For all the talk of Daniel Alfredsson's goal in game three, the issue of what a distinct kicking motion entails may be a moot point.
After watching the replay dozens of times in super-slow motion on a top-quality HDTV, it appears the puck actually went in off Alfredsson's stick.
Stationed to the left of Anaheim goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Alfredsson directed the puck towards the net with his skate. When the puck hit Alfredsson's skate, the puck was a couple of inches off the ice. At the highest point, the puck appears to be roughly 18 inches off the ice.
Two camera angles indicate Alfredsson may have got his stick on the puck at this point, although neither is conclusive.
What seems to be conclusive, however, is the direction change the puck takes. From the instant of likely contact, the puck quits angling upward and begins angling downward. The puck enters the net and hits the ice roughly two-thirds of the way between the goal line and the back of the net.
Considering the puck was clearly entering the net on an upward angle until the point of likely contact with Alfredsson's stick, the only way the direction changes is if the puck hits something. The only thing in the area was Alfredsson's stick.
If the puck hits Alfredsson's stick, it is unquestionably a goal.
So, regardless of varying opinions on whether the puck was struck with a distinct kicking motion or not, it appears the league came to the right call.
Listening to the league's rationale of the goal, however, nobody mentions it hit the stick. In many cases, the video review is done in standard definition, where the nuances are not as evident.
For the Stanley Cup Finals, the so-called war room in Toronto is not in use. Instead, the war room staff is sent out to the arenas, and they review the goals in-house. It is uncertain if Scotiabank Place's temporary war room reviews the goals in standard or high definition, but it would be a big step forward if all games were broadcast and reviewed in HD.
That day will come. Hopefully, it is sooner rather than later.
As far as the distinct kicking motion, that is another issue altogether. To many, a distinct kicking motion is what David Beckham does on a corner kick. To others, it means a player turns his foot to guide the puck into the net.
To say the rule is ambiguous is an understatement. In the old days, if it went off a skate, it was no goal. Slowly, it has evolved to the point where it is simply not clear whether or not a goal should count.
Seems like the competition committee might have another topic to discuss this summer.
POST-GAME COVERAGE IN U.S. NON-EXISTANT: Sure, many people complain Versus does not reach enough homes in the United States. Still, the vast majority of people are able to choose a cable or satellite provider that carries the channel, considering FCC regulations prevent condo or home owners associations from prohibiting digital satellite dishes.
Through the first two games of the Stanley Cup, viewers received a 30-minute pre-game show, a 30-minute post game show, and the NHL Network's 60-minute NHL On the Fly show on Versus.
Then comes game three. No pre-game or post-game show on NBC -- not even a single player interview following the game. To make matters worse, NHL On the Fly was not shown on Versus, and it is not scheduled to be shown through the rest of the Stanley Cup Finals.
As a result, American viewers did not see highlights, press conferences, or analysis of game three. Unlike Canadian networks, which do a great job of covering hockey, the NHL is almost invisible on national sports shows in the United States.
Why not switch over to Versus for a pre-game or a post-game show? Why does Versus not continue showing NHL On the Fly, regardless of where the game is televised?
If this is part of the NHL's television package, the league is shortchanging American-based fans. If it is the decision of Versus, the network is shortchanging the league and their fans.
Either way, the fans lose. Unfortunately, it is something that is becoming commonplace for hockey fans residing in the United States.
It is not just the sight of the Rideau Canal and Parliament Hill that makes the Ottawa Senators glad to be home for games three and four of the Stanley Cup Finals.
With the home team getting the last change, the Senators will finally be able to get the line of Daniel Alfredsson, Jason Spezza, and Dany Heatley away from Anaheim's checking line of Samuel Pahlsson, Rob Niedermayer, and Travis Moen.
Through the first two games, the Pahlsson line has not only shut down the Ottawa trio, but they have dominated. In the last game, Pahlsson's 10-2 record on faceoffs meant more often than not, Ottawa's big guns were forced to start the shift in their own end.
Ottawa coach Bryan Murray went as far as to drop Alfredsson to a line with Mike Fisher and Antoine Vermette for parts of the game, and they formed the Sens' most effective line much of the night.
Given those facts, it is curious what happened on Pahlsson's winning goal. On the previous shift, Anaheim's top line was matched up with Ottawa's fourth line. As the shift wound to a close, Andy McDonald was the last Anaheim first liner to leave the ice, as Moen and Niedermayer had been able to get on for their next shift.
Moen and Niedermayer were on the ice for roughly ten seconds before the gassed Ottawa fourth line headed to the bench. Murray sent out the Alfredsson-Spezza-Heatley line against what was clearly going to be the Anaheim checking line.
McDonald was able to get off the ice at the same time as Pahlsson joined his usual linemates. Twenty seconds later, Pahlsson had scored the game's lone goal.
With a television timeout set for the next whistle, Murray's decision to send out the top line against the checking line made some sense, yet one thing has become evident through the first two games. This goes way beyond a normal checking line situation -- the Ducks' checking line has been so dominant, they have exposed a defensive weakness on the Sens' top unit.
There is no question Spezza has improved his defensive play over the past two seasons, but at times, it looks like Spezza of two seasons ago. And on the winning goal, Alfredsson gave a weak stick check towards Pahlsson, a play somewhat reminiscient of Jason Pominville's series-clinching overtime goal last spring when he danced around Alfredsson.
Simply put, Ottawa's top line must either step up their two-way play if they are to create any scoring chances. Right now, they are spending most of their time chasing Pahlsson, Nidermayer, and Moen in their own end.
That is likely to change the next two games. Murray will have the advantage of the last change, and he must do whatever it takes to keep the trio away from Anaheim's stellar checking line. Even if the big guns step up their play in their own end, they are wasting energy that needs to be spent creating chances.
Who does Murray want the trio to face? That is a tough question. Anaheim's line of Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf, and Dustin Penner can be physically punishing, so that is not an ideal matchup. The first line of Andy McDonald, Teemu Selanne, and Drew Miller would seem like the favorable opponents, but if they face the big guns on a regular basis, Randy Carlyle will put solid defensive forward Tood Marchant on the top unit.
One thing is clear -- either Alfredsson, Spezza, and Heatley find a way to spend more time in Anaheim's end, or the Senators could be in trouble.
OFFICIATING WATCH: In game three, Dan O'Halloran and Paul Devorski will be the men with the orange armbands. The duo called game one somewhat tighter than Bill McCreary and Brad Watson called game two, something that could favor Ottawa.
The Senators have commented the standards seem to be less stringent during the regular season, but that is a trend that seemed to start sometime after Thanksgiving. Given the current standards, look for Ottawa to create more subtle obstruction in game three.
McCreary and Watson called a pretty consistent game in game two, letting the players determine the outcome after the first period. Although it may not be the so-called new NHL concept, it was a traditionally called playoff game. After a combined six power plays in the first period, there were just two power plays the rest of the game and no penalties called after the closing seconds of the second period.
The boarding calls on Mike Comrie and Anton Volchenkov in the first period were questionable. Comrie'#### on Francois Beauchemin was from a 45-degree angle, while Corey Perry turned his back to Volchenkov a split second before the hit.
Shawn Thornton of Anaheim was also upset about his charging call in the second period, as he appeared to leave the ice with one skate but not the other in the process. Playing just 2:22, Thornton was one of just two Ducks not to register a hit. Had the penalty not been called, Thornton gets credit for a hit -- just a little more reason to be frustrated.
In the end, however, the officials let the players determine the outcome, and that is all you can ask in the Stanley Cup Finals.
JUGGLING THE LINES: With a 2-0 lead in the series, look for Anaheim to maintain their lines for the most part.
The top unit of McDonald and Selanne has played with Miller or Marchant at various times, and expect that to continue.
From Ottawa's standpoint, they will have to shake things up if they do not have a strong first period. Many have suggested Fisher join the top unit as he provides a healthy dose of grit and energy. Chris Neil saw some time with Spezza and Heatley last game and was impressive, particularly in the first period.
Look for Patrick Eaves to potentially replace Oleg Saprykin on the fourth line. Eaves played some with Spezza and Heatley in the preseason and the unit looked good, so that would also give Ottawa another top line option.
For the past several years, Samuel Pahlsson toiled as an underrated player in the NHL outpost of Anaheim.
Have things ever changed.
Considered the likely candidate to win the Selke Trophy for top defensive forward during the regular season, Pahlsson might win another piece of hardware if the Anaheim Ducks go on to win the Stanley Cup.
It sounds strange to say a checking line center is the leader for the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, but Pahlsson is making a good case. And calling his line, which includes Rob Nidermayer and Travis Moen, a checking line, is truly a misnomer.
Through the first two games of the Stanley Cup Finals, the line has done far more than shut down Ottawa's big line of Jason Spezza, Dany Heatley, and Daniel Alfredsson. Pahlsson's unit has outplayed the Sens' big guns, forcing the trio to spend much of the game in their own end. In game two, the Ottawa trio combined for 11 of the team's 21 turnovers, including a rather significant one shortly before the game's lone goal.
It is hard to get much offense going when you are pinned in your own end, and it hard to click as a line when you are not playing as a line. At times, Alfredsson was moved to a line with Mike Fisher and Peter Schaefer, and that trio often looked better than the normal top line looked. Those three were teamed for the game's opening shift, and while the normal first line was back together later in the period, the line shuffle resumed as the game went along.
Yet late in the game, the Sens found the Spezza-Heatley-Alfredsson line intact and matched up against the Pahlsson-Niedermayer-Moen line. What happened next was strangely predictable and indicitive of the first two games.
Ottawa turned the puck over at the offensive blueline as Heatley could not handle a pass. Naturally, Pahlsson was there to pick up the loose puck and raced down the right wing.
Using a confused-looking Joe Corvo as a screen -- Corvo was facing goaltender Ray Emery when the shot was taken -- Pahlsson went between the legs of Corvo, shot the puck about 18 inches off the ice low to Emery's blocker side, and fired it inside the far post and into the back of the net.
The goal was Pahlsson’s third of the playoffs, and his 11 playoff points rank fourth on the Ducks. If anyone did not know about the quiet Swede before the playoffs, they are well aware at this point.
As far as that outpost thing goes, things are changing in that department as well. After the goal, the Honda Center, not typically known as one of the NHL's loudest buildings, reached a deafening level for the rest of the game.
The crowd had barely sat down after the goal before the next television timeout occurred. The energized crowd gave the team a standing ovation throughout the commercial break, and many sections did not sit for the rest of the game.
Fans watching at home likely had a hard time sitting down as well, considering the chances Ottawa had to tie the game with a little less than three minutes to play. Schaefer had the best look at what appeared to be an open net, but the shot went wide. At first glance, he seemed to miss the net, but replays showed Sean O'Donnell actually got his stick in the way just enough to deflect the shot wide. If O'Donnell was a millisecond later, overtime would have ensued.
The Sens also had glorious chances on a 5-on-3 in the opening stanza. The best opportunities came when Jean-Sebastien Giguere robbed Heatley on a point blank shot later in the same flurry that saw Mike Comrie hit the post on a tip from the edge of the crease.
Both goaltenders were spectacular on the night, but Emery was called upon more frequently. His play prompted Don Cherry to comment on Coach's Corner "I don't think you will get to see better goaltending if you live to be 100 years." Time after time, Emery made spectacular saves -- too many to mention in detail.
It did not take long to recognize this game would be a classic. Both teams came out full speed ahead on a physical opening shift, and by the time the game was two minutes old, fans were treated to a full night's worth of entertainment.
Helping the cause was solid veteran officiating from Brad Watson and Bill McCreary. Although the duo called three penalties on each side in the opening stanza, the rest of the game featured just one power play for each team.
Some may argue the standards of the so-called new NHL were not being enforced, but the entertainment value Wednesday was second to none. The battles in front of the net and along the boards that have been missing for so much of the last two years returned to the game, while there were still plenty of scoring chances. On another night with different goalies, it would be easy to envision this as a 5-3 game.
One thing is for sure -- nobody left the Honda Center thinking they did not get their money's worth, no matter how much they paid for tickets. A 1-0 classic in the Stanley Cup Finals, 54 credited hits in an arena that does not easily award hits, great saves at both ends, and a thrilling final few minutes -- it simply does not get better than this.
NEIL, FISHER STEP UP THEIR GAME: After a relatively quiet opening game, Chris Neil was far more of a factor in game two. He started the game with Spezza and Heatley, and he responded with three big hits and a solid 11:07.
Meanwhile, Fisher was arguably the best Ottawa skater on the night. He threw four hits and provided energy, but Sens' coach Bryan Murray would love to see him improve on his 6-for-17 effort in the faceoff circle.
Grimm's Tales Three Stars:
1. Samuel Pahlsson, Anaheim. In addition to being the only player to tally a point on the night by virtue of his unassisted game winner, Pahlsson threw four hits and won 10 of 12 faceoffs. The latter stat is a huge reason why the Sens' big line found themselves in their own end much of the night, as the Pahlsson line played a strong puck possession game after winning the draws.
2. Ray Emery, Ottawa. Emery turned in one of the best goaltending performances of the season, stopping shots in every possible manner. His energetic and battling demeanor, as well as his ability to make the big save when called upon, recalls past playoff greats like Billy Smith and Grant Fuhr.
3. Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Anaheim. His play during the 5-on-3 and late in the third period was a big reason why the Ducks were able to win with just one goal on the evening.
It has been pointed out by much of the media that Southern California is not a hockey town.
True, the term "Southern California" seems to imply a region, not a town, but in this hyper-sensitive metropolitan area where everyone wants to be their own metro area, it is the politically correct term.
Politically correct -- that is something Anaheim general manager Brian Burke does not spend a lot of time worrying about, yet the correct politician was on hand for the ceremonial faceoff of Monday's Stanley Cup Finals opening game.
Arnold Schwarzenegger -- aka the Governator -- received a loud round of applause after being introduced by PA announcer Phil Hulett. Although it is customary for politicians to be booed at sports event, this was different.
In star-studded SoCal, arguably the biggest local celebrity of all was on hand. At a hockey game. In Southern California.
Yes, these Ducks are making inroads in the local market. The media attention is not where it needs to be, the interest of the general public is not where many would like, and the general city-wide feeling that this is the Stanley Cup Finals is not present.
Yet at the same time, the Honda Center was as full as it has ever been by the time the teams took to the ice. Dozens of people were lined up for hours outside the box office waiting for tickets to be released. The cheapest seats from the team's ticket exchange and online brokers were selling for $400-500, and lower level seats were nearly double that cost.
Even the Lakers were never like this.
The atmosphere outside the building an hour before game time resembled a circus.
Literally.
Owners Henry and Susan Samueli set up a giant circus-like VIP tent in the parking lot for guests such as Jerry Bruckheimer, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Arnold Schwarzenegger. At the same time, about a dozen police on horseback marched past the tent, resembling a grand entrance for a circus.
Inside, the game was anything but a circus.
After nearly a week of talk, it was time for some action. By the time 60 minutes had been played, a number of things were evident.
Anaheim's checking line of Sammy Pahlsson, Rob Niedermayer, and Travis Moen did an outstanding job of shutting down Ottawa's big line of Dany Heatley, Jason Spezza, and Daniel Alfredsson -- on this night at least.
The Ducks' checking unit outhit the Capital Punishment line 14-2, outshot them 12-5, and scored the game winner late in the third period.
Moen, parked in the slot, took a pass from Rob Niedermayer and fired the puck past Ray Emery with 2:51 left in the final stanza. The winning goal coming from Anaheim's checking line seemed strangely appropriate, considering their domination was the story of the game.
Ottawa's big line also turned over the puck five times as the Ducks appeared to expose a supposed weakness in the Eastern Conference Champions. Prior to the conference finals, Jamie Heward speculated Ottawa turns the puck over as much as or more than any team in the league, and it burned the Senators on this night.
Even the first goal came off a turnover, albeit a forced turnover. Drew Miller, brother of Buffalo goaltender Ryan Miller, got a little revenge for the family when his hit caused Wade Redden to hurry up his clearing attempt along the left wing boards midway through the first period.
Selanne picked up the puck before it left the zone, then found Andy McDonald for the Ducks' first goal of the game. Until that point, Ottawa had been dominating the game.
The Senators quieted the crowd 1:38 in with a power play goal by Mike Fisher. His shot went off the glove of Giguere and then bounced over the Anaheim netminder. For the next nine minutes, Ottawa controlled the game. The Honda Center crowd was silent, the Ducks looked flat, and the Sens seemed to have everything going their way.
Still, Ottawa did not have a shot on goal in the period's final 14:24, and after McDonald tied the game, Anaheim had the decided edge in the rest of the opening period.
Ottawa took advantage of three power play opportunities in the second period and regained control of the game. Redden's knuckleball-like shot from the high slot eluded Giguere on the first of the man advantages, giving the Sens a 2-1 lead after two periods.
Although the shots were 10-10 in the middle stanza, the game seemed to be going Ottawa's way. Emery was solid in goal -- his positioning was superb and he came up with acrobatic saves when it was needed. Some observers feel Emery gives up too many rebounds, but even on a night when they came under fire from many fans, the Ottawa blueliners were there to clear away any second opportunities.
Ryan Getzlaf scored a goal scorer's goal to tie the game 5:44 into the third when his backhand shot from the right wing went under Emery and into the back of the net.
Pronger/Niedermayer watch: Interestingly, Chris Pronger and Scott Niedermayer were often paired together on the top defensive duo, as they often joined the Pahlsson-Moen-Rob Niedermayer line against Ottawa's first line. If the Senators want to see less of the two Norris Trophy winners paired up, they need to find more secondary scoring.
On the other hand, Pronger and Niedermayer each played more than 29 minutes in game one. With no Ottawa rearguard playing as much as 25 minutes, the difference in depth could be a factor in a long series.
What you might have missed: At one point, a forechecking Pronger nailed Fisher below the Ottawa goal line. The positioning of Pronger shows Anaheim's willingness to pinch on defense -- something that was evident several times in game one. On the other hand, Fisher's positioning is a testament to Ottawa's committment to team defense -- something that was also evident in their ability to clear any rebounds left by Emery.
Grimm's Tales Three Stars:
1. Sammy Pahlsson, Anaheim. The gritty Swede led the Ducks with eight hits, added four shots, and won 13 of 24 faceoffs. Centering the checking line, Pahlsson was a huge reason Ottawa's big line was not a factor.
2. Rob Niedermayer, Anaheim. Pahlsson's linemate had six shots on goal, five hits, and set up Moen's game-winner. Many felt he was Anaheim's most effective forward in the opening game.
3. Anton Volchenkov, Ottawa. Only two hits -- a low number for Volchenkov -- but an astonishing 10 blocked shots. Then again, that is becoming a normal number for the Russian blueliner.
If you are heading to Southern California for game one of the Stanley Cup Finals, you might be in for a surprise.
There is no orange mile. You can drive for hours without seeing a car flag. Fans in Ducks regalia are few and far between around town. Sports shops have more merchandise from the middling Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim -- how's that for a mouthful -- than they do from the Western Conference Champions.
Regardless of what Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle says, Anaheim is not Hockeytown West. Yet once the puck drops at 5 p.m. Monday, the focus of the hockey world will be on the building at the corner of Douglass and Katella.
If the atmosphere matches game six of the conference finals, the rest of the hockey world might be in for a shock, given those facts. California sports fans -- not just hockey fans -- have a well-deserved reputation for being passive and disinterested. While the Ducks may not have taken hold of the entire metro area, things were no different in 2002 when the Angels and Los Angeles Lakers each won championships.
Tuesday at Honda Center, you could have been in any loud barn in North America. Despite the 6 p.m. start time, Ducks fans arrived early, screamed loudly, and exhibited a strong knowledge of the game.
It does not compare to Ottawa, where thousands of fans attended a lunch hour rally Thursday and seemingly everyone in town is a Senators fan. But for California, it is a step in the right direction, and that is because of the play on the ice.
In the conference finals, the Ducks did not play well from the 10 minute mark of game three until the 18 minute mark of game five's third period. They found themselves shorthanded nearly two times more per game, many on questionable calls. Star defenseman Chris Pronger was suspended for the critical game four. And as many observers noted, the team did not necessarily play up to their potential until game six.
And by the way, they dispatched of top-seeded Detroit in six games.
Along the way, the line of Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, and Dustin Penner went from being the second line to the clear 1A line. Getzlaf continues to look like a young Brendan Shanahan, while Perry seemingly ups his game to a new level every night. Penner struggled at times in the series, finding himself demoted to the fourth line in favor of Brad May on several occasions, but he put forth his best physical effort of the season in game six.
The traditional top line, of course, features Teemu Selanne and Andy McDonald. A likely season-ending injury to Chris Kunitz shook things up somewhat, but once Todd Marchant joined the unit on a full-time basis, the ship was righted. Marchant gives the line a strong forechecking presence, improves the trio's two-way play, and adds a stellar faceoff man to the top unit.
Of course, the talk will not be about Anaheim's offensive lines -- it will be about Ottawa's dynamic trio of Daniel Alfredsson, Dany Heatley, and Jason Spezza. Few argue the line has been the top unit of the playoffs, and Alfredsson is an early leader for the Conn Smythe Trophy. After years of taking the brunt of Ottawa's playoff struggles, Alfredsson has put forth a legendary performance this post-season.
Heatley is a natural goal scorer, while Spezza is one of the game's premier playmakers. One of the league's top checking lines could not handle the trio in the New Jersey series, but Anaheim hopes history will not repeat itself this time around.
The Ducks counter with a stellar checking line of Selke Trophy finalist Sammy Pahlsson, Rob Niedermayer, and Travis Moen. They shut down Marian Gaborik and Pavol Demitra in the first round, the Sedin twins in the second round, then Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg in the conference finals.
Those who have watched the Ducks have known about the defensive play of Pahlsson and Niedermayer for several years -- they have seen time on the same line since Anaheim's run to the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals.
The checking line will have some help in shutting down the so-called Pizza Line (XM Home Ice 204 is currently running a contest for a better nickname), as Anaheim features Chris Pronger, Scott Niedermayer, and Francois Beauchemein on the blueline. Each of the trio is capable of playing more than 30 minutes per game, meaning the Senators will become well acquainted with all three.
Yet Ottawa does not struggle themselves at the same position. Chris Phillips and Wade Redden traditionally get more of the press, but Anton Volchenkov has been stellar through the first three rounds. Perennially among league leaders in blocked shots and hits, Volchenkov has taken his game to a new level in the playoffs.
Considering the amount of shots that come from the Ducks' point in the way of Pronger, it will be interesting to see how Volchenkov's shot blocking prowess changes Anaheim's game plan. Even without Pronger's well-known point shot, Anaheim struggled mightily with Edmonton's shot blocking proficiency in last year's Western Conference Finals. That will have to change this year if Anaheim is to win the series.
The common thought is Anaheim has the edge between the pipes with 2003 Conn Smythe winner Jean-Sebastien Giguere, and he has been outstanding through the playoffs. Yet it would be a mistake to sell Ray Emery short in the process.
True, Emery has not had to be spectacular through the first three rounds, but that is a function of the team in front of him. Ottawa does not give up a lot of chances, and they have the firepower to get a goal back in a hurry. At the same time, Emery has arguably outplayed Marc-Andre Fleury, Martin Brodeur, and Ryan Miller in the first three rounds -- not bad at all.
Not to take anything away from either goalie, but both of these masked men can get the job done -- and then some.
Although the two teams have not faced each other in more than a year -- and nearly four years in Anaheim -- there is an interesting subplot to the series. Following the 2003-04 series, Bryan Murray left his post as Anaheim general manager to take the coaching job in Ottawa.
While Anaheim's roster has changed significantly since then, many of the squad's players were acquired by Murray. Most notably, the Getzlaf-Perry-Penner trio were all products of the Murray era, meaning the Ottawa coach has been familiar with these players for several years.
PREDICTION: It seems "too close to call" is the popular prediction this spring, but it is true. If the Pahlsson line can shut down Ottawa's big line, the Ducks will be in good shape. However, nobody has been able to do that so far, so Anaheim will need production from their two scoring lines to advance. This series has seven games written all over it. Ducks in seven.
The 49th parallel has never looked so significant.
While Canadian fans were enjoying the standard high-quality broadcast from CBC's Hockey Night in Canada Saturday afternoon -- more on the afternoon part later -- fans south of the border were shut out as the Ottawa-Buffalo game went to overtime.
You would think American-based fans would be used to this by now. After years of neglect from ESPN, bashing from the radio and print media, and general substandard coverage, it would be hard for things to get worse. Yet they did.
By now, most hockey fans are aware NBC broke away from the game, which started at 11 a.m. pacific time, at 1:42 p.m. pacific time. The Preakness, which is a horse race for those of you who are not as Hoof Hearted as Versus' Keith Jones, was set to begin.
Set to begin at 3:15 p.m. pacific time, that is.
Curiously, the hockey game was scheduled until 2 p.m. pacific time on NBC, yet the broadcast ended 18 minutes early.
The broadcast was moved to Versus, which provided limited success. First of all, an 11 a.m. start is early -- very early. Hockey is a night game, and many long-time fans are not into watching games before lunch. Personally, I am part of that group, so I did what I always do with afternoon playoff games.
I TiVoed it.
And I am not the only one. I have yet to talk to a west coast resident who watched the game live. It is simply too early in the day -- for many of us, sports are simply not the same at that time of day. That is just one of many reasons I prefer the CFL to the NFL, the latter of which I almost never watch. But that is another column for another website.
The second group of people affected was those watching in bars. In Southern California, asking for a hockey game on television can be hazardous to your health if there are Dodger, Laker, or Raider fans nearby. Yet as the Ducks have progressed, most bars actually showed Saturday's game. True, Anaheim was not playing, but interest in the sport is -- or was – increasing through the team’s playoff run.
Again, an informal survey of several bars showed none of them figured out where the game was moved until overtime was over. NBC gave a very quick briefing on the screen as to where the game would go, but if anyone was looking away (and that is a pretty good chance right after the end of a period), they missed the announcement.
There was no ticker on the bottom of the Preakness coverage telling hockey fans where to watch the game. When 20 minutes or more passed, most bartenders and patrons realized the game had moved, but did not know where.
After all, stations like MSNBC, CNBC, and USA Network -- all owned by NBC -- would have been the first guess for many people.
No, it was on Versus. To be honest, if the game was going to move, this makes sense. The channel is one of the few American channels that believes in the NHL, so why not give them some bonus coverage?
The only issue is carriage. Although I have long been an advocate of people getting DirecTV or Dish Network if their cable company does not carry Versus -- FCC regulations prohibit condo associations and homeowners associations from preventing the installation of these dishes -- the fact remains, not all people who receive NBC also receive Versus.
If people knew prior to the game there was a risk of this happening, they could have made arrangements. People with no cable or no Versus could have gone to a local bar, a friend's house, or made other plans.
On 17 minutes notice, that is not possible.
The irony of the whole thing is the game was played at a game time set by NBC. CBC certainly does not like afternoon games -- it kills ratings in Canada. Canadians watch hockey at night. Afternoons are for enjoying the day -- getting out of the house. Saturday night is for hockey.
NBC has arrogantly dismissed this tradition by insisting on afternoon games. Yet here is a case where had the game been played at 5 p.m. pacific time/8 p.m. eastern time, the horse race would have been over. Like most hockey fans, I have no clue what NBC shows Saturday in prime time -- and from this point on, most hockey fans will avoid NBC altogether -- but I cannot imagine it is so vital that it cannot be pre-empted for the conference finals.
If NBC wanted the game in the day, they had an obligation to the league and the league's fans to follow the game through.
NBC Universal's Brian Walker told the Globe and Mail the decision to leave the game early will not be repeated, but he also stated the contract with the Preakness required them to leave the game.
In other words, it will not be repeated unless it is repeated.
Hockey fans deserve better. The NBC experiment has been flawed since day one. The games get low ratings, yet nobody recognizes the morning/afternoon game times are the reason. Even the NFL gets higher ratings for Sunday night and Monday night games than they do for Sunday afternoon games.
Even if all games are on pay-per-view, the league must re-establish credibility by playing the games at night and showing the game in entirety. Being on network television -- with these constraints -- is simply not worth the consequences.
For those of you who do not recall a fateful night in February, this is all you need to know about the Eastern Conference Finals between Ottawa and Buffalo.
These teams do not like each other.
Not even a bit. As if it was not enough the Sabres have knocked the Senators out of the playoffs three times, the two teams engaged in a compelling brawl Feb. 22 at the Hot Sauce and Blue Cheese... err, HSBC... Arena.
What started as a hit by Chris Neil on Chris Drury led to a line brawl on the next shift with Ray Emery -- yes, the goaltender -- taking on Buffalo tough guy Andrew Peters in the main event.
The gloves may not come off on the ice in the same manner this time around -- at least not for Emery -- but the gloves are off in the press conferences. After Emery expressed concern about what there would be to do in Buffalo during downtime, Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff suggested he could rent a Hummer and go for a drive.
Emery made headlines last round when his H2 truck was involved in a minor traffic accident on the way to the airport, causing him to miss the team's charter to New Jersey.
The pre-series hype feels like a late 90s series between Colorado and Detroit, and it might just come down to that on the ice. Once considered too soft to win in the playoffs, Ottawa has turned into an entertaining, gritty squad. The superstars like Dany Heatley, Jason Spezza, and Daniel Alfredsson will not back down when the going gets tough, and it gets more physical from there.
Chris Neil is one of the league's most talented pugilists -- in fact, it would be erroneous to refer to him simply as an enforcer. Dean McAmmond and Mike Fisher add more grit up front, and the rearguards are equally impressive.
Anton Volchenkov ranks among league leaders in hits and blocked shots, and there is much to like about his underrated game. Paired with Chris Phillips, this duo becomes a nightmare for the opposition's top line.
For Buffalo, it is a good thing they do not have a top line. Rather, they have four lines that rank somewhere between a first and second line. Yes, these Sabres are good -- scary good -- as legendary play by play man Rick Jeanneret would say.
Chris Drury is one of the league's best clutch scorers, yet he is used on a shutdown line. And what team would not be envious of this list: Daniel Briere, Thomas Vanek, Maxim Afinogenov, Dainus Zubrus, Tim Connolly, Ales Kotalik, Derek Roy. When Jason Pominville -- whose jersey is in the top ten for sales in the entire NHL -- is on your fourth line, that is the definition of depth.
Toni Lydman and Henrik Tallinder comprise Buffalo's top defensive duo, but for the Sabres, it is defense by committee. Brian Campbell is on the third defensive unit, but he plays the point on the power play. As with everything else in Buffalo, it is not about top end talent as much as it is about depth.
The Sabres have a wildly entertaining offensive attack, often coming at their opponents in waves. Many of Buffalo's rushes start of center ice turnovers, which could be a key to this series. Ottawa has shown a penchant for turning over the puck between the bluelines, and if that happens in this series, the Sabres will make them pay.
Two young goaltenders who do not lack in confidence will man the nets in this series. Buffalo's Ryan Miller and Ottawa's Ray Emery have faced each other on many occasions through the NHL and AHL, so there are no surprises. Both have looked good through the first two rounds, and there is no reason to believe that will change in the conference finals.
PREDICTION: By mid-February, it became clear these were the top two teams in the Eastern Conference. The series could come down to a bounce, a shorthanded goal, or a key turnover. Give a slight edge to Buffalo in what should be a wildly entertaining seven-game series. Sabres in seven.
Why Vancouver will win: Roberto Luongo is a candidate for the Hart Trophy, and he was arguably stronger yet in the first round against Dallas. There may be no tougher goalie to face in a best-of-seven series right now. Vancouver’s defense seems to know exactly when to pinch and when to retreat, and they receive decent offensive punch from the blueline.
Why Vancouver will struggle: Beyond Markus Naslund and the Sedin twins – who were quiet for the middle five games of the opening round -- the Canucks lack scoring depth up front. Against Chris Pronger and Scott Niedermayer, this could be a fatal flaw.
Why Anaheim will win: Niederpronger – also known as Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger – plays nearly 60 minutes a game. If the Canucks get past the rearguards, there’s always J.S Giguere or Ilya Bryzgalov as the last line of defense.
Why Anaheim will struggle: Luongo. It seems cliché, but Luongo can win a series on his own.
Conclusion: Look for a very low scoring series, as Anaheim’s blueline and Vancouver’s Luongo will make sure that is the case. In the end, the Ducks should be able to pound Vancouver at both ends of the ice, and that can be the difference in a long series.
Prediction: Ducks in six.
#1 Detroit vs #5 San Jose
Why San Jose will win: The Sharks have the West’s best depth at forward with Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Jonathan Cheechoo, Joe Pavelski, Bill Guerin…. you get the idea. The two-headed goaltending tandem known as Naboskala – Evgeni Nabokov and Vesa Toskala – ensure San Jose will have solid netminding, even in the case of an injury.
Why San Jose will struggle: Bill Guerin is the only Shark with his name on the Stanley Cup. On the other hand, Detroit features a plethora of past champions.
Why Detroit will win: The Red Wings were the league’s best regular season team and they dominated Calgary in the first round. The Wings have great depth up front and on the blueline, while Dominik Hasek has turned back the clock between the pipes.
Why Detroit will struggle: San Jose is a much younger, bigger, and more physical team. There is always a chance the Wings will start to show their age – but do not bet on it.
Conclusion: Perhaps the most intriguing series of the second round, this one could go either way. Detroit must find a way to shut down San Jose’s top two lines in order to advance to the conference finals.
Prediction: Sharks in seven.
Eastern Conference
#1 Buffalo vs #6 New York Rangers
Why the Rangers will win: Since acquiring Sean Avery before the trade deadline, the Rangers have been the NHL’s hottest team. Brendan Shanahan provides playoff grit and experience, while Jaromir Jagr is still one of the game’s elite players. Henrik Lundqvist has regained his rookie season form in goal, and the rearguards in front of him have turned around their mediocre early season performance.
Why the Rangers will struggle: Compared to the Sabres, the Rangers have a notable lack of depth. If Jagr or Shanahan struggles, who will pick up the slack?
Why Buffalo will win: No team rolls four lines better than the Sabres, yet they still have impressive top-end talent with the likes of Daniel Briere, Chris Drury, and Thomas Vanek. Ryan Miller has emerged as one of the league’s best netminders the past two seasons.
Why Buffalo will struggle: The Sabres might not have an answer for the ever-annoying Sean Avery, although they can limit Avery’s effectiveness by taking early leads.
Conclusion: Unlike last year, the Rangers peaked at the right time this season. Many observers are writing them off against the mighty Sabres, but that is a little premature. Look for a close, entertaining series between these two teams.
Prediction: Sabres in seven.
#2 New Jersey vs #4 Ottawa
Why Ottawa will win: From the start of the season, this Senators squad looked more like a playoff team than years past. The top line of Dany Heatley, Jason Spezza, and Daniel Alfredsson is as good as any in the league, while players like Mike Fisher, Chris Neil, and Anton Volchenkov provide depth and grit.
Why Ottawa will struggle: The Senators must overcome a history of falling short in spring. The image may have been true in the past, but it is likely overblown this season considering the makeup of this squad.
Why New Jersey will win: Martin Brodeur. The legendary goalie continues his remarkable career, and he can single-handedly win a series.
Why New Jersey will struggle: The Devils looked sluggish at times in the first round against a schizophrenic Tampa Bay squad. They will need a more consistent effort to knock off the Sens.
Conclusion: Ottawa’s offensive attack against New Jersey’s air-tight defensive system provides an interesting clash in styles, but the Senators have too many offensive weapons for the Devils to shut them down completely.
If there was ever a day that should have been great for Southern California hockey fans, Thursday was that day.
One night after the Anaheim Ducks knocked off the Calgary Flames in Cowtown to advance to the second round, the discussion should have centered around the play on the ice.
Unfortunately, in today's modern times, that is not possible. A litany of absurd television decisions has caused enough stress among Ducks fans that some are wondering whether winning the first round was a good thing after all.
Most obvious is the ridiculous game times in the second round. With all four lower-seeded teams winning in the opening round, Anaheim has home ice for the second round. It would seem that is a good thing, but when the schedules were released, it is obvious that is not the case.
The Ducks and their fans are rewarded by two of their first three home games starting at noon. Yes -- hockey, the one sport that mercifully has eschewed afternoon games through the game's history -- has given the team with home ice two noon games.
Afternoon games are bad enough as players tend to be out of their normal biorhythm, but a lunch time game is downright absurd. The whole point of a home game is comfort -- players sleep in their own beds and go about their normal game day routines. Starting a game seven and a half hours earlier than a normal game completely eliminates that advantage.
In addition, most crowds are not as enthusiastic during afternoon games. Yes, NFL crowds are rowdy, but that comes from the pre-game libations more than anything. Do not count on the rowdy tailgating to happen for the weekend games in Anaheim, as summer daytime weekend traffic can often be worse than rush hour.
If more than half the seats are filled at game time, it will be a miracle. And if they are not, it is not the fault of the fans. Rather, it is the fault of NBC, the network that has foolishly timed their game times all season long so most of their broadcasts actually start in the morning on the west coast.
To top off the absurdity, consider this is a Western Conference series, and yet it is being played at a time that is more convenient in the Eastern Time zone. For fans in Southern California and Colorado's Front Range, it is more than a bit of an inconvenience. Both regions are places where people take pride in their outdoor activities, and few people are interested in watching television on a warm spring afternoon.
If this is what having an NBC contract means, the NHL needs to terminate the contract with NBC immediately, if not sooner. NBC's picture quality has been the worst seen in decades, a sign they are simply not using a good enough satellite link. Many fans wonder how CBC and OLN can broadcast a game in quality good enough to clearly make out players' numbers from a distant center ice camera, yet on NBC, the picture is so fuzzy it can actually be hard to tell the teams apart.
The NBC fiasco must come to an end. Between inconvenient game times and brutal picture quality, NHL fans would be better served by watching the game on the Center Ice package.
Even if the NBC issue could be resolved -- something that looks unlikely -- the NHL has another television headache on their hands in Southern California. Unable to get all playoff games on their normal station, Fox Sports Prime Ticket, the Ducks put two first round games on KDOC, an independent station from Anaheim. Unfortunately, KDOC is not available on all Southern California cable systems, and even the most powerful antenna can be powerless to pick up the station from some locales. For example, the entire San Diego metropolitan area is shut out, as the station is not offered to cable or satellite customers for the area's 3 million-plus residents.
When the games are on a local station, OLN's broadcast is blacked out. Game seven was one of those games. In other words, San Diego residents were unable to watch game seven, as the broadcast was blacked out on OLN because it was on KDOC. However, San Diego residents do not receive KDOC.
OLN reportedly received more than 300 angry phone calls from San Diego Wednesday night, but nobody seems to know who is to blame for the fiasco.
The NHL has rebounded better than any other league has from a year-long lockout, but these television issues could alienate many fans. The casual fan does not, and should not, accept absurd blackouts and inconvenient game times. The die-hard fan may take time off work and drive a couple of hours to watch a game on television, but that can not be a long-term solution.
The NHL needs to stand up to NBC and inform them hockey is traditionally a night game. Canadian viewers, most of whom greatly dislike afternoon games, deserve better. CBC and TSN do not make incredulous game time demands as NBC does, and for that, Canadian fans and networks get tossed aside as if they were unimportant. This comes despite ratings that indicate a higher total number of people -- not just percent of population -- tend to watch in Canada than in the United States.
In reality, the heart of the game is in Canada, and that may be truer today than ever before. A story three years ago in the American media expressed shock that a playoff game involving the Ottawa Senators received less than half the television ratings of most regular season Hockey Night in Canada broadcasts.
What the American media did not say is the game was an afternoon game. Canadian fans tend to be more steadfast in their dislike of afternoon games than American fans, and rightfully so. Hockey is traditionally a night game, and afternoon games simply do not have the same excitement for many true fans.
In an ideal world, Canadian telecasts would be available to American viewers, and contracts such as the deal with NBC would not be needed. Since that is unlikely to happen, it is time for the NHL to stand up for the fans in arenas and all fans who dislike afternoon games.
Tell NBC the games are in the evening, and that is final. The amount of casual fans picked up by having a game on NBC -- as if anyone does not have cable or satellite these days anyway -- is far less than the number of fans who are being alienated by inconvenient game times.
If you are a fan of wide-open, high-scoring hockey, this could be your series.
The Senators are led by the potent trio of Dany Heatley, Daniel Alfredsson, and Jason Spezza. The Lightning counter with Martin St. Louis, Brad Richards, and Vincent Lecavalier.
Just as importantly, the goaltending issue is a question mark for each team. Dominik Hasek's status has been a question mark since he was injured in the Olympics, putting the starting job in the hands of Ray Emery. Emery has posted a respectable 2.82 goals against and .902 save percentage, but the Sens certainly hope Hasek returns at some point in this series.
On the other hand, Tampa Bay counters with two goaltenders who have struggled much of the year. Veteran Sean Burke posted a 2.80 goals against and a .895 save percentage, while John Grahame finished with a sub par 3.06 goals against and a .889 save percentage.
Tampa Bay has the advantage of playoff experience, as they are the defending Stanley Cup champions. The Lightning had a tougher time than expected in adapting to the new rule enforcements, a bit of a surprise for a high-scoring, up-tempo team. When the Lightning are on, however, they can play with anyone in the league.
Prediction: This could be one of the first round's most intriguing series. If either team comes up with standout goaltending, that could be the difference. Senators in seven.
#2 Carolina vs #7 Montreal
Twenty years ago, a rookie goaltender named Patrick Roy came out of nowhere to lead the Montreal Canadiens to the Stanley Cup.
This year, Habs fans hope surprising Cristobal Huet, who led the NHL with a .929 save percentage, can make history repeat itself.
To do that, Montreal will have to shut down young superstar Eric Staal, who tallied 45 goals and 100 points in the regular season. Staal is joined by late season acquisitions Mark Recchi and Doug Weight, two players who will provide veteran leadership for the Hurricanes.
Montreal's top scorer, Alex Kovalev, posted just 65 regular season points. With Martin Gerber excelling between the pipes for the Hurricanes, offense could be hard to come by for the Habs.
Prediction: An energetic Bell Centre crowd will help Montreal get a couple of wins, but Carolina is too strong for the Canadiens. Hurricanes in six.
#3 New Jersey vs #6 New York Rangers
Through most of the regular season, the Rangers were one of the NHL's feel-good stories. A happy Jaromir Jagr led the Rangers' revival, and the world's media center caught hockey fever once again.
Less than ten miles from Madison Square Garden, however, another story was taking place. New Jersey won their final 11 games to pass the Rangers on the season's final day, capturing yet another division title for the team from the Meadowlands.
Jagr finished second in the league with 123 points, but New Jersey has their own scoring sensation. Little big man Brian Gionta set a Devils record with 48 goals, and he has formed a potent first line with Scott Gomez and Zach Parise.
Henrik Lundqvist has posted great numbers in his rookie season, but anytime Martin Brodeur appears in a playoff series, the goaltending edge has to go to the Devils.
Prediction: The Devils technically have home ice advantage, but look for many Ranger fans to find their way to Continental Airlines Arena. The energy in Madison Square Garden should get the Rangers a win or two, but New Jersey is the East's hottest team right now. Devils in six.
#4 Buffalo vs #5 Philadelphia
Maxim Afinogenov is their leading scorer with 73 points. Chris Drury is their only 30 goal scorer. Yet the Buffalo Sabres ranked fifth in goal scoring in the regular season.
An odd stat to be sure, but the Sabres are all about a team concept. Eleven players have at least 40 points, and the same number have double-digit goals.
Philadelphia, on the other hand, relies largely on the duo of Peter Forsberg and Simon Gagne for their offense. When healthy, they can be unstoppable, but health is always an issue with Forsberg. He has been nursing a groin injury in recent weeks, and he will likely be at less than 100%.
Emerging star Ryan Miller gives the Sabres an edge between the pipes. Philadelphia will counter with Robert Esche, but if he falters, look for the Flyers to turn to Olympic standout Antero Nittymaki.
Prediction: If Forsberg is healthy, the Flyers could be a force in these playoffs. Anything less than 100% from Forsberg, however, and the Sabres' balance could be too much for Philadelphia to overcome. Sabres in seven.
As a life-long hockey fan and sports fan in general, sports has always been a big part of my life. I have combined that with my interest in writing to create a long-term interest in sportswriting , something that has manifested itself in various sportswriting opportunities over the years.
