2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs (predictions and discussions)

Game Seven of the Western Conference final had a 22.7 rating in Chicago and a 4.8 in LA. Not sure NBC is happy that the "larger market" team won.

 

Half of L.A. was in traffic till at least 6:30 or 7 PST so the "low" numbers shouldn't be all that surprising.

What are the L.A. ratings for the third period and OT? I bet much higher.

 

Unfortunately, LA will be stuck in traffic for all games of the Stanley Cup finals, too.

 

Chicago is a monster hockey city.

A final between two original six teams would have given NBC enough story lines for 100 games.


Anyway should still be a helluva Final.

 

Oh, I agree.

 

That contract was laughable at the time and became even funnier, to all but the Isles. When it happened a hockey writer said 'it's a bad deal for both because it also means if DiPietro reaches or exceeds what the Isles thought his potential was, he can't go out and test the market.' Even if he somehow turned into Brodeur or Roy it was ridiculous because those guys never received such a deal.

 

Not sure if this has changed or not, but I vaguely recall that in 2012 when the Kings reached the final, there was some hullabaloo about some cable companies not carrying NBC Sports Network. Don't know if that is still a problem in southern California or not.

I can see the arguments both ways. I understand NBC is attempting to build a real sports cable network just like ESPN and Turner did years ago. And the only way to get cable systems to carry your network is to create demand for programming. So you put a few major events on the station to get fans upset enough to complain. It's the same sort of battle the NFL Network is fighting now. Heck, I didn't even see ESPN2 for its first five years because there wasn't even an option to purchase it where I lived at the time.

OTOH, when I lived in a different city, I would pay the extra tier charge to get it because it was worth it to me. Where I'm at now, it's on the expanded basic tier, so that's even better.

 

The only games scheduled to be on the cable network are 3 and 4. The others are on NBC proper.

 

Yes, been that way a while. It's the cable games that people tend to whine over.

Alright, prediction time: Kings win in 6 games. Lundqvist gets one shutout. Conn Smythe winner: Marian Gaborik.

 

Kings in 7.

Sloppy 1st for Kings -- including a shorthanded own goal -- until they got it together somewhat.

 

Well that was a pretty thrilling final minute of regulation.

 

WHEW, I'LL SAY!!!











L!!