Pardon me for getting on the NHL soapbox, but here goes:
I am tired of Detroit … I am tired of “Hockeytown” (there are many other cities that can better claim that title) … I am tired of the “Red Wings Game of the Week” on NBC.
I am tired of the lack of a real reward for teams who bust their butt to excel during the regular season … whether it’s byes, extra home games, or Wins-in-hand during the playoffs, I don’t know.
I am tired of “veiled” preferences to selected teams & markets during the playoffs, e.g. when the refs swallow the whistles.
I have had it with sudden-death overtime where the rule is a pin-ball outcome rather than the exception … Play the OT’s to fixed periods i.e. every 10 minutes, the second goal seals it.
I am EXTREMELY tired with being on the outside looking in … And this last point IN NO WAY colors my opinions heretofore expressed. ;-)
i hear ya : ) the pundits HATE ovechkin and the Caps and LOVE crosby and the penguins. OV and the Caps have all sorts of room for criticism, but the fellating of the Pens is a bit much to take. Soother will no doubt take issue with that, but i know Hobbes will agree, because i heard about it from him throughout the pens-isles series.
Detroit is “Hockeytown” in the same way the Cowboys are “America’s Team.”
Which is to say it’s marketing hype. Hooey. Hooeytown.
The Penguins have long had better local TV ratings than Detroit, or anyone else. This year they have the highest rating of any hockey, basketball or baseball town.
OK, enough civic boosting.
The refs have always been inconsistent. Things that are penalties in the 1st period are not in the 3rd. Almost nothing is called in OT. It’s always been an obstruct and slash and “let them play” mentality.
I like the idea of rewarding the top teams with more than just 4-3 home ice in the first round.
I don’t like the idea of changing from sudden death. That’s one of the best things going for the sport.