Canadian Crossing

2023 Stanley Cup notebook: Toronto and Edmonton eliminated

The Toronto Maple Leafs got further in the Stanley Cup Playoffs than they had in a generation. The Edmonton Oilers didn't get a far as they did last year.

Well before the Victoria Day weekend, the NHL season is over for the Canadian teams. The Winnipeg Jets did better than the other remaining Canadian teams in making the playoffs.

Calgary, which came closest to making the playoffs of any Canadian team that didn't make the playoffs, fired their head coach (Darryl Sutter) during the second round of the playoffs long after the general manager quit in part because of the coach. The search will likely led to a new general manager, followed by the hiring of a coach.

The only thing more certain than death and taxes is consternation about Canadian NHL teams: the ones that made the playoffs and the ones that didn't get so fortunate. We don't cover that part of hockey. We just roll up in October and see where that year's mess will lead.

Next month marks the 30th anniversary of the last Canadian NHL team to win the Stanley Cup: the 1993 Montréal Canadiens. Whenever Toronto was honouring a player from the team that last won the Stanley Cup, a very old man would make his way on the ice. This needs to happen more often in Canada. The Gary Bettman curse continues: new and Southern teams in the mix. Bettman couldn't be happier. Canada cries when that happens.

2023 Stanley Cup notebook: Toronto (finally) and Edmonton advance

We talk about NHL players and how they can act, depending on the team where they play. Sam Bennett didn't come across as a dirty player with the Calgary Flames.

Then again, Bennett couldn't have gotten away with the behaviour he showed for Florida against Toronto as a member of the Flames. Bennett had a vicious cross check to neck of Michael Bunting. That only cost a fine, the price of being rough. Bennett grabbed Matthew Knies in a headlock, dragged him to the ice, and punched him in the back of the head. A referee saw the whole thing: no punishment on or off the ice.

Knies didn't return to the series. Here is to hoping the next NHL commissioner will change the "playoff hockey" mentality. If I had children, I would have them watch a less violent sport, like the CFL.

2023 Stanley Cup notebook: NHL news not related to the playoffs

Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl, along with Joe Pavelski of Dallas, managed to score 4 goals in a Stanley Cup Playoffs game and have his team lose that game. Both did so in Game 1 of the series.

Ray Ferraro was the last player to score 4 goals in a playoff game his team lost.

Hockey style is to downplay individual efforts if the team did not win. Still this was impressive.

Just think how much different things might have been had the Sabres beaten Florida on April 4, rather than lose 2-1.

— John Wawrow 🤷‍♂️ (@john_wawrow) May 13, 2023

The idea of playing Boston in the second round seemed like a cruel fate for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Florida seemed like a better choice. Don't know if the results would have been too different.

The Florida Panthers initially limited playoff tickets to U.S. residents and then had trouble selling out their arena for a playoff game. There was speculation that the spacing of the games in that area had something to do with the Panthers not wanting to go up against the NBA Miami Heat.

The Gary Bettman NHL strategy isn't working. The Carolina-Florida draw might be good in NASCAR country but not in the hockey world.

Canadian film review: Offside: The Harold Ballard Story

NHL suspensions. Each of these defencemen got a 1-game suspension. Las Vegas defenceman Alex Pietrangelo got a 5-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for an aggressive slash on Edmonton's Leon Draisaitl in Game 4.

Edmonton defenceman Darnell Nurse instigated a fight with a willing participant in the last 5 minutes of the game. Nurse's suspension was automatic.

Pietrangelo made an deliberate attempt to injure. If the punishment isn't a deterrent, especially when really trying to hurt a player, then this [bleep] will just get going.

Time to bring needed limits on gambling ads during sports programming

We would love to be surprised that the referees disallowed a Toronto Maple Leafs goal at a key point in Game 5. The inconsistencies are inconsistent and random.

Morgan Rielly appeared to score for Toronto late in the second period of Game 5, tucking the puck behind the right pad of the Florida goaltender. An angle showed the puck crossed the line. There apparently was a whistle but not one people could hear.

This does happen in the regular season but also never in favour of a Canadian team in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Matthews, Marner, Tavares and Nylander...have a combined total of 0 goals in this series.

— Tim Micallef (@tim_micallef) May 8, 2023

This came through the first 3 games of Toronto's first second-round series after breaking the streak. This didn't help, especially when games were close.

2023 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs scoreboard

Joseph Woll is a good goaltender, but when Woll is your backup in playoff time, your team is in bad shape. Woll had to replace Ilya Samsonov, who was injured in a collision with Leafs defenceman Luke Schenn, early in the second period in Game 3. Woll started Games 4 and 5.

2023 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs preview for Canadian teams

We liked Paul Maurice when he was a coach of the Winnipeg Jets. The team felt like they were in good hands. Maurice decided abruptly to leave the Jets. He didn't think he was getting through to the team. Maurice found himself in Florida, the team in Florida that seemed invisible.

The talent has certainly changed for that team but their success follows because of Maurice's leadership. As a former Maple Leafs head coach, beating his former team has to feel good to him if not to us.

We should give an award to the best Canadian NHL team each season

The Edmonton Oilers win our unofficial award for the Canadian NHL team that went the furthest in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Oilers won this award last year. Every Canadian team wants to win this award and the Stanley Cup. For now, this is the best reward.

"If this is the end of the line, been a helluva run for us."

Joe Bowen and Jim Ralph bid farewell for perhaps the last time ever.#LeafsForever @Bonsie1951 @Jim_Ralph pic.twitter.com/VTQX3UuGec

— LeafsJellyHD (@LeafsJelly) May 13, 2023

We have no news or speculation about the status of the Toronto Maple Leafs radio crew. We know the passion for this radio team of Joe Bowen and Jim Ralph sounds louder than any other radio team in Canada. That could be a Toronto bias and we acknowledge that.

NHL notebook: Wrapping up the end of the 2023 regular season

The NHL released a day for Game 2 of the Edmonton Oilers series. Then that day changed. The move led to a lot of fans having to change or cancel their plans to travel to Las Vegas.

We had known for some time that the U.S. TV outlet was unknown and that a Game 6 would be on Mothers Day. The time and network didn't kick in until Saturday morning for a late Sunday night game. Was curious if ESPN and TNT were fighting to carry the game or not carry the game.

Not sure how you grow a game when you only have a single game on Sunday and the game doesn't start until 10 pm Eastern.

The embarrassment of ESPN running a 9-1 baseball game while ESPN2 started the Game 6 coverage is one people should remember for years to come.

The NHL is a priority in Canada and not for U.S. television.

NHL Canadian teams 2023 schedule down the stretch

A team with a racist logo and a terrible history of covering up sexual assault will get the chance to draft Connor Bedard in the 2023 NHL draft. Montréal stays at #5 while Vancouver, Bedard's hometown team, is at #11. The Canucks were the furthest one could be and still move up to the top pick.

"I'm proud of my culture. I'm proud of where I come from and where I was raised, who I was raised by," he [Whitecloud] said.
"I carry my grandfather's last name and nothing makes me more proud than to be able to do that." https://t.co/IxegYMutMs

— Tsanavi Spoonhunter, M.J. (@Tsanavi) May 10, 2023

John Anderson of ESPN had a stupid, ignorant comment concerning Zach Whitecloud's last name. "It was a joke" is the boilerplate reply. These jokes weren't funny when your humble narrator was growing up and that was a long time ago. Grow up.

Tracking the NHL 2022 media changes

Our guide to the NHL Canadian teams coverage

For years, we thought Eddie Olczyk would jump from the NBC or TNT to the front office. Turns out Keith Jones is the one, jumping from TNT to the Philadelphia Flyers to be the team's president of hockey operations.

TNT was a lot smarter to put Jones on the telecasts rather than studio work. We liked his work but we know this was a job you couldn't turn down.

Both TNT and the Flyers have analyst openings for the season in the fall.

We are also waiting on who will replace John Garrett on Vancouver Canucks local telecasts on Rogers Sportsnet Pacific. Garrett will still cover national games on Sportsnet and occasionally on CBC.

NHL the month in preview April 2023

ESPN is required by contract to carry the NHL playoff games the network is supposed to carry, wherever they are. They aren't required to come to Canada during the regular season. Their credibility is questioned at playoff time since they have been afraid to come to Canada during the regular season. A game in Calgary in January 2023 (Johnny Gaudreau related). An added game in Edmonton, also in January 2023. That is it in 2 years of the contract.

If the ESPN people read these stories, we would love to have a sincere conversation on why ESPN is afraid to come to Canada. ESPN wasn't afraid to come to Canada for MLS in the before time or even a rare Toronto Blue Jays MLB game. You have TSN buddies in Canada. Ray Ferraro, Leah Hextall, and Cassie Campbell-Pascall live in Canada and work for ESPN.

CanadianCrossing.com NHL coverage

We keep hearing speculation of turnover of rosters in Winnipeg and Toronto and perhaps a few other Canadian cities. Not to say this will work but some steadiness and faith would help Canadian NHL fans not feel as insecure, depending on playoff success. We all want playoff success but this pattern is not helping anyone.

Our notebook coverage hasn't been as extensive this spring. Life and the growing frustration of covering this sport is incredibly exhausting.

photo credit: NHL
Twitter captures: @john_wawrow; @tim_micallef; @LeafsJelly; @Tsanavi

2023 Stanley Cup notebook: Toronto (finally) and Edmonton advance

GAME WINNER!
SERIES WINNER!

LET’S. GO. LEAFS. NATION!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/dkttq8eBpW

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) April 30, 2023

Bob Cole was on the CBC Sports microphone when the 2004 Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Ottawa Senators in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Chris Cuthbert was still with CBC at that time; Cuthbert had an extensive career at TSN before jumping to Rogers Sportsnet, all of them since the Maple Leafs advanced beyond the first round.

Cuthbert called the game winner Saturday night in overtime. John Tavares got the game-winning OT goal.

The Maple Leafs went 3-0 in Tampa, all OT wins. Edmonton and overtime playoff games has been an ugly reality. The Oilers came into 2023 with 6 OT losses in its last 7 playoff games that went into extra time. The streak dated back to 2017: Connor McDavid scored the game winner at Calgary in Game 5 in 2022.

The Oilers made it 8 of the last 9 by losing Games 1 and 3 in this playoff round to Los Angeles. Edmonton snapped the streak by winning in overtime in Game 4.

All 3 of the Canadian teams went to overtime in Game 3 of their series: Edmonton lost in single OT, Winnipeg lost in double OT, and Toronto won in single OT

Toronto and Edmonton won Game 4 in OT, both on the road. Toronto also won Game 6 in OT on the road to wrap up the first postseason series win since 2004.

Toronto will face Florida with home ice resting in Toronto. Las Vegas has home ice advantage in its series with Edmonton.

Sleep well Oil Country. 🧡💙 pic.twitter.com/4e4Dq1OQfX

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 30, 2023

The Edmonton Oilers feel the most comfortable in this position, defeating the Los Angeles Kings for the second year in a row in the playoffs. The only defeats came in overtime. Like the Maple Leafs, the Oilers clinched on the road.

Leon Draisaitl got hurt in the LA series in 2022 but should be in a lot better shape in 2023.

We are not fans of Will Ferrell as a comedian or actor. He made headlines with his checkered pattern as a Kings fan. Won't miss that in the next round.

#NHLJets Adam Lowry's game tying goal yesterday called by @UtilityVoice & @JamieThomasTV on @680CJOB pic.twitter.com/oPbPJHWR7S

— Winnipeg Sports Talk (@SportsTalkWPG) April 23, 2023

The Winnipeg Jets had a sharp game in Game 1 and a thrilling 3-goal comeback in Game 3 in Winnipeg. Unfortunately, the Jets came up short, losing in 5 games to Las Vegas.

Whatever we might think of the violence of football and basketball, the NFL and NBA does not go out of their way to injure opposing players just before the playoffs start.

Ryan Hartman did get a 1-game suspension for what is likely a concussion to Nikolaj Ehlers, who hadn't played since that night. Minnesota and Winnipeg weren't destined to even meet in the playoffs.

Ehlers had a non-hockey injury. The play was deliberate to injure Ehlers.

Reminded us painfully off what Duncan Keith (Chicago) did with a cheap hit against Daniel Sedin (Vancouver) in 2012. Duncan Keith got a 5-game suspension.

There is the thought of the offending player sitting out as long as the injured player is out. Daniel Sedin's play suffered even when he came back. The penalty needs to be strong enough to stop this behaviour.

The NHL thinks this is normal behaviour. Your humble narrator sharply disagrees.

Ehlers finally got into Game 5 after being out for that injury. He played 21:10 in a losing cause. The Winnipeg Jets depth was tested when Josh Morrissey suffered an LBI early in the 1st period of Game 3 and was out for the series. Mark Scheifele hurt his shoulder after being tripped early in Game 4.

Winnipeg became the first team out of the playoffs since that series was the only one that ended at 5 games.

Edmonton 3-0-1 against Las Vegas this season. Toronto has a 3-0-1 edge on Florida this season. The Maple Leafs haven't won 2 playoff series in a year since 2002.

2023 Stanley Cup notebook: NHL news not related to the playoffs

The home teams went 2-6 in Game 1 in the opening round. The visiting teams went 4-0 on April 22 and April 23 and won the first three games on April 24. The 11-game streak was a new record for the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Toronto accounted for 2 of those wins in Tampa. Edmonton got a road win in Los Angeles in that streak. Unfortunately, Winnipeg went 0-2 in that streak at Canada Life Centre.

All 8 playoff series started 2-1.

Road teams went 11-3 in OT games in the first round.

Canadian film review: Offside: The Harold Ballard Story

We have said on Twitter in the first round that U.S. national outlets don't show the anthems for late games. They start things at the last minute. Turner (TNT and TBS) use as much studio time as possible before starting the late game.

ESPN, specifically ESPN2, took the U.S. audience early to Edmonton and showed the anthems. Colour us surprised. The pattern is true most of the time but good to get an exception.

Time to bring needed limits on gambling ads during sports programming

We have chided the NHL in giving American teams more time in between playoff games than Canadian teams, especially in 2021. Toronto and Winnipeg played Monday, Thursday, and Saturday in the final week of April while Edmonton played Sunday, Tuesday, and Saturday.

The Maple Leafs and Jets only got 1 extra day between Games 4-5 while the Oilers had 2 extra days between Games 5-6. The Edmonton gift is more about the NBA Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers in the playoffs sharing space with the NHL Kings at what was Staples Center.

The Stanley Cup playoffs are a grind. American teams in recent years have been better rested than their Canadian counterparts.

2023 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs scoreboard

The NHL has this habit where a Toronto player in the first round has to receive an outrageous suspension. Nazeem Kadri knows that pain. This spring, Michael Bunting was caught in that NHL trap on top of a match penalty and game misconduct. No hit on a player for a Canadian team would ever garner a 3-game playoff suspension.

Matthew Knies played well in Bunting's absence. The Maple Leafs went 3-0 without Bunting in the series against Tampa. Bunting was a healthy scratch for Game 5.

Bunting played in Game 6. Knies set up Tavares for the game winner in Game 6.

ONTO ROUND 2!! 🎊@MapleLeafs | #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/ufmEaJ95Nq

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 30, 2023

Sean McDonough called Game 1 in Toronto for ESPN. We don't figure this is his first national game in any sport in Toronto since he called Joe Carter's home run in Game 6 of the 1993 World Series. Still, McDonough should have great memories of his time in Toronto 30 years ago.

McDonough took over for Jack Buck as the top voice on CBS coverage of MLB. He called both Toronto Blue Jays World Series championships.

The distance between Rogers Centre to Scotiabank Arena is approximately 833 meters. Wonder if he took that walk while in Toronto.

The Jets come back from a 3 goal deficit to tie it!

Golden Knights-Jets overtime is coming up on TBS 📺 pic.twitter.com/IqpTSlK1yE

— NHLonTNT (@NHL_On_TNT) April 22, 2023

We have wondered for years why U.S. national outlets haven't borrowed from Canadian crews to fill freelance opportunities in the first round. Dean Brown has had plenty of springs where the Ottawa Senators haven't made the playoffs.

ESPN did borrow Gord Miller last spring but Miller has called a lot of playoff games for U.S. outlets.

Rick Ball was available this spring in part because the Calgary Flames missed the playoffs. Turner got smart and brought Ball in to call Game 3 from Winnipeg on TBS.

Unlike U.S. national announcers, who only had Winnipeg for 1 national game in 2022-2023, Ball had called the Winnipeg Jets on a national basis this season.

The only time Winnipeg has been on a U.S. national outlet in the new TV deal was the sham invite to Arizona on October 28, 2022. John Buccigross, Brian Boucher, and Leah Hextall called that game on ESPN+/Hulu.

The Jets were definitely a playoff team early in the season and was worthy of a sincere visit. Then again, ESPN has only carried 2 games in Canada, both in January in Alberta.

Ball and Jennifer Botterill had an exciting game with a Jets 3-goal comeback to lose in double overtime.

Cassie Campbell-Pascall only worked a single game on ESPN in the opening round: Game 5 of the Winnipeg series.

NHL Network did offer CBC/Sportsnet feeds in matinee rebroadcasts for Edmonton Game 1, Toronto Game 2, and Edmonton Game 5.

Crumbs but we will always take crumbs.

2023 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs preview for Canadian teams

NHL notebook: Wrapping up the end of the 2023 regular season

Here is the CBC schedule for the Canadians and those in the States with a CBC feed. This schedule will be updated as needed in the second round.

Chris Cuthbert and Craig Simpson (Kyle Bukauskas) stay with the Maple Leafs. Harnarayan Singh and Louie DeBrusk (Gene Principe) will cover the Oilers. Scott Oake is taking this series off.

John Bartlett and Garry Galley (Ryan Leslie) will take care of Games 1-2 of the Seattle-Dallas series and the rest of the Carolina-New Jersey series (Games 4-7) on CBC.

We won't be able to know but inherently curious what the TV ratings will be like with Seattle Kraken fans choosing the CBC (via cable) over ESPN/TNT coverage. Eddie Olczyk, who works on TNT and as a colour analyst for Root Sports Northwest, is not working either of the first 2 games.

Games on CBC can be streamed in Canada via cbcsports.ca.

May 2 Florida @ Toronto, 7p
May 2 Seattle @ Dallas, 9:30p
May 3 Edmonton @ Las Vegas, 9:30p
May 4 Florida @ Toronto, 7p
May 4 Seattle @ Dallas, 9:30p
May 6 Edmonton @ Las Vegas, 7p
May 7 Toronto @ Florida, 6:30p
May 8 Las Vegas @ Edmonton, 8:30p
May 9 Carolina @ New Jersey, 7p
May 10 Toronto @ Florida, 7p
May 10 Las Vegas @ Edmonton, 10p
May 11 New Jersey @ Carolina, 7p
May 12 Florida @ Toronto, 7p
May 12 Edmonton @ Las Vegas, 10p
May 14 Las Vegas @ Edmonton, 10p

U.S. viewers in Detroit, Buffalo, Seattle, and other markets get a great option, even for select U.S. games.

NHL Canadian teams 2023 schedule down the stretch

May 2 Florida @ Toronto, 7p Steve Levy/AJ Mleczko/Dom Moore ESPN
May 3 Edmonton @ Las Vegas, 9:30p Bob Wischusen/Brian Boucher/Linda Cohn ESPN
May 4 Florida @ Toronto, 7p Brendan Burke/Darren Pang/Aly Lozoff TNT
May 6 Edmonton @ Las Vegas, 7p John Forslund/Shane Hnidy/Jody Shelley TNT
May 7 Toronto @ Florida, 6:30p Brendan Burke/Darren Pang/Aly Lozoff TBS
May 8 Las Vegas @ Edmonton, 8:30p Bob Wischusen/Brian Boucher/Leah Hextall ESPN
May 10 Toronto @ Florida, 7p Steve Levy/AJ Mleczko/Dom Moore ESPN
May 10 Las Vegas @ Edmonton, 10p Mike Monaco/Ryan Callahan/Leah Hextall ESPN
May 12 Florida @ Toronto, 7p Brendan Burke/Darren Pang/Kathryn Tappen TNT
May 12 Edmonton @ Las Vegas, 10p John Forslund/Shane Hnidy/Jody Shelley TNT
May 14 Las Vegas @ Edmonton, 10p John Buccigross/AJ Mleczko/Dom Moore ESPN

CanadianCrossing.com NHL coverage

We will add CBC telecasts and U.S. crews for the Toronto and Edmonton series later. We will update this story through the second round.

Twitter captures: @MapleLeafs; @Sportsnet; @SportsTalkWPG; @Sportsnet; @NHL_on_TNT
photo credit: Rogers Sportsnet/CBC/NHL

2023 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs preview for Canadian teams

Once again, we have 3 Canadian teams in the Stanley Cup playoffs, 2023 edition. Toronto and Edmonton are return teams with Winnipeg replacing Calgary. The Flames would be in if the team halved its OT/shootout losses into wins.

Montréal and Ottawa seemed out early though the Senators lasted a lot longer in the playoff hunt. Vancouver replaced coaches (again), got better but not by enough.

Les Habs is the last Canadian team to reach the Stanley Cup finals in 2021. The 3 teams in for 2023 want to surpass that goal.

You could be feeling deja vu with the Toronto Maple Leafs hosting Tampa Bay and the Edmonton Oilers hosting Los Angeles. Edmonton would be hosting Winnipeg, a rematch of the 2021 playoffs in the Canadian Division if Seattle had beaten Las Vegas in regulation on Thursday. Winnipeg will be in Las Vegas, a rematch of the 2018 Western Conference final.

The yearly reminder: 1993 Last Canadian team to win the Stanley Cup (Montréal).

NHL Network, TNT, and ESPN/ESPN+ games in 2023 season analysis

2023 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs scoreboard

Once again, Dave Randorf gets to spend some time back on Canadian soil as the Tampa Bay TV voice. The Lightning are good but a boring team to watch. Then again, playoff hockey means boring and violent. Speaking of violent, Boston likely awaits Toronto if the Maple Leafs finally win a series.

Edmonton went 14-0-1 down the stretch, the Oilers winning their last 9 games. Connor McDavid finished with 153 points. Leon Draisaitl finished with 32 power play goals. Not 32 goals, but 32 of them with the man advantage. Ryan Nugent Hopkins made it 3 Oilers players with over 100 points.

The 2022-23 Edmonton Oilers had the greatest power play in NHL history. Well, recorded history since the NHL started tracking the stat in 1977-1978. The Oilers 32.4% mark surpassed the 1977-1978 Montréal Canadiens. That team finished at 31.9%.

The Oilers had a slim chance of facing Seattle or Winnipeg yet ended up with Los Angeles as the first round opponent. California was shut out of the 2020 and 2021 playoffs. The Kings are the only California playoff team for the second year in a row.

The Winnipeg Jets looked great early in the hunt for the "Norris" division crown. The second half was a lot of not scoring and wondering if the team would hold onto a playoff spot. The Jets beat Nashville down the stretch and then saw Calgary lose to Nashville a couple of days later. The Flames almost played Nashville in last year's first-round series. Winnipeg now made playoffs 5 of the last 6 seasons (not 2022).

Winnipeg went 0-2-1 against Las Vegas this season.

October 20 @ Las Vegas 5, Winnipeg 2
October 30 @ Las Vegas 2, Winnipeg 1 (OT)
December 13 Las Vegas 6, @ Winnipeg 5

Toronto was 2-0-1 with Tampa Bay in the regular season.

December 3 @ Tampa Bay 4, @ Toronto 3 (OT)
December 20 @ Toronto 4, Tampa Bay 1
April 11 Toronto 4, @ Tampa Bay 3

Edmonton split 2-2 with Los Angeles in the regular season.

November 16 Los Angeles 3, @ Edmonton 1
January 9 @ Los Angeles 6, Edmonton 3
March 30 @ Edmonton 2, Los Angeles 0
April 4 Edmonton 3, @ Los Angeles 1

Rogers Sportsnet previewed the upcoming series for the 3 Canadian teams: Toronto, Edmonton, and Winnipeg.

This Rogers Sportsnet graphic is not new yet very relevant. We will run this every year until the Toronto Maple Leafs win a playoff series.

Every Canadian NHL team has won several playoff series since the Maple Leafs won one. The Ottawa Senators won 2 series in the same postseason not that long ago, when Erik Karlsson was on the squad.

Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Vancouver, and Montréal have played for the Stanley Cup since Toronto won a playoff series. Montréal played for a Stanley Cup in 2021. Winnipeg played for a conference title in 2018.

Auston Matthews was 6 the last time Toronto won a playoff series. Matthews is a year older as we all are.

Regular season is nice but postseason is what matters.

Sorry, Leafs fans. Win a series. We will be thrilled when you prove us wrong.

NHL notebook: Wrapping up the end of the 2023 regular season

The Rogers Sportsnet pattern is pretty much set for the opening round. Chris Cuthbert and Craig Simpson (Kyle Bukauskas) will have the Maple Leafs series.

Harnarayan Singh and Louie DeBrusk (Scott Oake) will cover the Edmonton Oilers series.

John Bartlett and Garry Galley (Sean Reynolds) will be on the Winnipeg Jets series.

The Vancouver duo of John Shorthouse and John Garrett (Caroline Cameron) will cover U.S. games in the East for CBC, mostly Boston-Florida. Perhaps a send-off with John Garrett cutting back on his analysis work.

Sportsnet will pick up simsubs from local feeds or U.S. national feeds but must produce games that air on CBC. Ice level reporters are in parentheses. Games on Sportsnet can be streamed in Canada via SNnow.ca.

We should give an award to the best Canadian NHL team each season

Here is the CBC schedule for the Canadians and those in the States with a CBC feed. This schedule will be updated as needed in the opening round. Games on CBC can be streamed in Canada via cbcsports.ca.

April 17 Florida @ Boston, 7:30p
April 17 Los Angeles @ Edmonton, 10p
April 18 Tampa Bay @ Toronto, 7:30p
April 19 Florida @ Boston, 7:30p
April 19 Los Angeles @ Edmonton, 10p
April 20 Tampa Bay @ Toronto, 7p
April 20 Winnipeg @ Las Vegas, 10p
April 21 Boston @ Florida, 7:30p
April 21 Edmonton @ Los Angeles, 10p
April 22 Las Vegas @ Winnipeg, 4p
April 22 Toronto @ Tampa Bay, 7p
April 23 Edmonton @ Los Angeles, 9p
April 24 Toronto @ Tampa Bay, 7:30p
April 25 Los Angeles @ Edmonton, 9:30p
April 26 Florida @ Boston, 7p
April 27 Tampa Bay @ Toronto, 7p
April 27 Winnipeg @ Las Vegas, 10p
April 28 Boston @ Florida, 7:30p
April 29 Toronto @ Tampa Bay, 7p
April 29 Edmonton @ Los Angeles, 10p
April 30 Florida @ Boston, 6:30p

U.S. viewers in Detroit, Buffalo, Seattle, and other markets get a great option, even for select U.S. games. We update this story with CBC games in the opening round.

Citytv is scheduled to carry its first ever NHL Stanley Cup playoff game, albeit a U.S. matchup (New Jersey-NY Rangers Game 3) on April 22. There are very few Americans who can retrieve a Citytv signal and Rogers will carry a U.S. feed for that game. The game is opposite Game 3 of the Toronto Maple Leafs series.

Our guide to the NHL Canadian teams coverage

We had this picture up for last year's preview because Gord Miller (TSN) and Cassie Campbell-Pascall (Sportsnet and ESPN) worked together. They proved to be a top team for ESPN in its Stanley Cup playoffs coverage. The picture stems from this Sobey's Safeway ad in 2019 as part of our quest to showcase quirky Canadian advertising.

We are showing the picture again despite neither of them are on the ESPN call list in the first 4 days. This picture also amuses us. Miller's next TSN assignment is the 2023 IIHF World Championship on May 12-28 in Tampere, Finland and Riga, Latvia.

ESPN and TNT split the first round based on nights and availability. In other words, the network not covering the NBA that night covers the NHL.

ESPN2 and TBS also carry Stanley Cup playoff games. We don't consider whether a game is on ESPN vs. ESPN2 or TNT vs. TBS to be anything more than a nuance. ESPNEWS and TruTV will be the source for overlapping starts. Miss the days of the NHL Network serving that role.

TNT/TBS will use a lot of freelancers in the first round. John Forslund and Alex Faust, among others, are limited since their local teams play in the first round. We would love to see Ken Daniels (Detroit TV) and Dean Brown (Ottawa radio) in the mix.

Though you could check out our guide to U.S. TV coverage, you can get ESPN/ESPN2 updates and TNT/TBS updates straight from their corporate PR departments. The Warner Bros. Discovery takeover has been terrible on multiple fronts, the least of which is accessing NHL press releases for TNT and TBS. You can filter the page with TNT Sports but they should hire someone to make a better mousetrap.

This schedule will be updated for all opening round games.

April 17 Los Angeles @ Edmonton 10p John Buccigross/Kevin Weekes/Ryan Callahan ESPN
April 18 Tampa Bay @ Toronto 7:30p Sean McDonough/Ray Ferraro/Emily Kaplan ESPN
April 18 Winnipeg @ Las Vegas 9:30p Roxy Bernstein/Kevin Weekes/Linda Cohn ESPN2
April 19 Los Angeles @ Edmonton 10p John Buccigross/Kevin Weekes/Linda Cohn ESPN
April 20 Tampa Bay @ Toronto 7p John Buccigross/Kevin Weekes/Ryan Callahan ESPN
April 20 Winnipeg @ Las Vegas 10p Alex Faust/Eddie Olczyk/Shane Hnidy TBS
April 21 Edmonton @ Los Angeles 10p John Forslund/Eddie Olczyk/Shane Hnidy TNT
April 22 Las Vegas @ Winnipeg 4p Rick Ball/Jennifer Botterill/Aly Lozoff TBS
April 22 Toronto @ Tampa Bay 7p Brendan Burke/Butch Goring/Darren Pang TBS
April 23 Edmonton @ Los Angeles 9p John Forslund/Eddie Olczyk/Shane Hnidy TBS
April 24 Toronto @ Tampa Bay 7:30p Brendan Burke/Jennifer Botterill/Darren Pang TBS
April 24 Las Vegas @ Winnipeg 9:30p Mike Monaco/Dom Moore/Leah Hextall ESPN
April 25 Los Angeles @ Edmonton 9:30p Mike Monaco/Dom Moore ESPN
April 27 Tampa Bay @ Toronto 7p Brendan Burke/Darren Pang/Tarik El-Bashir TBS
April 27 Winnipeg @ Las Vegas 10p Mike Monaco/Cassie Campbell-Pascall/Linda Cohn ESPN2
April 29 Toronto @ Tampa Bay 7p Brendan Burke/Darren Pang/Jackie Redmond TBS
April 29 Edmonton @ Los Angeles 10p John Forslund/Eddie Olczyk/Shane Hnidy TBS

2018 Stanley Cup notebook: Winnipeg Jets thrown off by Minnesota blizzard

Our favourite Stanley Cup playoffs moment off the ice in recent memory is Miller's journey to get to St. Paul for a Jets playoff game in 2018.

CanadianCrossing.com NHL coverage

If you are relatively new to the NHL, playoff hockey is a very different sport than the hockey you see from October to April. Play is filled with lots of unnecessary violence since referees get strangely peculiar on when (if) penalties are called. Toronto Coach Sheldon Keefe used the phrase "borderline violent" last season to refer to the opening round series. We agree except for the borderline part.

Any strategy involving creative offence is useless in the playoffs. This is a disadvantage to teams such as the Maple Leafs. Teams that are fun to watch in the regular season suddenly aren't fun.

We cover hockey but we absolutely vehemently hate playoff hockey. Boring, stupid, and the opposite of interesting. There is a general bias against Canadian teams in penalties and cheap hits resulting in major injuries.

photo credits: NHL; Rogers Sportsnet; Sobey's/Safeway

NHL the month in preview February 2023

TNT gives us the first half of the Chicago-Toronto season matchup from Scotiabank Arena (15).

The main ESPN network (23) gives us a rare Calgary Flames game (for them) at one of Gary Bettman's favourite desert teams (the one that has more than 5,000 home seats).

NHL Network knows this is the second half of the season where fewer games feature Canadian teams. Amazingly, the U.S. channel doesn't show a single Toronto game in February.

The channel rarely carries an all-Canadian matchup that doesn't involve the Maple Leafs. Yet Ottawa is at Montréal (25) on Hockey Night in Canada. The U.S. channel has an Edmonton home game with Boston on the itinerary (27).

ESPN+/Hulu gives us the second half of the Chicago-Toronto doubleheader from the Windy City (19) and follows the Maple Leafs to Buffalo 2 days later (21). The U.S. outlet also has Connor McDavid in the Motor City (7) and Denver (19).

ABC starts carrying Saturday afternoon games, none involving Canadian teams, after the All-Star Game break.

The NHL All-Star Game break runs through February 5 with games starting back on Monday. There is a U.S. outdoor game on February 18; the league loves to schedule the Habs and Leafs together when that happens.

TNT

February 15
Chicago @ Toronto, 7p

ESPN

February 23
Calgary @ Las Vegas, 9p

NHL Network

February 25
Ottawa @ Montréal, 7p (HNIC)
February 27
Boston @ Edmonton, 8:30p

ESPN+/Hulu

February 7
Edmonton @ Detroit, 7:30p
February 19
Edmonton @ Colorado, 3p/Toronto @ Chicago, 6p
February 21
Toronto @ Buffalo, 7:30p

Hockey Night in Canada

February 11

Columbus @ Toronto, 7p/Chicago @ Winnipeg, 10p

February 18

Montréal @ Toronto, 7p/NY Rangers @ Calgary, 10p/Philadelphia @ Vancouver, 10p

February 25

Ottawa @ Montréal, 7p/Boston @ Vancouver, 7p/Calgary @ Colorado, 10p

Rogers Sportsnet national telecasts

February 1 Boston @ Toronto, 7:30p

February 6 Vancouver @ New Jersey, 7:30p/Calgary @ NY Rangers, 7:30p

February 7 Edmonton @ Detroit, 7:30p

February 8 Vancouver @ NY Rangers, 8p

February 9 Calgary @ Detroit, 7p

February 11 Calgary @ Buffalo, 12:30p

February 13 Calgary @ Ottawa, 7:30p

February 15 Chicago @ Toronto, 7p/Detroit @ Edmonton, 9:30p

February 19 Edmonton @ Colorado, 3p

February 20 Philadelphia @ Calgary, 4p/Winnipeg @ NY Rangers, 7p

February 22 Winnipeg @ NY Islanders, 7p/Calgary @ Arizona, 9:30p

February 23 Edmonton @ Pittsburgh, 7p/Calgary @ Las Vegas, 9p

February 25 Edmonton @ Columbus, 12:30p

February 27 Boston @ Edmonton, 8:30p/Vancouver @ Dallas, 8:30p

February 28 Boston @ Calgary, 9p

Canucks fans continue to support embattled coach Bruce Boudreau with "Bruce there it is" chants at Rogers Arena.

🎥 @Sportsnetpic.twitter.com/NVyRj62ilx

— The Athletic NHL (@TheAthleticNHL) January 22, 2023

The Vancouver Canucks waited hours after Hockey Day in Canada to announce what everyone knew: Rick Tocchet would replace Bruce Boudreau as head coach of the team. The crowd at the Edmonton-Vancouver game knew. Boudreau knew this was his last game but not officially. Most coaches who get fired get no warning. This was too much warning but not in a good way.

The way Canucks management handled this was a sad story to how things have been so poorly run of late. Jim Rutherford has a good reputation. Bruce Boudreau has an amazing reputation. How could things fall apart so quickly.

Bo Horvat could have been guided into staying with Vancouver by more competent management instead of being a lame duck in a Canucks sweater. The trade to the New York Islanders might benefit the Canucks in the long run but the loss of leadership looms large now.

Trent Cull also lost his job as an assistant coach. Adam Foote has been named an assistant coach and Sergei Gonchar has been hired as a defensive development coach.

Tocchet has coaching experience, mostly as an assistant coach. He did lead Tampa Bay from 2008–2010 and Arizona from 2017-2021. He spent the last year and a half on TNT studio coverage.

Tocchet, like Boudreau, can't play defence or get Thatcher Demko back in goal quickly. A coaching change is like changing the colour of a couch that is on fire.

As we alluded to last month, the unofficial is now official. The 2023 Heritage Classic will feature the Battle of Alberta at Commonwealth Stadium on October 29. That date is the day after the end of the CFL season. The Edmonton Elks home season ends 15 days before the NHL game.

The starting time is still to be announced. The original Heritage Classic was at night in Edmonton. As far north as Winnipeg and Regina (recent Heritage Classic sites) are, Edmonton is much further north so that would affect sunshine issues and sunsets.

The October 28 edition of Hockey Night in Canada won't feature either Alberta team so they can get ready for the Heritage Classic.

2022 NHL preseason schedule

Our guide to the NHL Canadian teams coverage

Really sad news about Ottawa Senators assistant coach Bob Jones being diagnosed with ALS. Our hearts go out to his family, friends, and the entire Ottawa Senators organisation.

Canadian ads from fall 2022 NHL Center Ice free preview

Turns out there was a brief NHL Center Ice free preview running January 1-7. This was on a week where there were no Canadian teams on Monday or Wednesday. The free previews used to have a pattern compared to the random lack of pattern.

NHL the month in preview January 2023

NHL the month in preview December 2022

NHL the month in preview November 2022

NHL the month in preview October 2022

Gary Bettman says NHL teams do not tank. Connor Bedard would be that reason, if they did. Bedard was the World Juniors tournament MVP with 9 goals and 14 assists with 2 game-winning goals in only 7 games. Shane Wright scored a key goal on his birthday in the gold medal game for the Canada team in the World Juniors. Gord Miller pointed out that Halifax wouldn't have another long wait to host the tournament. Presumably, this also applies to Moncton, the co-host for the 2023 tournament.

Tracking the NHL 2022 media changes

January 11 Nashville @ Toronto, 7:30p Kenny Albert/Eddie Olczyk/Keith Jones TNT
January 12 Toronto @ Detroit, 7p Bob Wischusen/Ray Ferraro/Emily Kaplan ESPN
January 14 Calgary @ Dallas, 2p Stephen Nelson/Kevin Weekes NHL Network
January 19 Tampa Bay @ Edmonton, 9p John Buccigross/Ray Ferraro/Leah Hextall ESPN
January 23 Columbus @ Calgary, 9:30p John Buccigross/Ray Ferraro/Leah Hextall ESPN+/Hulu
January 25 NY Rangers @ Toronto, 7p Kenny Albert/Eddie Olczyk/Keith Jones TNT
January 25 Columbus @ Edmonton, 9:30p Brendan Burke/Darren Pang/Jennifer Botterill TNT

ESPN has listened to some of my pleas and had Ray Ferraro on all 3 of its games in January. 2 of them games were in Western Canada, the channel's only 2 regular season games in Canada. By the way, unless the schedule changes, ESPN and ESPN+/Hulu has no more games in Canada until the playoffs.

Stephen Nelson and Kevin Weekes are my top choices for a NHL Network crew. They got an exciting game involving the Calgary Flames.

We get where John Buccigross got a little too excited over the Columbus presence with Johnny Gaudreau in Calgary. That would be easier to take if ESPN weren't so reluctant to come to Canada.

TNT lost one of its studio people in Rick Tocchet when he took over as the Vancouver head coach. The only scheduled game TNT has left involving the Canucks is March 8 with a home game against Anaheim. Could be a fun reunion.

CanadianCrossing.com NHL coverage

We had no bananas or CBC promos in December. January had all of that.

There were 3 Hockey Night in Canada games available. We have covered the new shows as well as CBC News Explore.

The first promo of the January 21 game ran before the beginning of the 2nd period, which is a technical violation. The CBC Docs promo was relevant since the content from the Jason Priestley directed film was about longtime Maple Leafs owner Harold Ballard.

We have complained when the CBC promos run after commercials yet running them after betting commercials is definitely worse.

January 7 early game: Run the Burbs; Bollywed (1st); Son of a Critch; National Skating Championships (2nd); Son of a Critch; Bollywed (3rd)

January 14 early game: National Skating Championships; Bollywed (1st); Son of a Critch; Run the Burbs; Bollywed (2nd); CBC News Explore (3rd)

January 21 early game: None (1st); CBC News Explore; Run the Burbs; CBC Docs [Offside: The Harold Ballard Story]; Canada's Ultimate Challenge (2nd); Bollywed; Son of a Critch (3rd)

photo credit: NHL; NHL
Twitter captures: @TheAthleticNHL

NHL the month in preview December 2022

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect an extra Calgary Flames game on TNT (28), the removal of HNIC from the feed (17), an additional Ottawa game (22), and an extra Winnipeg game (23).

TNT gives the U.S. audience an all-Canadian matchup with the Vancouver Canucks in Calgary (14). The U.S. network had an all-Canadian game last season and gave that to John Forslund. Hoping not to have a repeat of that assignment. Edmonton travels to Dallas (21) in a matchup where ESPN was so fascinated, that network carried both Oilers games in Dallas but couldn't set foot in Edmonton.

ESPN had a game involving a Canadian team in November but is dark in December.

NHL Network has some Hockey Night in Canada love with Toronto Maple Leafs road games in Dave Randorf country (3) and the U.S. capital (17). The U.S. channel also some HNIC love for the rematch of the 1993 Stanley Cup finals at the Bell Centre (10).

The Ottawa Senators are involved in the other NHL Network game with a Showcase game in Minnesota (18).

ESPN+/Hulu went from 1 game in October to 0 in November to 3 in December. The U.S. network is still afraid to come to Canada but is willing to show the Edmonton Oilers on the road in Minnesota (1) and Seattle (30). The U.S. network loves to show Canadian teams in Dallas, proving so with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the third-largest city in Texas (6).

Rogers Sportsnet is keeping the Toronto Maple Leafs to itself on December 3. As we've noted, Sportsnet does this on occasion to boost its Sportsnet NOW subscriptions. The Maple Leafs will likely struggle in western Florida that night while CBC shows the high-flying scoring of Montréal at Edmonton. If I were glued to the couch in Canada, watching the Habs and Oilers would be more fun.

CBC and Citytv are not showing Hockey Night in Canada on December 31. The networks are carrying New Year's Eve programming. The games are available on various Sportsnet channels.

The NHL will take a holiday break from December 24-26.

TNT

December 14
Vancouver @ Calgary, 10p
December 21
Edmonton @ Dallas, 9:30p
December 28
Calgary @ Seattle, 10p

NHL Network

December 3
Toronto @ Tampa Bay, 7p (HNIC)
December 10
Los Angeles @ Montréal, 7p (HNIC)
December 17
Toronto @ Washington, 7p (HNIC)
December 18
Ottawa @ Minnesota, 2p (Showcase)
December 22
Washington @ Ottawa, 7p
December 23
Winnipeg @ Washington, 7p

ESPN+/Hulu

December 1
Edmonton @ Minnesota, 8p
December 6
Toronto @ Dallas, 8:30p
December 30
Edmonton @ Seattle, 10p

Hockey Night in Canada

December 3

Toronto @ Tampa Bay, 7p/Montréal @ Edmonton, 7p/San Jose @ Ottawa, 7p/Washington @ Calgary, 10p/Arizona @ Vancouver, 10p

December 10

Calgary @ Toronto, 7p/Los Angeles @ Montréal, 7p/Minnesota @ Vancouver, 10p

December 17

Toronto @ Washington, 7p/Tampa Bay @ Montréal, 7p/Winnipeg @ Vancouver, 10p

December 31

Montréal @ Washington, 4p/Toronto @ Colorado, 7p/Ottawa @ Detroit, 7p/Winnipeg @ Edmonton, 10p/Vancouver @ Calgary, 10p

Rogers Sportsnet national telecasts

December 1 Edmonton @ Minnesota, 8p

December 5 Washington @ Edmonton, 8:30p/Arizona @ Calgary, 9p

December 7 Minnesota @ Calgary, 8p/Arizona @ Edmonton, 9:30p

December 9 Minnesota @ Edmonton, 9p

December 12 Calgary @ Montréal, 7p/Edmonton @ Minnesota, 8p

December 14 Montréal @ Ottawa, 7p/Vancouver @ Calgary, 10p

December 16 St. Louis @ Calgary, 9p

December 17 Anaheim @ Edmonton, 4p

December 19 Edmonton @ Nashville, 8p

December 21 Montréal @ Colorado, 8p/Edmonton @ Dallas, 9:30p

December 23 Vancouver @ Edmonton, 9p/Calgary @ Anaheim, 10:30p

December 27 Edmonton @ Calgary, 9p

December 28 Montréal @ Tampa Bay, 7p

💙. @MapleLeafs #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/QwaBkt9D2K

— Martina Ortiz Luis (@itzmartinaol) October 7, 2022

The start of Toronto Maple Leafs games feels very different without Martina Ortiz Luis singing O Canada at Scotiabank Arena.

We've seen Luis on Wynonna Earp so we know she has more ambitions than just anthem singing. Her inflections on O Canada was beautiful and truly unique. Good luck to Martina Ortiz Luis in her career.

Convoy wants to act out but has no purpose or solutions

Confederation Line expands light-rail service in Ottawa

Ryan Reynolds would need a sugar daddy or sugar mama, in his words, to be a part of the ownership of the Ottawa Senators. The challenge is intriguing. The Canadian actor is part owner (with Rob McElhenney) of Wrexham AFC in Wales, a team in the lowest level of professional football in England. Their ownership is featured in Welcome to Wrexham.

The hope is that new ownership would be tied to a deal for a new Ottawa-based arena at LeBreton Flats. There may be fewer people working in downtown Ottawa these days but a downtown arena will do wonders for the Ottawa-Gatineau area.

That said, the light rail system in the capital of Canada needs more diligence, time, money, and effort.

Rogers Sportsnet will carry all 3 versions of the Battle of Alberta on a national basis in Canada. The fact that there are only 3 games involving these exciting rivals is a true shame, especially after such an amazing playoff series this spring.

Other than the all-Canada division of 2021, the U.S. outlets have shown Connor McDavid type speed to avoid broadcasting the Battle of Alberta. So we can't be surprised that TNT and ESPN showed no interest in carrying any of those games. TNT is willing to come to Canada while ESPN still hasn't been on Canadian soil. The NHL Network also came up empty (again) in not showing this rivalry.

ESPN hasn't shown Calgary anywhere but does have 2 Flames games scheduled this year.

U.S. fans should note that December 27 is the final Battle of Alberta game. ESPN+ will have the game via the Rogers Sportsnet feed.

Canadian ads from fall 2022 NHL Center Ice free preview

"(Ottawa GM Pierre) Dorion’s worked hard to see what’s out there, and I believe he’s come across two challenges. One is that he’s dealing from position of weakness and teams are trying to hijack him. Two is that there are plenty of players who can block a trade to Canada, and it’s possible that’s happened. It’s not an Ottawa issue, but a Canada issue."

Elliotte Friedman said what was in our minds. We thought the end of the primary portion of the pandemic meant Canada was a slightly more desirable destination.

Higher tax rates, though paid in American dollars. Pressure-filled markets and media coverage. Snow and lots of it. More customs experiences. 

This spring marks the 30th anniversary of the Stanley Cup being presented to a Canadian team: Montréal Canadiens in 1993.

Players want to win the Stanley Cup. They will play in Canada if they think that team will win the Stanley Cup. Think of the significant number of NHL players who weren't alive when the Habs won the Cup or not old enough to remember.

Thank you for all of your support! We had a great time on @hockeynight
Miss the broadcast? Watch now: https://t.co/f9qeDt3oPE

— TRIUMPH (@TriumphTheBand) November 15, 2022

The guys from Triumph hosted the Hockey Night in Canada intro on November 12, which was the Hockey Hall of Fame induction weekend. Triumph has a documentary out called Triumph: Rock and Roll Machine. We will have a review some point soon. Worth a watch to learn some Canadian music history.

Harnarayan Singh has been the primary fill-in for Rick Ball on Calgary Flames telecasts on Rogers Sportsnet West while Ball is out with a pulmonary embolism. John Bartlett also stepped up for some Flames games out east.

Ball disclosed the story behind his health scare: caused by a broken leg he sustained chasing a bird at a golf tournament.

He returned on November 12 on Hockey Night in Canada, his first game since the first game of the season. He is also doing road games, which is a bit of a surprise. As we said last month, our thoughts go out to Ball, his family, and friends during his continuing recovery.

Ball also made a trip to After Hours to talk with Scott Oake and give thanks to all the well wishing people.

NHL the month in preview November 2022

Speaking of After Hours, Scott Oake had a special co-host in Las Vegas last Saturday. Gary Lawless was a journalist covering the Winnipeg Jets before the Golden Knights hired him. The After Hours co-hosts haven't had journalism experience such as what Oake has, but the co-hosts aren't employed by the team whose player and coach appear on the show.

I get the whole deal with Lawless being on while Oake is in Las Vegas, but Lawless being employed by the team should be disclosed. 

If Scott Oake had Sara Orlesky on after a Winnipeg Jets game, her employment status should be disclosed. When you have former journalists and the implication is that they are a journalist, that dispels actual journalism. This may seem a matter of semantics but as lines blur, disclosure is paramount.

NHL the month in preview October 2022

Welcome to San Jose, Tara!

We’ve signed @TaraSlone as our newest content contributor🎙🦈

Learn more about Tara ➡️ https://t.co/EVvgFLMm1W pic.twitter.com/6tqEwrqObL

— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) November 22, 2022

Tara Slone landed on her feet in the South Bay with the San Jose Sharks in a content position similar to what Sara Orlesky is doing with the Winnipeg Jets. The former Hometown Hockey host was let go when Rogers cancelled the show over the summer.

Sharks fans and South Bay residents should hope Slone ends up in a bar playing music. Slone was the lead singer of Joydrop and has had a solo music career.

Her music cred came in handy when having bands on Hometown Hockey. Sorry that the show was gone and glad she found a good NHL opportunity. Hard to imagine a kitchen party in San Jose but here's to trying.

2022 NHL preseason schedule

Our guide to the NHL Canadian teams coverage

ESPN signed recently retired defenseman P.K. Subban to their coverage. Subban will work primarily as a studio analyst and also work as an occasional in-game analyst. 

Subban has charisma that will take him far in a broadcasting career. ESPN is smart to have him start out mostly in the studio to get more experience.

Tracking the NHL 2022 media changes

November 6 Toronto vs. Carolina, 5p Mike Monaco/Brian Boucher/AJ Mleczko ESPN
November 8 Edmonton @ Tampa Bay, 7:30p Dave Randorf/Shane Hnidy/Nabil Karim TNT
November 12 Ottawa @ Philadelphia, 1p Stephen Nelson/Mike Rupp NHL Network
November 16 Los Angeles @ Edmonton, 10p Kenny Albert/Eddie Olczyk/Keith Jones TNT
November 19 New Jersey @ Ottawa, 1p Stephen Nelson/Kevin Weekes NHL Network
November 23 Ottawa @ Las Vegas, 10p Alex Faust/Shane Hnidy/Jackie Redmond TNT
November 26 Edmonton @ NY Rangers, 1p E.J. Hradek/Kevin Weekes NHL Network
November 30 Edmonton @ Chicago, 9:30p Kenny Albert/Eddie Olczyk/Keith Jones TNT

TNT got smart and brought in Dave Randorf. This was in part because Randorf covers what was the home team (8). Still, Randorf understands the idea of a national telecast, a difficult task at times for some U.S. national announcers.

Randorf is one of the few announcers who has called a national game in Canada and the United States.

ESPN had audio issues with AJ Mleczko at ice level. Unfortunately, we could hear Brian Boucher just fine. ESPN should work harder to have Ray Ferraro on the few games they cover with Canadian based teams.

The TNT primary crew was in Edmonton on November 16. Olczyk is now on the West Coast so being out west isn't a stretch. Albert, Olczyk, and Jones are good announcers to have in a dog game and that game (16) was a dog.

I liked the days of Mark Lee and Kevin Weekes calling games so having Weekes on a showcase game is great. Stephen Nelson is growing on your humble narrator and has an edge over E.J. Hradek.

Shane Hnidy, former Winnipeg Jets analyst on TSN3, called 2 games on TNT, the latter involving his current employer. Randorf and Hnidy are good guys but looks bad to have them work games with their present employer in a national telecast.

CanadianCrossing.com NHL coverage

We decided to include the October 15 games since they appeared on the NHL Center Ice free preview.

The Sunday night block is defined as Heartland, Great Canadian Baking Show, and Moonshine. The Buzzr is a CBC Sports newsletter. My Life as a Rolling Stone: Sixty Years of Rock and Roll is only on CBC Gem.

Good to get some love for Season 2 of Sort Of in the CBC promos on CBC and CBC Gem.

The October 15 (early game) Family Feud Canada promo aired before the start of the 2nd period. The October 15 (late game) The National promo aired before the start of the 3rd period. The November 5 curling promo aired before the start of the 3rd period, which is a technical violation. Promos are supposed to run during game action. We know this game went fast but Rogers Sportsnet is supposed to air 6 promos, not 5.

The November 26 game also only had 5 promos. They had plenty of time and opportunities to get in that 6th promo but made other decisions.

The November 12 game was via the Citytv feed, not CBC.

October 15 early game: Fakes; The Buzzer (1st); Family Feud Canada; Sunday night block (2nd); The National; Summit '72 (3rd)

October 15 late game: Fakes; The Buzzer (1st); Family Feud Canada; Sunday night block (2nd); The National; Summit '72 (3rd)

October 29 early game: Sunday night block (1st); Summit '72; The National; Moonshine; Skate Canada International (2nd); Great Canadian Baking Show (3rd)

November 5 early game: Moonshine; Sort Of (1st); Great Canadian Baking Show (2nd); Mixed Doubles Curling Super Series; Sunday night block (3rd)

November 26 early game: My Life as a Rolling Stone: Sixty Years of Rock and Roll; The Fifth Estate (1st); Marketplace; Soccer North (2nd); Sort Of (3rd)

photo credit: NHL; Rogers Sportsnet/NHL
Twitter captures: @itzmartinaol; @TriumphTheBand; @SanJoseSharks
video credit: Rogers Sportsnet/NHL

NHL the month in preview November 2022

TNT finally gets to show Canadian teams this season. The network airs a rare Tuesday night game on Election Night in the United States. The Edmonton Oilers are in Dave Randorf country that night (8). The Oilers host their opening round playoff opponents from Los Angeles (16). The Ottawa Senators make their TNT debut at Gary Bettman's favourite desert locale (23). The Oilers are in Chicago on the final day of the month (30).

ESPN waited until late April to show a Canadian team as part of the new deal. The network is still afraid to go to Canada, choosing a Toronto road game against the team that benefited from the fine play of David Ayres (6).

There are no ESPN+/Hulu games this month.

NHL Network starts out November with an Original 6 matchup on Hockey Night in Canada as Boston comes to Toronto (5). The other HNIC games on the U.S. network include Sidney Crosby in Montréal (12) and Toronto where Crosby plays his home games (26).

The Canadian teams join in on the Saturday matinee Showcase games that the NHL Network produces on its own with announcers not on site. The Ottawa Senators are in Philadelphia (12) and host New Jersey (19). Edmonton travels to Madison Square Garden as well (26).

The Calgary Saturday afternoon game (19) where Matthew Tkachuk now plays is likely not a Showcase game. The U.S. network shows Montréal at home hosting Buffalo (22) on the week of U.S. Thanksgiving. Winnipeg travels to Chicago on the Sunday after U.S. Thanksgiving, which is not opposite the Grey Cup this year.

Credit to the NHL Network for featuring every Canadian team in November, except for the Vancouver Canucks. Given the Vancouver start, that isn't too bad.

TNT

November 8
Edmonton @ Tampa Bay, 7:30p
November 16
Los Angeles @ Edmonton, 10p
November 23
Ottawa @ Las Vegas, 10p
November 30
Edmonton @ Chicago, 9:30p

ESPN

November 6
Toronto @ Carolina, 5p

NHL Network

November 5
Boston @ Toronto, 7p (HNIC)
November 12
Ottawa @ Philadelphia, 1p (Showcase)
Pittsburgh @ Montréal, 7p (HNIC)
November 19
New Jersey @ Ottawa, 1p (Showcase)
Calgary @ Florida, 4p
November 22
Buffalo @ Montréal, 7p
November 26
Edmonton @ NY Rangers, 1p (Showcase)
Toronto @ Pittsburgh, 7p (HNIC)
November 27
Winnipeg @ Chicago, 7p

Hockey Night in Canada

November 5

Boston @ Toronto, 7p/Las Vegas @ Montréal, 7p/Philadelphia @ Ottawa, 7p/New Jersey @ Calgary, 10p/Nashville @ Vancouver, 10p

November 12

Vancouver @ Toronto, 7p/Pittsburgh @ Montréal, 7p/Winnipeg @ Calgary, 10p

November 19

Buffalo @ Toronto, 7p/Philadelphia @ Montréal, 7p/Pittsburgh @ Winnipeg, 7p/Las Vegas @ Edmonton, 10p

November 26

Toronto @ Pittsburgh, 7p/Vancouver @ Las Vegas, 10p

Rogers Sportsnet national telecasts

November 1 Nashville @ Edmonton, 9p/New Jersey @ Vancouver, 10p

November 2 Philadelphia @ Toronto, 7p

November 3 Nashville @ Calgary, 9p

November 5 Dallas @ Edmonton, 4p

November 7 Calgary @ NY Islanders, 7p/Edmonton @ Washington, 8p

November 8 Edmonton @ Tampa Bay, 7:30p

November 9 Vancouver @ Montréal, 7:30p

November 10 Calgary @ Boston, 7p

November 12 Edmonton @ Florida, 4p

November 13 Vancouver @ Boston, 6p

November 14 Los Angeles @ Calgary, 8:30p

November 16 Buffalo @ Ottawa, 7p

November 19 Calgary @ Florida, 4p

November 21 NY Islanders @ Toronto, 7:30p/Carolina @ Winnipeg, 7:30p

November 23 Toronto @ New Jersey, 7p/Calgary @ Pittsburgh, 7p/Winnipeg @ Minnesota, 7p/Vancouver @ Colorado, 10p

November 25 Calgary @ Washington, 2p

November 26 Edmonton @ NY Rangers, 1p/Calgary @ Carolina, 4p

November 27 Vancouver @ San Jose, 8p

November 28 Toronto @ Detroit, 7p/Florida @ Edmonton, 9:30p

November 29 Florida @ Calgary, 9p

November 30 San Jose @ Toronto, 7p/NY Rangers @ Ottawa, 7p/Edmonton @ Chicago, 9:30p

NHL the month in preview October 2022

2022 NHL preseason schedule

Ron MacLean is back to hosting both segments of Hockey Night in Canada now that Hometown Hockey is no longer a thing. David Amber is hosting the Monday night national telecasts aka Monday Night Hockey.

I still think Hometown Hockey could have run as a separate program on Citytv, especially given how little actual Canadian content runs on the Rogers-owned network. Then they could show bits and pieces from that show during the Monday night telecasts.

Tracking the NHL 2022 media changes

We did find out Randip Janda will be part of the Vancouver Canucks radio coverage on Sportsnet 650. Janda replaces Corey Hirsch, as we noted earlier.

There are 2 notable points on the move. Janda is not a former player, an unusual move but not a huge shock. Play-by-play person Brendan Batchelor will be alone on Saturday games since Janda also hosts Hockey Night in Canada: Punjabi Edition.

Rogers just announced a 10-year extension with the Vancouver Canucks through the 2032-2033 season.

Peter Ruttgaizer seems to be the one calling the Montréal Canadiens radio on TSN 690, ultimately replacing Dan Robertson, who is doing Winnipeg Jets television. Sean Campbell will likely be in the mix, especially when Bryan Mudryk slips away from Habs TV to call curling. Robertson filled in during previous years, getting some good TV experience.

Kenzie Lalonde, the new Habs sideline reporter on TSN, could fill in with Mudryk since Lalonde has hockey play by play experience.

Unlike Ben Wagner on the Toronto Blue Jays radio broadcasts, Batchelor does get a radio partner most of the time.

On the TV side, TSN4 is going with Mike Johnson to replace Ray Ferraro on Maple Leafs telecasts with Dave Poulin doing more Habs games on TSN2. Craig Button will likely appear on both on games in the west.

Our guide to the NHL Canadian teams coverage

Didn't have the NHL Center Ice free preview lasting 4 days into the NHL season. A while back in the before time, the preview would run 3 weeks. ESPN+ has every non TNT, ESPN, ESPN+/Hulu game. I do love the local commercials, something the NHL Center Ice package gives you. Some days, I am more in love with the Canadian commercials with the hockey.

Speaking of commercials, no one seems to be enjoying the new digital ads. If you have trouble following the puck, the ads make following that puck a lot more difficult. You can still see the in-arena ads when the camera shoots at ice level. There was a charm to guessing where the game was based on the ads along the boards.

The ones collecting the new revenue don't honestly care whether the digital ads are distracting. The rich always need more $.

A little clip from Runway's first episode for ya

Catch the premiere on @TSN_Sports during the game this Friday @Bell_MTS | #GoJetsGo pic.twitter.com/3WtyM4Yn2O

— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) October 13, 2022

Jets Runway is a new feature on Winnipeg Jets games on TSN3. John Lu goes out of his way to say the feature is a partnership with the Winnipeg Jets and Bell Media. The Bell Media stamp is on the feature. From a journalism standpoint, this is "content." Content is the buzzword like you are pretending to do journalism but you aren't.

Watching the Jets practice and coach Rick Bowness talk to players isn't about getting you to eat a new snack chip. The timing is also intriguing after the NHL team hires Sara Orlesky, who hosted the Jets coverage on TSN3 since 2011, to create content.

TSN has studio coverage for its half of the Toronto Maple Leafs as well as the Montréal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators but not the Winnipeg Jets. Orlesky was able to fill the time when she was the host.

Orlesky is a trained journalist producing content that isn't journalism. Bell Media should have the same high standards that the company had … last season.

This is a journalism issue in the United States and Canada, not just applicable to TSN3 and the Winnipeg Jets.

Honoured to be joining the NHL on @Sportsnet broadcast team to call play-by-play on Hockey Night in Canada on a more regular basis this season. Heading to Ottawa to call the Senators/Flyers November 5th and then to Winnipeg for Jets/Penguins and Hurricanes November 19th and 21st. pic.twitter.com/oAvgvKeDRA

— Mike Luck (@LuckyMikeLuck) October 21, 2022

We saw Mike Luck do COVID-19 relief on Hockey Night in Canada last winter. Now Luck will have more opportunities this season on Rogers Sportsnet.

Rick Ball appreciation tweet.

With special guest….Millsy !

⁦@Sportsnet⁩ pic.twitter.com/2919EOKZ25

— Ryan Leslie (@ryanlesliemedia) October 23, 2022

The Calgary Flames were down their on-air TV crew with Rick Ball and Kelly Hrudey out at the same time. Hrudey got COVID-19 and Rick Ball had a pulmonary embolism; both were mentioned on Hockey Night in Canada. Ball is reportedly okay. Our thoughts go out to Ball, his family, and friends during his recovery.

CanadianCrossing.com NHL coverage

October 28 Winnipeg @ Arizona, 10:30p John Buccigross/Brian Boucher/Leah Hextall ESPN+/Hulu

This is the first U.S. telecast of the Winnipeg Jets in the new TV deal (this is Season 2). The Jets got little love from NBCSN under the old contract. Winnipeg was on the NHL Network 5 times last season, 1 of them being a Hockey Night in Canada game.

The Jets were only invited to this charade because of the irony of a NHL team ripped from a city that loves hockey to a city that doesn't like hockey. Sounds cruel to me.

This was, unfortunately, the only Jets appearance set for U.S. television this season. Hope they spent some time talking about the Winnipeg Jets 2.0. If you skipped this game, you missed yet another stellar set of commentary from Boucher.

The NHL Network carried a single CBC feed on Hockey Night in Canada in October. We plan to run those promos in the next blog entry heading into December. We apologise for the delay. There are higher priorities these days.

photo credit: NHL
Twitter captures: @NHLJets; @LuckyMikeLuck; @ryanlesliemedia

2022 NHL Stanley Cup notebook: Edmonton Oilers out in 4

You could easily argue that the NHL didn't need to help the Colorado Avalanche on the actually controversial non offsides goal. Yet they did.

The rule is sufficiently obscure that both broadcast teams (Sportsnet and TNT) assumed the play was offsides. The rule exists, no matter how it goes against the grain of offsides. We get suspicious when an obscure rule is suddenly pulled forward deep in the playoffs.

The rule exists. People posted examples of the rules in regular season games. The difference is the situation room ruled (somehow) that Cale Makar didn't have control of the puck until his teammate tagged up. We vehemently disagree.

Someday, while still alive, we would love to see a Canadian-based NHL team get that kind of a call in a key playoff moment. You are more likely to see Pierre Poilievre embrace more CBC funding.

When a Canadian team plays a Canadian team in the playoffs, the argument is root for the team that will do the best in the next round. Would Calgary have done better against Colorado? Edmonton had some significant injuries, only made worse in the Colorado series. Calgary had scoring power, better defence, and better goaltending.

Colorado was the team to beat, even though the Avalanche got a lot of help.

Power plays don't have to be even or even close. The Edmonton Oilers had 6 power plays in 3 games, going 1-for-6 with the man advantage. Colorado had 5 power plays just in Game 3. This feels very lopsided.

The Oilers actually had 5 power plays in Game 4. Still lopsided for the series.

Connor McDavid got taken down in one of the many penalties not called in the series. The TNT crew looked at the situation like "at least McDavid didn't motion for a penalty to be called." When Edmonton got away with a penalty, the TNT crew called it out like that penalty should have been called. A national telecast isn't supposed to be that biased.

Oilers lose heartbreaker in OT.
Draisaitl a legendary playoff performance on one leg...4 assists...7-25-32 in 16GP
McDavid 1-2-3 , 10-23-33 in 16 GP.
Hyman 2 goals, scored 38 goals in regular season and the playoffs.
Ultimately the best team in the NHL won the series!

— Bob Stauffer (@Bob_Stauffer) June 7, 2022

Edmonton was 6-0 when scoring the first goal in a game in the first 2 rounds. The Oilers took the early lead in Game 1 and Game 3 but did not win either game.

2022 NHL Stanley Cup notebook: Edmonton Oilers win this Battle of Alberta

2022 NHL Stanley Cup notebook: Battle of Alberta is back after 31 years

The NHL has this element where violence is a part of the Stanley Cup playoffs but only selective violence.

This isn't to compare the Evander Kane hit on Nazem Kadri (Game 3) vs. the Nathan MacKinnon slew foot on Leon Draisaitl (Game 3) vs. Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog's high hit on Kailer Yamamoto (Game 2). There are enough injuries in hockey when you aren't trying to hurt someone to gain some kind of advantage.

There may be no way to reverse this trend but the NHL would be a lot more fun to watch if "playoff hockey" was something closer to regular season hockey.

Kane deserved a 1-game suspension, even if similar playoff hits didn't get suspensions.

Goalie health and the need to have 2 strong goalies: often why some teams win the Stanley Cup. Colorado starting goalie Darcy Kuemper suffered an upper-body injury in Game 1. Pavel Francouz played well in relief of Kuemper against Nashville as well as in this series against Edmonton.

Mike Smith, despite many flaws, was the best choice vs. Mikko Koskinen.

2022 NHL Stanley Cup notebook: How ESPN and TNT are covering Canadian teams

Amanda Hawkins is the Colorado anthem singer. Hawkins sang the correct words to O Canada in Game 1 but slipped back into the old lyric of "in all thy sons command" in Game 2. We've heard a few slips, mostly early on after the change. Difficult to get how you get it right on national TV in both countries yet went back to the old verse 2 nights later.

If there had been a Game 5, hopefully Hawkins would have sung the correct lyrics.

2022 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs preview for Canadian teams

The NHL draft order has been established:

1. Montréal Canadiens
7. Ottawa Senators
14. Winnipeg Jets
15. Vancouver Canucks
25. Toronto Maple Leafs
26. Montréal Canadiens (via Calgary Flames)
29. Edmonton Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers got the #29 pick since they had the fewest points (104) of the losing conference finalists in that round.

The Winnipeg Jets will receive the New York Rangers first-round pick as part of their compensation for Andrew Copp.

The Jets traded Copp for forward Morgan Barron, a conditional second-round pick. a 2022 second-round pick, and a 2023 fifth-round pick at the trade deadline. That conditional second-round pick was to be upgraded to the first round if the Rangers reached the conference final with Copp playing at least half of the games.

Fair to say Copp has been a big reason why the Rangers have gone this far.

2022 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs scoreboard

Congratulations to Martin St. Louis for remaining as coach of Les Habs. Would be nice for the Canadiens to hang on to a coach for awhile. #DominiqueDucharme

CanadianCrossing.com NHL coverage

See you in September for a NHL preseason schedule that might even include Kraft Hockeyville games in Atlantic Canada.

video and photo credit: Rogers Sportsnet/NHL
Twitter capture: @Bob_Stauffer

2022 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs scoreboard

Western Conference

(2) Edmonton vs. (1) Colorado Colorado wins series 4-0
Date	Matchup	Time	U.S. TV	Cdn TV
May 31	Colorado 8, Edmonton 6	8p	TNT	CBC
June 2	Colorado 4, Edmonton 0	8p	TNT	CBC
June 4	Colorado 4, Edmonton 2	8p	TNT	CBC
June 6	Colorado 6, Edmonton 5 (OT)	8p	TNT	CBC

 

2022 NHL Stanley Cup notebook: Edmonton Oilers win this Battle of Alberta

2022 NHL Stanley Cup notebook: Battle of Alberta is back after 31 years

 

(1) Calgary vs. (2) Edmonton Edmonton wins series 4-1
Date	Matchup	Time	U.S. TV	Cdn TV
May 18	Calgary 9, Edmonton 6	9:30p	ESPN	CBC
May 20	Edmonton 5, Calgary 3	10:30p	ESPN	CBC
May 22	Edmonton 4, Calgary 1	8p	ESPN2	CBC
May 24	Edmonton 5, Calgary 3	9:30p	ESPN	CBC
May 26	Edmonton 5, Calgary 4 (OT)	9:30p	ESPN	CBC

 

 

(1) Calgary vs. (WC) Dallas Calgary wins series 4-3
Date	Matchup	Time	U.S. TV	Cdn TV
May 3	Calgary 1, Dallas 0	10p	ESPN2	CBC
May 5	Dallas 2, Calgary 0	10p	TBS	CBC
May 7	Dallas 4, Calgary 2	9:30p	TNT	CBC
May 9	Calgary 4, Dallas 1	9:30p	TBS	CBC
May 11	Calgary 3, Dallas 1	9:30p	ESPN	CBC
May 13	Dallas 4, Calgary 2	9:30p	TNT	CBC
May 15	Calgary 3, Dallas 2 (OT)	9:30p	ESPN2	SN

 

2022 NHL Stanley Cup notebook: How ESPN and TNT are covering Canadian teams

2022 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs preview for Canadian teams

NHL Network, TNT, and ESPN/ESPN+ games in 2022 season analysis

 

(2) Edmonton vs. (3) Los Angeles Edmonton wins series 4-3
Date	Matchup	Time	U.S. TV	Cdn TV
May 2	Los Angeles 4, Edmonton 3	10p	ESPN2	CBC
May 4	Edmonton 6, Los Angeles 0	10p	ESPN2	CBC
May 6	Edmonton 8, Los Angeles 2	10p	TBS	CBC
May 8	Los Angeles 4, Edmonton 0	10p	TBS	CBC
May 10	Los Angeles 5, Edmonton 4 (OT)	10p	ESPN2	CBC
May 12	Edmonton 4, Los Angeles 2	10p	TBS	CBC
May 14	Edmonton 2, Los Angeles 0	10p	ESPN	CBC

 

Where the NHL Canadian teams stand in the Stanley Cup playoffs chase

NHL the month in preview April 2022

Tracking the NHL 2021 media changes

Our guide to the NHL Canadian teams coverage

CanadianCrossing.com NHL coverage

Eastern Conference

(2) Toronto vs. (3) Tampa Bay Tampa Bay wins series 4-3
Date	Matchup	Time	U.S. TV	Cdn TV
May 2	Toronto 5, Tampa Bay 0	7:30p	ESPN2	CBC
May 4	Tampa Bay 5, Toronto 3	7:30p	ESPN2	CBC
May 6	Toronto 5, Tampa Bay 2	7:30p	TBS	CBC
May 8	Tampa Bay 7, Toronto 3	7p	TBS	CBC
May 10	Toronto 4, Tampa Bay 3	7:30p	ESPN2	CBC
May 12	Tampa Bay 4, Toronto 3 (OT)	7:30p	TBS	CBC
May 14	Tampa Bay 2, Toronto 1	7p	TNT	CBC

 

+ if necessary // All times Eastern Daylight.

photo credit: NHL

2022 NHL Stanley Cup notebook: Edmonton Oilers win this Battle of Alberta

This clip is 4:46. It’s in real time with no cuts and contains 4 goals and every replay.

The #BattleOfAlberta is everything we hoped for and more#StanleyCup #LetsGoOilers #Flames pic.twitter.com/eRDQyyqPiC

— Tim and Friends (@timandfriends) May 27, 2022

Fastest 4 goals in a NHL playoff game (Game 5). The Calgary Flames scored 2 goals in 51 seconds in Game 1, a new playoff record for shortest amount of time. A lot of fastest in the 2022 version of the Battle of Alberta. Game 1 gave us flashbacks to a pre-Gary Bettman NHL era.

We love to preach secondary scoring and the Edmonton Oilers delivered. Evander Kane, Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Leon Draisaitl has been consistent. Connor McDavid: assists extraordinaire yet scored the game-winning goal in overtime in Game 5, goal #7 for the postseason.

McDavid and Draisaitl each have 26 points in this postseason.

The Calgary Flames, with their incredible 40-goal scorers top line of Johnny Gaudreau, Elias Lindholm, and Matthew Tkachuk, came up short after the first period of Game 1.

The Oilers were playing at a different speed in this series, winning over the Flames in 5 games.

IT JUST HAD TO BE HIM! 😱

Connor McDavid's @SUBWAYCanada OT winner seals the deal for the @EdmontonOilers! 👏#StanleyCup | #BattleOfAlberta | #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/bwYDHpO8Ot

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 27, 2022

The Edmonton Oilers will play the Colorado Avalanche in the "Campbell" final. The Avs defeated the St. Louis Blues in 6 games. Colorado has home-ice advantage in the series.

Edmonton went 1-2 against Colorado. The Avs won 3-2 (OT) on March 21 in Denver. Colorado won 2-1 on April 9 in Edmonton. The Oilers won 6-3 at home on April 22.

No one has scored more than 15 goals in one #StanleyCup playoffs over the last 25 years (Sidney Crosby, 2009, and Alex Ovechkin, 2018).

Evander Kane currently has 12 for the #oilers and he's still in the second round.

— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) May 25, 2022

We talked secondary scoring. Evander Kane didn't start out the season with Edmonton. Kane has had 2 hat tricks in the postseason with a natural hat trick in Game 3. Zach Hyman, in his first season with Edmonton, has 8 goals in this postseason (11 games) vs. 5 goals in 23 playoff games with Toronto.

Leon Draisaitl had 16 points in the series, the most in a Battle of Alberta and breaking Wayne Gretzky's record of 14 from 1983.

Edmonton has now won 5 of the 6 playoff versions of the Battle of Alberta. The Oilers beat Calgary in 1984 and 1988 on their way to winning the Stanley Cup.

• 1983 Edmonton 4–1
• 1984 Edmonton 4–3
• 1986 Calgary 4–3
• 1988 Edmonton 4–0
• 1991 Edmonton 4–3
• 2022 Edmonton 4–1

Brady Tkachuk of the Ottawa Senators got some screen time, rooting on his brother Matthew Tkachuk, who plays for Calgary. Maybe brother Matthew can return the favour or even have a Stanley Cup final with the brothers on the ice.

HELLO?!?!?!#StanleyCup | #BattleofAlberta | #Flames pic.twitter.com/5ESr1mTxLK

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 25, 2022

ESPN has had good NHL coverage in many ways, steps up from NBCSN. Frustrating exceptions are replays and missed angles. The Rasmus Andersson 132-foot wild goal on Mike Smith in Game 4 is a great example. The ESPN coverage barely showed the path of the goal and only from behind Smith.

Rogers Sportsnet had an ice-level replay from behind Andersson that showed how wild the goal was. ESPN would seemingly have access to that angle but the network doesn't emphasize replays the way other networks do in covering hockey.

2022 NHL Stanley Cup notebook: Battle of Alberta is back after 31 years

We saw Garry Galley jump in on Game 4 in the Florida series for CBC and Rogers Sportsnet. Craig Simpson was under the weather for Game 5. Sportsnet went with regular Flames colour analyst Kelly Hrudey along with Chris Cuthbert. Flames fans would note that Simpson played for Edmonton in the era of the classic Battle of Alberta series.

Cuthbert/Simpson/Kyle Bukauskas will cover the Edmonton series. Harnarayan Singh and Louie DeBrusk with David Amber will call the Eastern final. CBC will carry every single game of both conference finals. This is not scheduled to apply in Ontario for Game 2 of the Oilers series since CBC will cover the Ontario election.

Sportsnet is flipping people in and out of the coverage. We imagine Scott Oake will be involved in the Stanley Cup final.

Chris Cuthbert gives us CFL references in the high scoring Game 1. John Buccigross tell the U.S. audience that Calgary and Edmonton are like Boston and New York since the distance is comparable. No, it isn't. Being in the same province is a lot different than the dynamic of different states. Also, the rivalry of Calgary and Edmonton is tied to everything, not just sports.

The young woman for SportsCenter after Game 1 said the "battle for Alberta." No, "of" not "for."

This is the complaint with parachuting people into a series. ESPN didn't carry Calgary in the regular season and not a single game on Canadian soil. The network gave the U.S. viewers in Round 1 voices who understood the significance: Gord Miller, Cassie Campbell-Pascall, Dominic Moore, Leah Hextall.

Buccigross and Brian Boucher don't understand the rivalry and aren't really that interested. Bob Wischusen was a step up from Buccigross. Miller wasn't available. Campbell-Pascall is tied to the Calgary Flames. Hextall is the ice-level reporter.

The intermission crew featured Steve Levy and Kevin Weekes. Weekes covered the Battle of Alberta for CBC with Mark Lee. Levy has a better sense of these things than Buccigross. Levy, Weekes, and Hextall would have said, "ESPN takes this pretty seriously."

2022 NHL Stanley Cup notebook: How ESPN and TNT are covering Canadian teams

ESPN has the first pick for which conference final to cover. Very strong money has them picking the East final. The Edmonton series may have more scoring but the East final will have earlier starting times and likely better ratings as a result.

If that happens, the Edmonton series will draw TNT's top team of Kenny Albert, Eddie Olczyk, and Keith Jones. Their only experience with Canadian teams in the NHL playoffs has been Game 7 of the Toronto Maple Leafs series.

Albert was in the Edmonton bubble in 2020 for NBCSN. TNT carried 5 Edmonton games during the regular season, 3 of them at Rogers Place.

If ESPN doesn't go in that direction, Ray Ferraro will call a series with a Canadian team.

May 31 Edmonton @ Colorado, 8p Kenny Albert/Eddie Olczyk/Keith Jones/Nabil Karim
June 2 Edmonton @ Colorado, 8p Kenny Albert/Eddie Olczyk/Keith Jones/Nabil Karim
June 4 Colorado @ Edmonton, 8p Kenny Albert/Keith Jones/Darren Pang/Meaghan Mikkelson
June 6 Colorado @ Edmonton, 8p Kenny Albert/Keith Jones/Darren Pang/Meaghan Mikkelson

We should give an award to the best Canadian NHL team each season

The Edmonton Oilers automatically becomes the best Canadian NHL team of the 2021-2022 season.

We came up with the idea (unofficially the Dion Phaneuf award) to give an award to the Canadian team that finished the deepest in the Stanley Cup playoffs or the best regular season record if there are no playoff teams.

The Montréal Canadiens won last year's crown for winning the North Division and reaching the Stanley Cup final.

2022 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs preview for Canadian teams

2022 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs scoreboard

An all-Canadian series out west still drew rather well on U.S. television with the ESPN family. Game 2 drew 1.090 million, Game 3 had 940,000 viewers and Game 1 had 894,000 viewers. Game 5 drew 1.169 million for ESPN.

CanadianCrossing.com NHL coverage

We will update this file with any announcer changes and the like.

Twitter captures: @timandfriends; @Sportsnet; @reporterchris; @Sportsnet
photo credit: CBC Sports/Sportsnet/NHL

2022 NHL Stanley Cup notebook: Battle of Alberta is back after 31 years

Gary Bettman wasn't even the NHL commissioner when the Battle of Alberta last met in the NHL playoffs. The Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers met 5 times in 9 years from 1983-1991.

Edmonton won 4 of the 5 battles with 1986 the exception, where Calgary won 4-3. The Oilers beat Calgary in 1984 and 1988 on their way to winning the Stanley Cup.

Here are the 5 times where the Alberta teams met in the NHL playoffs. All of them were for the Smythe Division final.

• 1983 Edmonton 4–1
• 1984 Edmonton 4–3
• 1986 Calgary 4–3
• 1988 Edmonton 4–0
• 1991 Edmonton 4–3

Bettman can't be happy, a good thing for us. The playoffs showcase the one building standing that hasn't be replaced under his thumb: Scotiabank Saddledome. The Battle of Alberta in itself. Also, a Canadian team will play in the western final.

Calgary needed overtime and a brilliant Johnny Gaudreau winning goal to advance past Dallas. Edmonton was down 3-2 to Los Angeles before posting key victories in Game 6 and Game 7.

It’s the Connor McDavid show in Game 7 😳pic.twitter.com/ZX2hfKEMSt

— Hockey Night in Canada (@hockeynight) May 15, 2022

Connor McDavid had a goal and an assist in Game 7. McDavid got a point in 5 of the 6 goals from the final 2 games. The Oilers also needed swagger like when Evander Kane flashed 7 fingers near end of Game 6.

CATCHING FIRE! 🔥

Who else but Johnny Gaudreau to score the @SUBWAYCanada OT winner for the @NHLFlames! 💥 pic.twitter.com/kuzBVODl5L

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 16, 2022

The Calgary Flames had trouble with Dallas through the series but rose to the occasion in overtime. The Flames won their only overtime game while Edmonton is 0-1 in overtime this spring.

2022 NHL Stanley Cup notebook: How ESPN and TNT are covering Canadian teams

Sometimes, a playoff series comes down to how well some teams match up with others. The players should decide the series, not the referees. In the law of averages, one team shouldn't get as many breaks as the refs gave to the team playing Toronto. The officiating became selective on fake penalties in the 3rd period of Game 6 and the magical call of a player hitting the ice and being called for a penalty in Game 7, nullifying a key goal.

The NHL loves Auston Matthews but hates the Toronto Maple Leafs. They don't have the guts to admit that reality.

Everyone had poked fun over the Toronto Maple Leafs streak of not getting past the first round since 2004. The Maple Leafs had the second longest streak in the NHL behind Florida, which hadn't advanced past the first round since 1996. That was the team Toronto would have faced in the second round this season.

2022 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs preview for Canadian teams

With the exception of the 2021 season, U.S. television refused to show the Battle of Alberta. One of the greatest rivalries in sports and U.S. television turned its back. Now U.S. television has to show the Battle of Alberta 4-7 times in a 2 week period. Hope the ESPN announcers really appreciate this rivalry.

Here are the 2021 telecasts in the United States. All of the HNIC games were on the NHL Network. The NBCSN game was the lone exception:

February 6 Edmonton @ Calgary, 10p (HNIC)
February 20 Calgary @ Edmonton, 10p (HNIC)
March 6 Calgary @ Edmonton, 10p (HNIC)
March 17 Edmonton @ Calgary, 10p (NBCSN)
April 10 Edmonton @ Calgary, 10p (HNIC)
May 1 Edmonton @ Calgary, 10p (HNIC)

2022 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs scoreboard

CBC will have the Battle of Alberta. The public broadcaster will feature the St. Louis-Colorado series and the all-Florida series (minus Game 3). Those watching CBC channels in Alberta will get that game from the start regardless of the other game that night.

Chris Cuthbert and Craig Simpson with Scott Oake will work the Battle of Alberta series. John Bartlett and Greg Millen with Kyle Bukauskas can work on their tans in Florida. Harnarayan Singh and Louie DeBrusk with Dan Murphy will handle the Blues and Avalanche.

We will update this story for all the second round telecasts.

Game 7 of the Calgary series in the opening round aired on Rogers Sportsnet because of the 2022 Junos.

May 17 Tampa Bay @ Florida, 7p
May 17 St. Louis @ Colorado, 9:30p
May 18 Edmonton @ Calgary, 9:30p
May 19 Tampa Bay @ Florida, 7p
May 19 St. Louis @ Colorado, 9:30p
May 20 Edmonton @ Calgary, 10:30p
May 21 Colorado @ St. Louis, 8p
May 22 Calgary @ Edmonton, 8p
May 23 Florida @ Tampa Bay, 7p
May 23 Colorado @ St. Louis, 9:30p
May 24 Calgary @ Edmonton, 9:30p
May 25 St. Louis @ Colorado, 8p
May 26 Edmonton @ Calgary, 9:30p
May 27 Colorado @ St. Louis, 8p

The ESPN family is working the Battle of Alberta.

May 18 Edmonton @ Calgary, 9:30p John Buccigross/Brian Boucher/Leah Hextall ESPN
May 20 Edmonton @ Calgary, 10:30p John Buccigross/Brian Boucher/Leah Hextall ESPN
May 22 Calgary @ Edmonton, 8p Bob Wischusen/Brian Boucher/Leah Hextall ESPN2
May 24 Calgary @ Edmonton, 9:30p Bob Wischusen/Brian Boucher/Leah Hextall ESPN
May 26 Edmonton @ Calgary, 9:30p Bob Wischusen/Brian Boucher/Leah Hextall ESPN

The nice part is that U.S. viewers will get the same (or similar) crew. We will update this when we get the ESPN announcers press release.

NHL Network, TNT, and ESPN/ESPN+ games in 2022 season analysis

ESPN gave us Gord Miller and Cassie Campbell-Pascall for Games 1-2 in Edmonton. We knew the clock would strike midnight for Miller since the World Championships were coming up in Finland. Campbell-Pascall didn't get assigned to another series and wasn't on the docket for Game 5 in Edmonton.

Dominic Moore, who teamed up with Miller for Game 1 in Calgary, worked with Leah Hextall in Edmonton and then Calgary for Game 5 in both series.

ESPN expressed a preference over Rogers Sportsnet to use Campbell-Pascall. There may be unforeseen circumstances. Just us in observation mode.

NHL notebook: Wrapping up the end of the 2022 regular season

We are ready to bring back the NHL Network to start games. Turner is like a bad driver at the wheel that suddenly moves across 4 lanes to reach an exit.

There was a game where Tru TV was showing the start of the late game. 2 seconds later, the channel pulls out of coverage and the viewer is left lost as to what happened. Seems like at least 70% of Tru TV prime time programming is reruns of the not very funny practical jokers show. Someone (not us) said Turner was trying to act like NBC. Even NBC was never that bad.

If you want your channels to fill the gaps, have a tiny bit of respect for the NHL audience.

Rogers Sportsnet and CBC (mostly) don't have these issues. The NHL could help but starting late games on time on another channel so there wouldn't be a 8:50 start in Dallas.

Where the NHL Canadian teams stand in the Stanley Cup playoffs chase

Haven't caught much of Ray Ferraro on ESPN in the playoffs but what little we heard was par excellence. He is the best. Ferraro didn't cover any Canadian teams in the first round. He is considered one of the ESPN top analysts.

Gord Miller and Ray Ferraro are the best because of what they share and how much fun they have together. Separately, they are rather strong.

CanadianCrossing.com NHL coverage

You tiptoe. You avoid saying his name near a mirror. Yet ESPN brought in Brian Boucher for Game 7 of the Edmonton series.

Boucher didn't do a lot of the first round games, a good decision for hockey fans. Often, U.S. networks bring in a new crew for a Game 7 that has no clue about the teams and the dynamic of the series.

Bob Wischusen is fine. Leah Hextall called Game 5 and was the ice-level reporter for Game 7. The same crew called Game 7 in Calgary.

Cassie Campbell-Pascall was a more logical choice, having called Games 1-2 with Gord Miller. Kevin Weekes would have been a better call. The other ESPN Game 7 crew: Steve Levy, Ray Ferraro, and Emily Kaplan. That would have been great.

photo credit: @sportsnet
Twitter captures: @hockeynight; @sportsnet