyers had an orange-out in their two home games, which was in direct response to the red-out of the Capitals. But let's not forget that both of these teams ditched their respective colors fairly recently, thanks in large part to the all-important "focus groups" and "key demographics". The Caps changed to a blue motif in 1995, while the Flyers went to black uniforms in 2000. Now, everyone is supposed to forget all about that and embrace these colors? Sounds gimmicky to me.
Now that the trend has started, though, don't look for it to stop anytime soon. Even the Dallas Stars have gotten in on the action, calling for a black-out. As if hockey doesn't have enough trouble drawing fans. Now everyone will think all hockey fans are angry emo kids. Ugh. Anyway, in the link, the excellent Greg Wyshynski asks the question that matters most to the fans - if you've put a ton of money into a white jersey of your favorite player, why should you now be forced to leave it at home?
And, finally...
5) It's crazy to think that after four relatively even-played games, the Rangers could win the series tonight. And the only loss on their record would be in overtime. Now that would be impressive. The Rock should be electric tonight, even if it's due mostly to rabid Ranger fans. And you know the Devils won't go down without a fight (or at least a good whine or two), so we're in for a treat tonight.
2) At the close of last night's studio show on Versus, Rick DiPietro said he hopes the Islanders miss the playoffs so he could come back and do more analysis. He was joking. I think. Anyway, he didn't do too badly. That said, I still maintain that if the Isles could have gotten into the playoffs, DP could have stolen them a round. And after that, nobody would have had a problem with an Islanders-Rangers Winter Classic. Still, nice to see DP marketed as a star - the NHL needs to do more things like this.
3) Speaking of the Islanders, kudos to their TV team. You can always tell who the good announcers and analysts are by their post-season assignments; that is, if you're sitting at home during the playoffs, you're probably nothing special. The Islanders have Deb Placey (aka Deb Kaufman) and Butch Goring in the MSG studio - not the biggest deal, but it's something. Howie Rose is doing his usual great job with the Mets on WFAN, and Billy Jaffe is working for Versus. We're spoiled by good announcers in the New York area; I, for one, certainly appreciate it. I still miss Gary Thorne on SportsChannel and ESPN, though.
4) The new trend this year in the playoffs is (home team color)-outs. It used to be something you'd see in Winnipeg/Phoenix, Calgary, and pretty much nowhere else. The Islanders did it in 2002, but never did it again. Then the Miami Heat did it when they won the NBA Finals two years ago, and now everyone's back on the bandwagon. I'll admit, it looks pretty cool. No, it looks really cool.
But it's sort of teetering on the point of ridiculousness now. The Flyers had an orange-out in their two home games, which was in direct response to the red-out of the Capitals. But let's not forget that both of these teams ditched their respective colors fairly recently, thanks in large part to the all-important "focus groups" and "key demographics". The Caps changed to a blue motif in 1995, while the Flyers went to black uniforms in 2000. Now, everyone is supposed to forget all about that and embrace these colors? Sounds gimmicky to me.
Now that the trend has started, though, don't look for it to stop anytime soon. Even the Dallas Stars have gotten in on the action, calling for a black-out. As if hockey doesn't have enough trouble drawing fans. Now everyone will think all hockey fans are angry emo kids. Ugh. Anyway, in the link, the excellent Greg Wyshynski asks the question that matters most to the fans - if you've put a ton of money into a white jersey of your favorite player, why should you now be forced to leave it at home?
And, finally...
5) It's crazy to think that after four relatively even-played games, the Rangers could win the series tonight. And the only loss on their record would be in overtime. Now that would be impressive. The Rock should be electric tonight, even if it's due mostly to rabid Ranger fans. And you know the Devils won't go down without a fight (or at least a good whine or two), so we're in for a treat tonight.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Quick Hits
Just a few random notes from the first round...
- Nice to see Rick DiPietro keeping busy in the Versus studio, rubbing shoulders with luminaries such as Keith Jones and Brian Engblom. DP seemed a bit shaky at first, but I'd chalk that up to adjusting to having someone in his ear telling him what to say. Hard for someone when they're used to shooting from the hip (no pun intended). But in time, DP is going to be a star in the television studio. He's got the look and the charisma; all he has to do now is get comfortable in front of the camera and be his opinionated self. Judging from the Islanders' prospects for the future, it looks as though Ricky will have plenty of time each April to analyze playoff games.
- I can't locate the stat now, but I heard on Versus the other night that the team who scores first is extremely likely to win. At the time, the record of the team who scores first was something like 17-1. Now? Um... the tables might have turned. Sort of.
Last night, Ottawa scored first. They were at home, so you might figure that would get the crowd into a frenzy. However, since Ottawa is a horrendous team, it didn't mean anything. Pittsburgh came back and won the game quite easily. But we saw two instances in recent days when the first goal did mean something.
As we discussed yesterday, Calgary found themselves in a 3-0 hole to San Jose in the first four minutes of Game 3. But Calgary was not to be denied, and they ended up taking the game with a great comeback. Yesterday, Nashville pulled off a similar trick. Detroit scored first, silencing the Nashville faithful (yes, they do exist). However, it wasn't enough. Thanks to a furious third-period flurry, Nashville ended up not only seizing the game, but momentum in the series as well. In the heat of the moment, Zach proclaimed this the greatest game he's ever seen. Whether or not that's true is up for debate. But it does a lot for hockey in Nashville.
Anyway. So what's the big deal about two games? Well, in both instances, the road team jumped out to an early lead, eliminating the well-documented effect of the crowd on the home team. Common sense dictates that scoring early on the road puts the visiting team at a distinct advantage because it allows them to control the game. But there's no shutting up these crowds. Not in the playoffs, and not in Game 3 - the first home games of both Nashville and Calgary. We saw the Rangers came back on Sunday after letting up the first goal against the Devils thanks in large part to a bloodthirsty crowd. Just because they didn't close the deal doesn't diminish the crowd's impact on coming back from an early deficit.
- Speaking of the Rangers, everyone's been talking about Sean Avery lately. We may as well throw our hats into the ring here. Let's just get one thing out of the way before getting started - I hate Sean Avery's guts. At the same time, I think he does a hell of a job. Islander fans who knock Avery for his dirty play ought to look in the mirror and think back to fifteen years ago. Without Darius Kasparaitis knocking Mario Lemieux around at every opportunity, the Islanders didn't stand a chance against Pittsburgh. Somehow, it was fine to see him level Lemieux behind the play, but it's not okay for Avery to do what he does? Go figure.
Say what you want to about Avery's taunting Martin Brodeur, but you can't deny that it worked. And while it wasn't Brodeur who left Avery open in the slot, it's hard to focus with all that going on. People love to call Avery a pest, and he certainly fills that role, but he's also a very talented offensive player. He also seems to have a sense of the moment; in a very small sample size of thirteen career playoff games, he has nine points. The list of agitators in the history of the NHL is endless, but the great ones saved their best for the playoffs. Esa Tikkanen and Claude Lemieux were average players during the regular season, but each found another level in the post-season. Coincidentally enough, Tikkanen won five Cups and Lemieux won four. And this writer feels very strongly that Claude Lemieux deserves to be inducted into the Hall Of Fame. Maybe Tikkanen should join him there. Avery will probably never be enshrined in the Hall, but he's earning himself a lot of money these playoffs - both through his play and the attention he's drawing.
Anyway. Once again, lots of pests, lots of agitators. How many have prompted the NHL to modify its rulebook in the middle of a series? Even though Avery was probably over the line, it's ridiculous that the league can just change a rule on a whim without going through the proper channels. Sure, it's a minor rule, but it sets an awful precedent. If rules can be changed that easily and with no approval from the NHLPA, why the hell aren't face visors mandatory yet? Seriously. Maybe it's time the NHL stops reacting to the media and start making some smart decisions without being prompted.
- Nice to see Rick DiPietro keeping busy in the Versus studio, rubbing shoulders with luminaries such as Keith Jones and Brian Engblom. DP seemed a bit shaky at first, but I'd chalk that up to adjusting to having someone in his ear telling him what to say. Hard for someone when they're used to shooting from the hip (no pun intended). But in time, DP is going to be a star in the television studio. He's got the look and the charisma; all he has to do now is get comfortable in front of the camera and be his opinionated self. Judging from the Islanders' prospects for the future, it looks as though Ricky will have plenty of time each April to analyze playoff games.
- I can't locate the stat now, but I heard on Versus the other night that the team who scores first is extremely likely to win. At the time, the record of the team who scores first was something like 17-1. Now? Um... the tables might have turned. Sort of.
Last night, Ottawa scored first. They were at home, so you might figure that would get the crowd into a frenzy. However, since Ottawa is a horrendous team, it didn't mean anything. Pittsburgh came back and won the game quite easily. But we saw two instances in recent days when the first goal did mean something.
As we discussed yesterday, Calgary found themselves in a 3-0 hole to San Jose in the first four minutes of Game 3. But Calgary was not to be denied, and they ended up taking the game with a great comeback. Yesterday, Nashville pulled off a similar trick. Detroit scored first, silencing the Nashville faithful (yes, they do exist). However, it wasn't enough. Thanks to a furious third-period flurry, Nashville ended up not only seizing the game, but momentum in the series as well. In the heat of the moment, Zach proclaimed this the greatest game he's ever seen. Whether or not that's true is up for debate. But it does a lot for hockey in Nashville.
Anyway. So what's the big deal about two games? Well, in both instances, the road team jumped out to an early lead, eliminating the well-documented effect of the crowd on the home team. Common sense dictates that scoring early on the road puts the visiting team at a distinct advantage because it allows them to control the game. But there's no shutting up these crowds. Not in the playoffs, and not in Game 3 - the first home games of both Nashville and Calgary. We saw the Rangers came back on Sunday after letting up the first goal against the Devils thanks in large part to a bloodthirsty crowd. Just because they didn't close the deal doesn't diminish the crowd's impact on coming back from an early deficit.
- Speaking of the Rangers, everyone's been talking about Sean Avery lately. We may as well throw our hats into the ring here. Let's just get one thing out of the way before getting started - I hate Sean Avery's guts. At the same time, I think he does a hell of a job. Islander fans who knock Avery for his dirty play ought to look in the mirror and think back to fifteen years ago. Without Darius Kasparaitis knocking Mario Lemieux around at every opportunity, the Islanders didn't stand a chance against Pittsburgh. Somehow, it was fine to see him level Lemieux behind the play, but it's not okay for Avery to do what he does? Go figure.
Say what you want to about Avery's taunting Martin Brodeur, but you can't deny that it worked. And while it wasn't Brodeur who left Avery open in the slot, it's hard to focus with all that going on. People love to call Avery a pest, and he certainly fills that role, but he's also a very talented offensive player. He also seems to have a sense of the moment; in a very small sample size of thirteen career playoff games, he has nine points. The list of agitators in the history of the NHL is endless, but the great ones saved their best for the playoffs. Esa Tikkanen and Claude Lemieux were average players during the regular season, but each found another level in the post-season. Coincidentally enough, Tikkanen won five Cups and Lemieux won four. And this writer feels very strongly that Claude Lemieux deserves to be inducted into the Hall Of Fame. Maybe Tikkanen should join him there. Avery will probably never be enshrined in the Hall, but he's earning himself a lot of money these playoffs - both through his play and the attention he's drawing.
Anyway. Once again, lots of pests, lots of agitators. How many have prompted the NHL to modify its rulebook in the middle of a series? Even though Avery was probably over the line, it's ridiculous that the league can just change a rule on a whim without going through the proper channels. Sure, it's a minor rule, but it sets an awful precedent. If rules can be changed that easily and with no approval from the NHLPA, why the hell aren't face visors mandatory yet? Seriously. Maybe it's time the NHL stops reacting to the media and start making some smart decisions without being prompted.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
NHL Playoffs, Day 1: Unbiased Thoughts
Finally, the second season has begun. And even the hockey haters at ESPN have taken notice... sort of. Next to the humongous ad for The Masters (which just happens to be on ESPN for the first time this year), a tiny box appears with links to tonight's scores. Better than nothing, I guess.
Anyway, these are unbiased thoughts. Why? Because apart from my desire for the Devils to fall flat on their faces as soon as possible, I'm watching these playoffs as a neutral observer. Honestly, it's more fun this way... though I suspect an Islanders playoff run might be more enjoyable. I also suspect I won't be finding out anytime soon.
Let's take a trip through the games. At every arena, an NHL logo appears behind each goal and the Stanley Cup Playoffs logo is just inside of both blue lines, where we saw "Thank You Fans!" just two years ago. I guess this is clarification for those fans who thought they were watching the Super Bowl. Away we go...
- Rangers 4, Devils 1. I got to see all of this game. While it wasn't pure, beautiful playoff hockey, it was entertaining to watch. And I was very impressed with this Rangers team.
Once they settled in, the Rangers played a very smart game. They did everything they needed to do. They were physical, but not overly tough like the Devils tried to be. They were aggressive on special teams - both on the powerplay and shorthanded. Most of all, though, it seemed apparent that the Rangers just wanted it more.
On the Devils' first power play, the Rangers had four shorthanded shots, while the Devils didn't get a single shot on goal with the man advantage. That was a sign of things to come. Sean Avery and Scott Gomez were literally all over the ice. Martin Straka, of all people, lost his stick on a penalty kill and was flopping all over the ice to block the puck. That the Devils scored their only goal seconds later doesn't take away the effort, which was there all night.
Devils fans are going to say the Rangers got lucky tonight, and they have a pretty good argument. The Devils hit the crossbar three times. The Rangers' second goal was scored because Martin Brodeur was too busy counting sheep to cover up the puck when Ryan Callahan came charging in. The third goal bounced off Sergei Brylin's skate and to Sean Avery, who just happened to be crashing the net at the right time. It also didn't hurt that Gomez blew right by four Devils, all of whom just waved at Gomez instead of trying to stop him. In the end, you make your own luck, and the Rangers got themselves into a position to take advantage of the lucky breaks they received. The Devils can't say the same.
If I were a Devils fan - and I'm not, thank goodness - I'd be embarrassed. The breakdown of The Rock tonight was at least 50-50, and if the fans favored one side over the other, the Rangers had more supporters. The Devils didn't show up in their first home playoff game in their new arena. There's no excuse for that. They will probably put forth a better show on Friday, but is it going to be enough to trump a motivated and inspired Rangers team? That's a tough one.
- Penguins 4, Senators 0. Thanks to a solid effort by the Mets, I didn't have to check in on their game, which meant I could focus my attention on this game. Versus HD had been screwy during the first two periods, so I couldn't check in very often. Of course, by the time I got to this game, it was already over.
However, I did get to see Ottawa's failed attempts at flexing its "muscle". First, one of the Senators (maybe Wade Redden) dumped Crosby in the corner. The Senator went down... Crosby emerged with the puck. After the whistle, Crosby and this unidentified Senator were throwing haymakers with their gloves on. Seconds later, Ryan Whitney absolutely pummelled Redden (yes, it was definitely him) in a mismatch. Three minutes later, Gary Roberts dumped Chris Neil into the boards. Now, we all know Roberts is no stranger to drilling opposing players head-first into the boards (remember Kenny Jonsson?), but Neil is an abhorrent player. Roberts got a fighting major and a game misconduct by the time the ensuing scrap ended, but he was yapping all the way off the ice. Ottawa tried its best to intimidate Pittsburgh physically... and it didn't work. Let the record state - Pittsburgh owns Ottawa in every way.
Oh, and Marc-Andre Fleury got the shutout.
- Avalanche 2, Wild 0 (2nd intermission). This game wasn't even advertised on the channel information for Center Ice - not exactly a ringing endorsement. This is a unique series - and by "unique", I mean that I'm curious to see how it plays out, but I don't actually want to watch any of it. Admittedly, I've seen very little of this game, but I'm not too curious to watch any more of it. Maybe it's because it's not available in HD and the first two games were. I think I'm just inclined to avoid the Wild because Jacques Lemaire coaches them. Lemaire is wearing a pretty nice suit tonight, though - he looks like the Russian politician guy in Rocky IV.
- Flames 2, Sharks 1 (1st intermission). Now this is a game I can sink my teeth into. The Sharks have been one of my favorite teams to watch all year, and the Flames are a good match-up for them. Unfortunately, we don't get the excellent Sharks broadcast on CSN, but instead we're stuck with the CBC feed. Oh well.
It didn't take long for this game to get going. Calgary scored first on a deflection, then scored a second shortly after. Within ten minutes of the opening faceoff, the Sharks had pulled within one. The Sharks seem to have controlled play for the most part, but Calgary isn't out of any game with Mikka Kiprusoff in goal. They're not going to be intimidated by the Sharks - that's one thing Mike Keenan will always give you.
Of all the games we've seen tonight, this is the one game that has a chance of coming down to the wire. This looks like a fun one. You sort of wish Calgary had more offensive firepower so we could see a real barnburner, but this game is going to be all sorts of intense as it progresses.
Maybe this hasn't been the greatest night of playoff hockey we've ever seen. But I sure am glad the playoffs are here. Who knows what the rest of tonight has in store for us?
Anyway, these are unbiased thoughts. Why? Because apart from my desire for the Devils to fall flat on their faces as soon as possible, I'm watching these playoffs as a neutral observer. Honestly, it's more fun this way... though I suspect an Islanders playoff run might be more enjoyable. I also suspect I won't be finding out anytime soon.
Let's take a trip through the games. At every arena, an NHL logo appears behind each goal and the Stanley Cup Playoffs logo is just inside of both blue lines, where we saw "Thank You Fans!" just two years ago. I guess this is clarification for those fans who thought they were watching the Super Bowl. Away we go...
- Rangers 4, Devils 1. I got to see all of this game. While it wasn't pure, beautiful playoff hockey, it was entertaining to watch. And I was very impressed with this Rangers team.
Once they settled in, the Rangers played a very smart game. They did everything they needed to do. They were physical, but not overly tough like the Devils tried to be. They were aggressive on special teams - both on the powerplay and shorthanded. Most of all, though, it seemed apparent that the Rangers just wanted it more.
On the Devils' first power play, the Rangers had four shorthanded shots, while the Devils didn't get a single shot on goal with the man advantage. That was a sign of things to come. Sean Avery and Scott Gomez were literally all over the ice. Martin Straka, of all people, lost his stick on a penalty kill and was flopping all over the ice to block the puck. That the Devils scored their only goal seconds later doesn't take away the effort, which was there all night.
Devils fans are going to say the Rangers got lucky tonight, and they have a pretty good argument. The Devils hit the crossbar three times. The Rangers' second goal was scored because Martin Brodeur was too busy counting sheep to cover up the puck when Ryan Callahan came charging in. The third goal bounced off Sergei Brylin's skate and to Sean Avery, who just happened to be crashing the net at the right time. It also didn't hurt that Gomez blew right by four Devils, all of whom just waved at Gomez instead of trying to stop him. In the end, you make your own luck, and the Rangers got themselves into a position to take advantage of the lucky breaks they received. The Devils can't say the same.
If I were a Devils fan - and I'm not, thank goodness - I'd be embarrassed. The breakdown of The Rock tonight was at least 50-50, and if the fans favored one side over the other, the Rangers had more supporters. The Devils didn't show up in their first home playoff game in their new arena. There's no excuse for that. They will probably put forth a better show on Friday, but is it going to be enough to trump a motivated and inspired Rangers team? That's a tough one.
- Penguins 4, Senators 0. Thanks to a solid effort by the Mets, I didn't have to check in on their game, which meant I could focus my attention on this game. Versus HD had been screwy during the first two periods, so I couldn't check in very often. Of course, by the time I got to this game, it was already over.
However, I did get to see Ottawa's failed attempts at flexing its "muscle". First, one of the Senators (maybe Wade Redden) dumped Crosby in the corner. The Senator went down... Crosby emerged with the puck. After the whistle, Crosby and this unidentified Senator were throwing haymakers with their gloves on. Seconds later, Ryan Whitney absolutely pummelled Redden (yes, it was definitely him) in a mismatch. Three minutes later, Gary Roberts dumped Chris Neil into the boards. Now, we all know Roberts is no stranger to drilling opposing players head-first into the boards (remember Kenny Jonsson?), but Neil is an abhorrent player. Roberts got a fighting major and a game misconduct by the time the ensuing scrap ended, but he was yapping all the way off the ice. Ottawa tried its best to intimidate Pittsburgh physically... and it didn't work. Let the record state - Pittsburgh owns Ottawa in every way.
Oh, and Marc-Andre Fleury got the shutout.
- Avalanche 2, Wild 0 (2nd intermission). This game wasn't even advertised on the channel information for Center Ice - not exactly a ringing endorsement. This is a unique series - and by "unique", I mean that I'm curious to see how it plays out, but I don't actually want to watch any of it. Admittedly, I've seen very little of this game, but I'm not too curious to watch any more of it. Maybe it's because it's not available in HD and the first two games were. I think I'm just inclined to avoid the Wild because Jacques Lemaire coaches them. Lemaire is wearing a pretty nice suit tonight, though - he looks like the Russian politician guy in Rocky IV.
- Flames 2, Sharks 1 (1st intermission). Now this is a game I can sink my teeth into. The Sharks have been one of my favorite teams to watch all year, and the Flames are a good match-up for them. Unfortunately, we don't get the excellent Sharks broadcast on CSN, but instead we're stuck with the CBC feed. Oh well.
It didn't take long for this game to get going. Calgary scored first on a deflection, then scored a second shortly after. Within ten minutes of the opening faceoff, the Sharks had pulled within one. The Sharks seem to have controlled play for the most part, but Calgary isn't out of any game with Mikka Kiprusoff in goal. They're not going to be intimidated by the Sharks - that's one thing Mike Keenan will always give you.
Of all the games we've seen tonight, this is the one game that has a chance of coming down to the wire. This looks like a fun one. You sort of wish Calgary had more offensive firepower so we could see a real barnburner, but this game is going to be all sorts of intense as it progresses.
Maybe this hasn't been the greatest night of playoff hockey we've ever seen. But I sure am glad the playoffs are here. Who knows what the rest of tonight has in store for us?
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Exposure, ESPN, And Selling Out
I happened to catch NHL Live on the NHL Network yesterday, thanks to a week-long cold that refuses to go away. The show itself was pretty okay, but there were two topics addressed on the show that really got me thinking.
The first one came up just minutes into the show. The topic of the Boston Red Sox and Oakland A's opening up the Major League Baseball season in Japan was mentioned, and host Don LaGreca was not very impressed by this move. LaGreca said, paraphrased, "It's a joke. Major League Baseball opens up and nobody even knows about it, and nobody says a word. God forbid the NHL did something like this, you'd never hear the end of it." And he's right. You didn't hear many good words about the Ducks and Kings opening the season in England; instead, all you heard about was how miserable the teams were and how the fans wanted to see a fight. Aside from the whole flap about the Red Sox assistants not being paid, have you heard even one bad word about MLB's trip to Japan? I doubt it.
The second, and more critical point, came later when Patrick and Jonathan Roy were inevitably brought up. Both LaGreca and E.J. Hradek bashed the media, stating they only show highlights of hockey in times of a violent incident. Hradek mentioned the name of Steven Stamkos, an OHL player who may very well be the first overall pick in 2008. Stamkos scored four goals on Tuesday night and didn't get one-millionth of the publicity the Roys did. While it might be unreasonable to expect the American media to get all over some kid from Ontario, Hradek's point was well taken.
The simple truth is that the media loves negativity. Look at Britney Spears. They play her songs and keep her in the public eye, just so they can bash her. It's the same with the NHL. What stories have hit the major mainstream media over the past five years? The Todd Bertuzzi incident, the lockout, the Rick Tocchett gambling ring, the first Chris Simon incident, the Winter Classic, the second Chris Simon incident, and the Jonathan Roy incident. Of those seven things, only one painted hockey in a positive light. But what else would you expect when you don't have the promotional wing of ESPN in your corner?
Ah, yes... ESPN. Remember them? The network that used to air NHL games. Did you ever notice how, once they stopped broadcasting hockey games, they ceased virtually all coverage of the sport? As ESPN's ombudsman, the excellent Le Anne Schreiber noted last year, coverage of the NHL on SportsCenter was down 28 percent from three years prior, when the games were still on ESPN. Hmm.
It's a personal belief of mine that ESPN is out to ruin the NHL and make it look bad, just because big bad ESPN can. If you regularly visit ESPN.com, you may remember a headline on the front page about the NHL's record-low Stanley Cup Finals ratings. However, what you might not have seen a week later was the article about the all-time low rating for NBA Finals play on ABC. ABC and ESPN are both owned by Disney. Hmm.
Get the picture? Get ESPN in your corner, you're gold. Turn your back on ESPN, and you're facing an extremely tough battle. Need proof? Look at Arena Football, which ESPN bought and shoved down our throats. Major League Soccer signed a new deal with ESPN in 2006 which not only got them a weekly prime-time game, but increased time on SportsCenter and more exposure on ESPN.com. And if you're wondering what the big deal is about ESPN, it's simply America's most popular sports outlet, which essentially means it dictates the sports-watching trends for America. If you're not prominently featured, you're in trouble. And that's the predicament the NHL finds itself in.
Rumors were swirling last summer that the NHL and ESPN were talking again, but it appears as though nothing came of the discussions. The NHL re-upped with Versus, and there's still a chance ESPN could come on board if Versus were willing to drop its status as the NHL's exclusive cable partner. Time will tell if that will ever come to pass.
The thing of it is, as much as the NHL needs ESPN, I really don't want them to come to terms. As much as people love to bash Versus for not being very available on cable (and, quite frankly, neither is the NFL Network or NBA TV), the network has done a great job with the NHL package. They've made hockey a real event on Versus; even if that's only because WEC Wreckage and PBR Rodeo haven't hit the big time yet, it's still impressive. Let's face it, when ESPN aired the NHL, the sport was sort of an afterthought. You got the impression that they couldn't wait for the game to end so they could throw it back to SportsCenter. And once ESPN got a hold of the NBA, the NHL really got the shaft. At least Versus programs an entire two nights around hockey, whereas ESPN would just show random games, Dodge Intermission Reports, NHL2Night, and that was about it. Come to think of it, aside from the opportunity to hear Gary Thorne calling hockey on a regular basis again, there's not much I'd welcome about ESPN's potential return.
That said, I'm all about what's best for the league. And the truth is that ESPN would do a world of good for the NHL. Not just in terms of coverage on SportsCenter and all the other frills, but for purposes of credibility as well. I think we all want the NHL to be seen as a legitimate top sport, and now's a good a time as any. The game is better than it has been at any time since the '94 lockout, and the American sporting public needs to see what the NHL has to offer. I'm sick of Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin being the only two people to crack the main page of ESPN.com. I want the whole league to be embraced and promoted, the way it should be. And I'm more than willing to watch my favorite sport sell out to ESPN to make that happen. Truly, it's the only possible way.
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