Sunday, May 24, 2009
Stanley Cup Finals: NBC-NHL Scheduling Debacle
If you got to this post via a search on Google, please bounce to my newer updated Stanley Cup Finals schedule post located here instead. It has just been revised to include the start time for Game 2. The information in this older post has become obsolete, but Google is still linking to this one rather than the more recent one. Or click on the banner to go directly to the homepage, and then scroll down a few posts to find the schedule that way (posted Wed. 5/27). Thanks!
Up till now I haven't posted any schedules for the Stanley Cup Finals, partly so as not to jinx anything (it ain't Oprah till it's Oprah), but also because it has been a major-league goose-chase to locate anything that even approaches an official announcement of the game dates. There were two sets of schedules: the first had game 1 beginning on Friday May 29th, but required that both conference final serieses be swept. Chicago knocked that idea out of the box by taking game 3 from Detroit. (We, on the other hand, appear highly likely to do the deed. I'm just saying.) So the second scenario would seem to be the winner by default. But it is a ridiculous, ludicrous, horrible arrangement. NBC is calling all the shots since Bettman wants over-the-air broadcasts, not just cable. And NBC isn't exactly prioritizing things to suit the best interests of the NHL, its players, or its fans. In this Plan B scenario, game 1 isn't to start until the end of NEXT WEEK – Friday June 5th. The first two games are on consecutive nights, and a seven-game series wouldn't be over until June 16th. It's Conan O'Brien's fault. Or maybe there's a Yanni concert at Radio City Music Hall.
But whoa Nelly, hold your horses. I just found this update at ESPN.com, posted less than two hours ago as I type this.
So with that taken into account, here's what I believe to be the most likely schedule for the finals. All times are Eastern. I think. Unless they aren't. The last column is who has home ice (duh).
HOWEVER — and I'm not sure about this so don't bet the farm — if either the Pens or the Wings lose their next games (Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, respectively), I guess we're back to the original second "late start" scenario.
But who the hell really knows! Not me!
Up till now I haven't posted any schedules for the Stanley Cup Finals, partly so as not to jinx anything (it ain't Oprah till it's Oprah), but also because it has been a major-league goose-chase to locate anything that even approaches an official announcement of the game dates. There were two sets of schedules: the first had game 1 beginning on Friday May 29th, but required that both conference final serieses be swept. Chicago knocked that idea out of the box by taking game 3 from Detroit. (We, on the other hand, appear highly likely to do the deed. I'm just saying.) So the second scenario would seem to be the winner by default. But it is a ridiculous, ludicrous, horrible arrangement. NBC is calling all the shots since Bettman wants over-the-air broadcasts, not just cable. And NBC isn't exactly prioritizing things to suit the best interests of the NHL, its players, or its fans. In this Plan B scenario, game 1 isn't to start until the end of NEXT WEEK – Friday June 5th. The first two games are on consecutive nights, and a seven-game series wouldn't be over until June 16th. It's Conan O'Brien's fault. Or maybe there's a Yanni concert at Radio City Music Hall.
But whoa Nelly, hold your horses. I just found this update at ESPN.com, posted less than two hours ago as I type this.
NHL may bump up Cup finals start date
By E. J. Hradek
Updated: May 24, 2009, 10:36 PM ET
According to multiple sources, if the Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings can wrap up their respective Conference final series by Wednesday night, the Stanley Cup finals likely would start on Saturday, May 30 in Detroit. In this scenario, Game 2 would be played on Sunday, May 31.
This is a change from a May 22 press release from the league that indicated that the championship series would begin on Friday, June 5, if both Conference final series didn't end in four-game sweeps.
The Penguins can close out their series with a victory over the Hurricanes in Raleigh on Tuesday night. The defending champion Red Wings, meanwhile, have positioned themselves to advance with a win over the Blackhawks on Wednesday in Detroit.
For the past several days, the league has been working behind the scenes with NBC, which has limited prime time real estate to devote to the Cup finals due to important "sweeps" week programming and the Tonight Show re-launch with new host Conan O'Brien.
The possible change would spare the league an embarrassing, television-created, eight-day hiatus and the competitive nature of the playoffs wouldn't be compromised by an unusually long layoff for both clubs.
So with that taken into account, here's what I believe to be the most likely schedule for the finals. All times are Eastern. I think. Unless they aren't. The last column is who has home ice (duh).
1. Sat 5/30 8PM NBC West
2. Sun 5/31 8PM NBC West
3. Tue 6/2 8PM Versus East
4. Thu 6/4 8PM Versus East
5.* Sat 6/6 8PM NBC West
6.* Tue 6/9 8PM NBC East
7.* Fri 6/12 8PM NBC West
*if necessary
HOWEVER — and I'm not sure about this so don't bet the farm — if either the Pens or the Wings lose their next games (Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, respectively), I guess we're back to the original second "late start" scenario.
1. Fri 6/5 8PM NBC West
2. Sat 6/6 8PM NBC West
3. Mon 6/8 8PM Versus East
4. Wed 6/10 8PM Versus East
5.* Fri 6/12 8PM NBC West
6.* Sun 6/14 5PM NBC East <--note earlier time
7.* Tue 6/16 8PM NBC West
*if necessary
But who the hell really knows! Not me!
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