The Stanley Cup playoffs are the most exciting and grueling of all the tournaments in professional leagues.
Not surprisingly these playoffs, especially the Western Conference, have not disappointed in the excitement category. Both Western Conference series – Chicago-Detroit and LA-Anaheim – had exciting Game 7s. Hell, the Blackhawks came from a 3-1 deficit to beat Detroit.
The problem is that NO ONE knows the Stanley Cup playoffs are going on.
What channel are the playoffs on? ESPN? Nope, otherwise that channel would jam the NHL’s playoffs down our throats thanks to Sportscenter repeating it 15,000 times. Fox? Nope, otherwise it would be parodied in an episode of “The Simpsons” and “Family Guy”. Lifetime? Nope, otherwise Meredith Baxter-Birney would be starring in a movie about being done wrong by an NHL player.
It’s on the NBC Sports Network – and sometimes NBC.
It’s too bad that the NHL’s playoffs are on a channel that most do not know about. It also sucks that NBC shows only bits and pieces of the playoffs before the Stanley Cup Finals.
The NHL is doing a HUGE disservice by not publicly blasting and selling its playoffs to the masses. I know that one day the NBCSN will catch on and attract more viewership. But in the world of the here and now, the league is not doing itself any favors by keeping its playoffs in the Witness Protection Program.
It’s reason #1,001 as to why Commissioner Gary Bettman’s ass should have been fired a long time ago.
Categories: NHL
More people should know about NBC Sports because it’s really a good channel.