When ice hockey gets discussed in the office, even the keen fans generally say there are too many matches and it goes on far too long nowdays. They say in the "old days" there were fewer play off rounds and they weren't all best of 7 series so it was all over by the time the summer sports started off. No doubt more teams and more matches means more money though.

That's the prime focus of the NHL these days it seems, especially considering the following.

The NHL is reluctant to change ban fighting, blindside hits or hits to the head until someone is seriously injured.

NHL games are shown at TV prime-time to maximise the TV revenue, which means fans are likely to stay home and pay a channel subscription for much less than the price of seeing it live.

With the salary cap, money-sharing, and no demotion to lower leagues for the bottom-placed team(s), there's no incentive for consistently poor teams to do well (including the Toronto Maple Laffs. In fact, there's more of an incentive for poor teams to do badly in order to get better draft picks for the following season.

As Jimmy Cricket says, "and there's more!"

yes, this is so true and I must admit that as we head into the the middle of May, tennis and baseball are more on my list. If the Habs werent still around, I wouldnt bother watching the playoffs to be honest.

As for bringing in the money, that is very true. Sold out crowds at the Bell Centre on game night and bars with large screen Tv;s are turning away people to anyone who arrives after 5 30 ( the games at 7 FFS!) . Infact, most places arent even taking reservations anymore. Not to mention all the merchandise.. the Molson family must be laughing alll the way to the bank.

About 20 of us are heading to a local bar near work for the first home game on Thursday . As it is my day off , I have strict orders to be there by 4 to reserve a table until every one else shows up. With 3 hours to go until the game starts , I can imagine quite a lot of drinking will be had.... what else to do? LOL

The first game was a disaster and I would rather NOT talk about it.. hopefully we will come back tonight with vengeance


GO HABS GO

How did game 2 go for you? At least it wasn't 6-0 this time.

I'd like to see the Habs go through, as they did enought to be the Penguins, plus Philadelphia is to Pens fans what Ottawa is to Leafs fans.

Well the good news is they improved their defence by cutting the goals against to three.

The bad news is with no improvement in the scoring (i.e. none) it still results in a loss.

Watch for a new goaltender in the next game, Halak looks like he's worn out.

yeah rub it in my face lol!


ok.. tomorrow is THE night, if they dont win tomorrow I am going to throw a hissy fit! and pop a bottle of prozac ..

come on Boys! get it together!!!!!!!! :fingers crossed:

After watching game two - and listening to the Quebec media hockey pundits- it appears that Montreal have smaller penises (Willydelphia, "City of Brotherly Love" , "The City that Loves you Back", and " The City of Big Nudgers"?).

Jacques Martin had better pull his finger out.

Yes...I think they should...the further away the better....stupid bloody game....

C'mon Habs, you can do it!

And did it, they did! WOOHOO


Why do they always have to be put against a wall to show us what they got in em? ??

Anyway, just got in from going out with a bunch of friends from work after the game. We were downtown and from what we saw everyone was in great spirits and there was no rioting to be seen.. lots of us beeping our horns on the streets. I had one friend in the passenger seat waving a giant Hab flag and another in the back frantically waving a smaller one. I was trying to weed my way through the crowds beeping my horn every few feet.My kids would have been hiding from me I am sure had they been there

Yes, we are still in the game !

Too wired to sleep.. on vacation as of yesterday. Heading to Walt Disney World with the kids on Sunday .. will catch the games at the hotel hopefully

GO HABS GO!

have a great holiday didn't see the game but would like to see them do well

Thanks Mandy.. I will!

What a turn around, 5-1. They still have to win the next IMO.

Oh well, what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger.

Good luck with the holiday, apparently this place Miller's Ale House is just outside Disneyworld and shows the hockey playoff games (on NBC Sports channel. It's worth a look if you're interested.

We want chicken!