NHL

[pantaloons 2,019]

You know it's a bad loss when you wake up in the middle of the night having nightmares about it. Game 7 was one of the worst sporting losses I've ever experienced, and certainly the worst loss in Sharks history. Gee, San Jose becomes just the fourth team in NHL history to blow a 3-0 lead, and the Chiefs suffer the second-worst choke in NFL playoff history all in the same year! But enough woe is me...

Blackhawks in 4

kings in 5

Bruins in 5

Pittsburgh in 6

[Good Times Grimes 2,396]

So it's down to Montreal vs New York in the East and the west is looking like it will be LA vs Chicago (LA is currently leading Anaheim 5-0).

Who wins it from here?

I think Montreal and New York will be a duel between Lundqvist and Price, but I think Montreal will be too good. Montreal in 6.

Los Angeles and Chicago will be very interesting. I rate Quick as a far better goalie than Crawford, but I think Chicago's offence is much better than LA's. I'll pick Chicago in 7.

As much as I hate to say it, I think that the Canadiens will win it all.

[Good Times Grimes 2,396]

Seems as though I have cursed the Canadiens, with Price ruled out for the remained of the ECF. No Price, no Montreal.

NYR to win the series in 5, Chicago to win the cup.

[Macca 16,965]

Seems as though I have cursed the Canadiens, with Price ruled out for the remained of the ECF. No Price, no Montreal.

NYR to win the series in 5, Chicago to win the cup.

Watched Montreal get up in OT today ... Tokarski had an excellent game standing in for Price but can he keep it going?

At this stage of the playoffs I'm just tossing a coin but your call on the likely finalists is probably on the money. Hoping both these series go to 7 games. The Kings have the next 2 games at home and if those games are split, we could have a classic series.

Rangers are at home in a couple of days and if they can win and attain a 3-1 series lead, it'll be hard for Montreal from there. But you never know in this sport.

[Good Times Grimes 2,396]

Watched Montreal get up in OT today ... Tokarski had an excellent game standing in for Price but can he keep it going?

At this stage of the playoffs I'm just tossing a coin but your call on the likely finalists is probably on the money. Hoping both these series go to 7 games. The Kings have the next 2 games at home and if those games are split, we could have a classic series.

Rangers are at home in a couple of days and if they can win and attain a 3-1 series lead, it'll be hard for Montreal from there. But you never know in this sport.

It's looking more and more like a Los Angeles-New York final. Definitely not what I expected.

I'd like to see the Rangers have a win, as I quite like Marty St. Louis, but am not too fussed really.

[Cards13 9,117]

Would be amazed if the Kings did not win it all, they look a step above.

Hawks as someone said as the playoffs started just step up when the beards come out.

Habs rangers game today was nuts.

[Macca 16,965]

And another thriller today ... the hawks get one back in another high scoring affair

It's my bet that at least one of these series goes to 7 games. Maybe both.

[Good Times Grimes 2,396]

Rangers are through to the final. Tokarski was fantastic for Montreal and gave them every chance of forcing Game 7. They really couldn't have asked for anything more from him.

Lundqvist looks determined.

Finals start Wednesday (North American time) in either Chicago or LA.

[Macca 16,965]

Rangers are through to the final. Tokarski was fantastic for Montreal and gave them every chance of forcing Game 7. They really couldn't have asked for anything more from him.

Lundqvist looks determined.

Finals start Wednesday (North American time) in either Chicago or LA.

Game 7 in Chicago in a couple of days ... today's game 6 highlights for those who haven't caught up

Big city team vs big city team regardless ...

I wonder if that will make any difference with the media coverage? ... I find it a little frustrating that sportscenter never gives the hockey a huge amount of coverage. We rarely see any in depth back stories per se ... still, Barry Melrose is always good value (especially his sports jackets!)

[Maple Demon 449]

It is because hockey is a fringe sport here. Huge in North America, especially Canada. Even the world junior hockey tournament featuring 17-19 year olds has every game shown live in Canada.

[Macca 16,965]

I wasn't talking about our media. Most people here understand where our media's focus is.

I was specifically talking about the US media - "Sportscenter" is a US production shown on cable (ESPN) in Australia (most probably worldwide). My point was that Hockey in the States doesn't seem to get the mainstream attention in the media that the other 3 big sports get. Obviously that same opinion doesn't pertain to Canada where the sport is huge.

[Good Times Grimes 2,396]

I wasn't talking about our media. Most people here understand where our media's focus is.

I was specifically talking about the US media - "Sportscenter" is a US production shown on cable (ESPN) in Australia (most probably worldwide). My point was that Hockey in the States doesn't seem to get the mainstream attention in the media that the other 3 big sports get. Obviously that same opinion doesn't pertain to Canada where the sport is huge.

I agree that ESPN doesn't have a strong focus on hockey. They're much more interested in the MLB, NFL and NBA. I think that the quality/quantity of NHL coverage in the US depends a lot on where you are. I know that it's massive in places like Detroit, Boston, Minnesota, Chicago and New York, but many of the teams in the warmer climates of California, Florida, Texas, Arizona, etc are often overlooked by ESPN (at least that's how it seems to me). I think it also has a lot to do with how successful/popular the other major teams in any given state are.

For e.g. hockey takes the backseat in Florida to the Miami Dolphins, TB Buccaneers (NFL), Miami Heat (NBA) and the Tampa Bay Rays (MLB).

California is saturated with teams in every sport, and it seems to me that hockey isn't a priority for their sportscasters. I could be wrong on this, but it seems as though Californians prefer the Lakers, Clippers, Dodgers, Athletics, Angels, Raiders, etc to the Ducks, Sharks and Kings.

I think that NBC is the major network for NHL in the states... could be worth looking into getting that channel if you're interested in some better coverage and it's available. Otherwise, YouTube is great as it has all the highlights up very quickly after the games and you can always find some pretty good analysis.

[Good Times Grimes 2,396]

It is because hockey is a fringe sport here. Huge in North America, especially Canada. Even the world junior hockey tournament featuring 17-19 year olds has every game shown live in Canada.

Who's your team, Maple?

[Maple Demon 449]

Who's your team, Maple?

I don't really have an NHL team myself, but my brothers follow the Wings and the Habs so I always want those teams to do well. Sorry, but I can't stand the Leafs. I guess it comes from media overexposure over the years.

[Maple Demon 449]

I agree that ESPN doesn't have a strong focus on hockey. They're much more interested in the MLB, NFL and NBA. I think that the quality/quantity of NHL coverage in the US depends a lot on where you are. I know that it's massive in places like Detroit, Boston, Minnesota, Chicago and New York, but many of the teams in the warmer climates of California, Florida, Texas, Arizona, etc are often overlooked by ESPN (at least that's how it seems to me). I think it also has a lot to do with how successful/popular the other major teams in any given state are.

For e.g. hockey takes the backseat in Florida to the Miami Dolphins, TB Buccaneers (NFL), Miami Heat (NBA) and the Tampa Bay Rays (MLB).

California is saturated with teams in every sport, and it seems to me that hockey isn't a priority for their sportscasters. I could be wrong on this, but it seems as though Californians prefer the Lakers, Clippers, Dodgers, Athletics, Angels, Raiders, etc to the Ducks, Sharks and Kings.

I think that NBC is the major network for NHL in the states... could be worth looking into getting that channel if you're interested in some better coverage and it's available. Otherwise, YouTube is great as it has all the highlights up very quickly after the games and you can always find some pretty good analysis.

Spot on with the 'which state' part. In those states it is still somewhat of a novelty or fringe sport. The only reason the Kings got so much coverage all those years ago was because the Great One signed with them. In the cold climate states, especially any of the Original Six cities, it gets a lot of coverage.

[Maple Demon 449]

I wasn't talking about our media. Most people here understand where our media's focus is.

I was specifically talking about the US media - "Sportscenter" is a US production shown on cable (ESPN) in Australia (most probably worldwide). My point was that Hockey in the States doesn't seem to get the mainstream attention in the media that the other 3 big sports get. Obviously that same opinion doesn't pertain to Canada where the sport is huge.

Wasn't entirely sure by your original post. Have you tried streaming TSN's version of Sports Centre?

[Macca 16,965]

Maple Demon, I usually visit NHL.com or the hockey sections of SI.com or ESPN.com for anything I would like to catch up on (whether it be feature articles, highlights, or topical stories) I'll try and search out TSN's version of Sportscentre - thanks for that.

However, I was more interested as to why hockey often gets shunted back behind the other 3 big sports (in the mainstream media in the USA) 'GTG' explained it quite well but it does seem quite disproportionate, all the same.

Found this thread on HFBoards.com ... some reasonable explanations were found after a bit of sifting through.

Anyway, the Rangers vs Blackhawks/LA final is an intriguing one for a few reasons. We could have an original 6 match-up, the big city team vs big city team scenario is going to happen and we'll find out whether the Rangers can win against either of the 2 teams who have recently won it.

Looking forward to it but in the meantime, tomorrow's Western conference game 7 should be a beauty.

Edited June 1, 2014 by Macca

[pantaloons 2,019]

A begrudging congratulations to the Kings on winning the Stanley Cup again.

[Cards13 9,117]

Fair old series in the West. Kings looked dead on their skates, I thought the Hawks were skating all over them and it was just time before they got the shot on goal they needed... Bang Kings score. Game. Series.

Now they need to get it together for the final series. Rangers to win the first and maybe second but Kings to win it all.

[Macca 16,965]

I literally could go either way but the series is sure to have high interest. Rangers in 7 but that's just a guess.

The last time the Rangers won it ...

Spring of 1994 still remembered 20 years later

[Good Times Grimes 2,396]

I don't really have an NHL team myself, but my brothers follow the Wings and the Habs so I always want those teams to do well. Sorry, but I can't stand the Leafs. I guess it comes from media overexposure over the years.

Fair enough, you're not the first person I know to hate the Leafs!

[Good Times Grimes 2,396]

I predict the Kings in 7, which means that congratulations are in order for the New York Rangers, the 2014 Stanley Cup Champions!

Edited June 6, 2014 by Good Times Grimes

[pantaloons 2,019]

Kings in 4. They have just won three straight road games against teams who are several levels better than the Rangers. It's one of the biggest sporting finals mismatches I've ever seen, but then again, I said that about the 1998 AFL Grand Final and the first Pats-Giants Super Bowl.

[Cards13 9,117]

Are the Kings serious? OT winner again....

[Macca 16,965]

Yep, LA certainly know how to come back from a 0-2 scoreline. They just can't be counted out. The Rangers had a huge opportunity today and they'll be smarting from that defeat.

The next game is on Sunday (oz time) and you feel that the Rangers almost have to level the series. If not, the Kings will go to New York knowing that they just have to win 1 of the 2 games there to gain a big advantage.

... today's highlights