UPDATE: Versus declared Games 1 and 4 of the Vancouver-Chicago to have full national exclusivity. So even in Chicago, you have to sit through Versus to see your team. Even Vancouver fans would rather watch Chicago-biased announcers than Versus' dribblers. That isn't the worst part.
Game 4 of the series starts at 9:30 pm Eastern, before the Boston-Philadelphia game is scheduled to end. So either Chicago fans won't get to see the start of their hometown team (not likely), or fans in Chicago won't have the option of switching to the conclusion of Philly-Boston. Either way, hockey fans in the U.S. lose, thanks to the NHL, Gary Bettman, and Versus.
---
Since there are only eight teams left, you would think that seeing your favorite team in the NHL playoffs would be very simple. Leave it to the NHL and Versus to screw that up.
The good news for Montréal fans is that the Sidney Crosby rule kicks in, so Versus will show the Canadiens and blow off U.S. teams, notably San Jose-Detroit and Philadelphia-Boston.
In the Montréal-Pittsburgh series, Games 1, 3-6 will be on exclusively on a national basis on Versus. In the Vancouver-Chicago series, Games 1, 5, and 6 will be on exclusively on a national basis on Versus. And brace yourself, the NBC Television Network will show the Montréal Canadiens on its broadcast network.
Yes, NBC's airing of a Montréal Canadiens game is highly rare. Sidney Crosby's presence is the reason why and the crew won't have to learn any French since Game 2 is in Pittsburgh.
Starting with the Montréal-Pittsburgh series: Games 3-4 and 6 in Montréal air at the same time as San Jose-Detroit in the Motor City. Since the NHL-Versus contract only allows for one game to air at a time, the Sidney Crosby rule wins out and the Canadiens will be on television, at this point. We will see about Game 7, if necessary.
In the Vancouver-Chicago series: Game 2 in Chicago (9p Eastern) will be joined in progress following Philadelphia at Boston (7p Eastern). Games 3 and 4 in Vancouver (9:30p Eastern) will be joined in progress following Philadelphia at Boston (7p Eastern). The 9:30p scheduling is rather poor since that would be 6:30 local time, and the games usually start at 10p Eastern. We will see about Game 7, if necessary.
The NHL Network can come to the rescue with tape-delayed coverage of direct conflicts. For those following the Canucks, you are more out of luck since the games will be "carried" even if you might miss the first period.
Fortunately, for me and those of us in Chicago, we can get the local feed for that series. Versus is entitled to have national exclusivity for up to two games. NBC didn't pick a game in that series, so Versus will likely choose Games 1 and 5 for its national exclusivity, though we don't need the complete story.
Still, this is the conference semifinals. To not have every game aired uninterrupted at this point is pointless. Yes, there are conflicts of having games in the Midwest (Detroit and Chicago), but there are strategies that can work. The chances of Versus picking up a local feed for Round Two aren't likely, but the Western Conference series have a shot, only because they would be joined in progress. Look for CBC, Comcast Sports Net California, Comcast Sports Net Chicago, or Fox Sports Detroit.
Comments