Canadian Crossing

NHL the month in preview October 2021

The 2021-2022 NHL season starts tonight in the United States. Canada waits until the traditional Wednesday start.

The opening night matchups on Wednesday feel familiar: Montréal and Toronto meet in the early game after the 3-1 Stanley Cup playoffs comeback in May. Vancouver (missed the playoffs) will be in Edmonton (a team that made the playoffs but won as many playoff games as the Canucks) play in the nightcap. The Winnipeg (a team that swept and got swept) game on U.S. soil will also be part of the mix.

Hometown Hockey (HH) is back this season, shifting from Sunday to Monday. The evening often will feature multiple games this season.

TNT makes its Canadian team debut with the Edmonton Oilers hosting Philadelphia on October 27. Fitting that the first game is on Alberta soil given how timid NBCSN was in broadcasting from that province. The U.S. network won't have an early game on Wednesdays (beyond the first 2 weeks) until 2022.

NHL Network starts out its Canadian team coverage with a rare Ottawa home game (Dallas), the lone NHL contest on October 17. The first Hometown Hockey game of the year is also on the U.S. channel on October 18, an Original 6 matchup with the New York Rangers in Toronto.

The Calgary game on October 23 should be a NHL Network production like we saw last season on weekend afternoons, an improvement over the NBC Sports Washington feed. The U.S. channel picks up Hockey Night in Canada (HNIC) feeds with the Maple Leafs meeting Sidney Crosby in Pittsburgh (23) and we think the first time the channel has shown the Jets-Sharks battle live (30).

An annual reminder that the U.S. channel often (not always) has a backup game. If your home team is involved in the main game, you might get a Canadian game as a bonus. The channel also has matinee rebroadcasts, condensed versions that air the following afternoon.

The initial ESPN+/Hulu game involving a Canadian team is the Seattle Kraken home opener against the Vancouver Canucks on October 23. That will block out the CBC coverage in the United States unless you live in a CBC market through cable.

A reminder that the ESPN+/Hulu games listed below are ESPN productions. They are exclusive telecasts, even in market. 

Check for a NHL Center Ice free preview. They offer intermission coverage.

TNT

October 27
Philadelphia @ Edmonton, 10p

NHL Network

October 17
Dallas @ Ottawa, 5p
October 18
NY Rangers @ Toronto, 7p (HH)
October 23
Calgary at Washington, 1p
Toronto @ Pittsburgh, 7p (HNIC)
October 30
Winnipeg @ San Jose, 7p (HNIC)

ESPN+/Hulu

October 23
Vancouver @ Seattle, 10p

Hockey Night in Canada

October 16

Ottawa @ Toronto, 7p/NY Rangers @ Montréal, 7p/Vancouver @ Detroit, 7p
Calgary @ Edmonton, 10p/Winnipeg @ San Jose, 10p

October 23

Toronto @ Pittsburgh, 7p/Detroit @ Montréal, 7p/Nashville @ Winnipeg, 7p
Vancouver @ Seattle, 10p

October 30

Detroit @ Toronto, 7p/Winnipeg @ San Jose, 7p
Edmonton @ Vancouver, 10p/Philadelphia @ Calgary, 10p

Hometown Hockey

October 18 NY Rangers @ Toronto, 7p (The Township of North Dumfries, ON)

October 25 Toronto vs. Carolina, 7p/Calgary @ NY Rangers, 7p/
Washington @ Ottawa, 7p (Lindsay, ON)

Rogers Sportsnet national telecasts

October 13 Montréal @ Toronto, 7p/Vancouver @ Edmonton, 10p/
Winnipeg @ Anaheim, 10p

October 15 Vancouver @ Philadelphia, 7p

October 19 Vancouver @ Buffalo, 7p/Anaheim @ Edmonton, 9p

October 21 Calgary @ Detroit, 7:30p/Edmonton @ Arizona, 10p

October 22 Edmonton @ Las Vegas, 10p

October 26 Calgary @ New Jersey, 7p/Minnesota @ Vancouver, 10p

October 27 Toronto @ Chicago, 8p/Philadelphia @ Edmonton, 10p

October 28 Philadelphia @ Vancouver, 10p

NHL Center Ice free preview

October 13 Montréal @ Toronto, 7p/Vancouver @ Edmonton, 10p/
Winnipeg @ Anaheim, 10p

October 14 Toronto @ Ottawa, 7p/Montréal @ Buffalo, 7p

October 15 Vancouver @ Philadelphia, 7p

October 16 Ottawa @ Toronto, 7p/NY Rangers @ Montréal, 7p/
Vancouver @ Detroit, 7p/Calgary @ Edmonton, 10p/Winnipeg @ San Jose, 10p

October 17 Dallas @ Ottawa, 5p

October 18 NY Rangers @ Toronto, 7p/Anaheim @ Calgary, 9:30p

October 19 Vancouver @ Buffalo, 7p/San Jose @ Montréal, 7p/
Winnipeg @ Minnesota, 8p/Anaheim @ Edmonton, 9p

Zack Hyman was a key, underrated part of the Toronto Maple Leafs offence. Hyman proved to be a rarity, jumping from a Canadian team to another Canadian team in free agency. Hyman will now be a part of the offence in Edmonton with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

Mathieu Perreault was another player who switched Canadian teams, going from Winnipeg to Montréal. Perreault signed a 1-year, $950,000 deal. Hyman's deal was a lot larger: 7 years for $38.5 million.

Tracking the NHL 2021 media changes

Jim Hughson concludes marvelous baseball and hockey announcing career

The Montréal Canadiens took off the interim tag on Dominique Ducharme and named him the 31st head coach in the long history of the team.

The Habs essentially "traded" Jesperi Kotkaniemi, replacing him with Christian Dvorak. Carolina had a $6.1 million offer sheet for Kotkaniemi. The Canadiens thought that was too much, acquiring a 1st-round pick and a 3rd-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. The team then traded one of its 1st-round picks in the 2022 draft and a 2nd-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft to Arizona for Dvorak.

The offer sheet was seen to be retaliatory for Montréal giving an offer sheet for Sebastian Aho. Carolina kept Aho and was forced to give the player a huge bonus.

2021 NHL preseason schedule

Shea Weber may never hit the ice for the Montréal Canadiens ever again. P.K. Subban lasted 3 years in Nashville and has played the last 2 seasons in New Jersey.

We knew Weber was an "old" 31 when the Habs acquired him for (27) Subban. We were highly critical of the deal at the time, even if that meant a return to winning the Stanley Cup.

If you had said in late June 2016 that Weber would lead the Canadiens to the Stanley Cup finals, we would be encouraged. If you had said Weber will only play 5 seasons, we would have been disappointed.

If Weber doesn't play again, Nashville will pay more of a penalty than Montréal will. Vancouver knows that pain as they play another season minus a good player because of Roberto Luongo's contract. This will be the final season where the Canucks can't spend $3.3 million on an active player who could help their team.

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

2021 Stanley Cup notebook: Montreal Canadiens season is done

Bell Centre will be at full capacity for the Montréal Canadiens. Ontario shifted to full capacity as of 12:01 am Saturday morning. The Toronto and Ottawa teams will be happy.

Vancouver, like the Ontario teams, was at 50% capacity for the preseason. The Canucks don't open at home until October 26 so British Columbia may change the policy before that date. This is subject to change.

2021 Stanley Cup playoffs scoreboard

The Seattle Kraken picked a player from each Canadian team. Mark Giordano (D) (Calgary) was the biggest name from the Canadian teams. Edmonton traded Taylor Hall even up for Adam Larsson (D). The Oilers lost Larsson to Seattle.

Montréal lost Cale Fleury (D) while Ottawa said goodbye to Joey Daccord (G). Toronto traded for Jared McCann (F) and then lost him. Kole Lind (F) (Vancouver) and Mason Appleton (F) (Winnipeg) round out the list.

Carey Price was a tempting possibility for the Kraken but likely made a smart decision to go with Fleury, who will start out in the American Hockey League.

The Canucks-Kraken rivalry will be amazing. Look to see how Seattle tangles with the Alberta teams since they have also been the Kraken opposition in the preseason.

While everyone in Ottawa is eagerly waiting for Brady Tkachuk to sign…I’ll casually drop in to say I’m joining the @TSN_Sports team in #YOW!

So excited for this opportunity & I can’t wait to cover all the major sports stories in our nation’s capital 🇨🇦🍁 pic.twitter.com/03gtmapxQA

— Claire Hanna (@clahanna) October 9, 2021

Claire Hanna moves from CTV Regina and the CFL on TSN coverage to covering sports for TSN in Ottawa. This might be relevant to the TSN5 Ottawa Senators coverage. We still don't know who will help call Sens games along with Gord Miller.

Hanna, pictured at the arena in Kanata, might host the TSN5 telecasts. Brent Wallace was the host until February when he, among many at Bell Media, lost his job.

Our guide to the NHL Canadian teams coverage

CanadianCrossing.com NHL coverage

The NHL deigns to give a Canada an outdoor game. Unlike the 2019 (Regina) and 2016 (Winnipeg) versions, this 2022 Heritage Classic will actually be in the winter: March 13 in Hamilton with the "road" Toronto Maple Leafs and "home" Buffalo Sabres.

This means that every NHL and CFL market will have had an outdoor game except Montréal.

The Maple Leafs have played outdoors in Ann Arbor, MI (2014) with a 3-2 SO win; at BMO Field (2017) 5-4 (OT) over Detroit; and a 5-2 loss to Washington in Annapolis, MD (2018).

The Sabres will be the first U.S. based team to play in something labeled as the Heritage Classic.

photo credit: NHL
Twitter capture: @clahanna

Jim Hughson concludes marvelous baseball and hockey announcing career

After 42 years, Hall of Fame PxP commentator Jim Hughson has announced his retirement from broadcasting.

As one of Canada's iconic hockey voices, Jim leaves a lasting legacy at @Sportsnet & across the entire broadcasting industry.

Thank you Jim! 💫

➡️ https://t.co/pbFrpF43Ko pic.twitter.com/JS17MzGWWD

— Sportsnet PR (@SportsnetPR) September 21, 2021

Retired usually means you can't do something anymore. Jim Hughson chose to retire when he was still very good at calling hockey. Hughson took over for Bob Cole as the main voice of Hockey Night in Canada in 2008 on CBC and later on Rogers Sportsnet. Hughson started working as the secondary play-by-play announcer in 2005 on CBC.

Hughson, long known for his play-by-play work in baseball and hockey, did cut back last season, only calling Hockey Night in Canada games literally in Vancouver. Hughson got to work with his former colour analyst John Garrett. We didn't know at the time this was the send-off. He shared some of his reasons for retiring on The People’s Show on Sportsnet 650 in Vancouver.

Still a bit odd that we won't hear him at all. Hughson called the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs and final in the bubbles in Toronto and Edmonton. His retirement should have been a bigger deal.

Hughson called the Montréal Expos on TSN from 1987-1989 and the Toronto Blue Jays on TSN from 1990-1994 and CBC from 2007-2008. He also called the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1982-1987 and the Vancouver Canucks from 1979-1982 and 1994-2008.

He also called national games of NHL hockey on TSN, CTV Sportsnet, CBC, and Rogers Sportsnet.

Hughson could have easily had a great career as a baseball announcer. Here is Hughson with Ken Singleton on the Montréal Expos on TSN.

https://t.co/WtNioDJEmR pic.twitter.com/THMTysTI3b

— Craig Simpson (@hnicsimmer) September 21, 2021

I was lucky enough to start my hockey broadcast career on the same crew as Jim Hughson in 1983. Jim set the bar for me then, and the standard for all 🇨🇦 play by play announcers over the last two decades. The consummate professional. Congratulations Jim, best wishes in retirement. pic.twitter.com/aXBwkF0KBT

— Chris Cuthbert (@CCpxpSN) September 21, 2021

U.S. NHL coverage has a large hole with Doc Emrick retirement

The Rogers Sportsnet logic was essentially Chris Cuthbert for Dave Randorf during the pandemic, except they could have used Cuthbert and Randorf. Cuthbert and John Bartlett can handle the east most weeks. Harnarayan Singh with Rick Ball and John Shorthouse will deal with the west most weeks.

RJ Broadhead took a day job as the radio voice of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the CFL. Mark Lee is available, just saying. Rogers got rid of Paul Romanuk mostly because some Maple Leafs fans thought he was too impartial.

Instead of a question about who will call the Stanley Cup playoffs — Hughson or Cuthbert — the answer is Cuthbert. The only question is the depth chart behind Cuthbert at Rogers Sportsnet.

CanadianCrossing.com NHL coverage

Hughson won the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award in 2019, getting into the Hockey Hall of Fame. The award honoured his outstanding contributions as a hockey broadcaster.

Having Hughson do a few regional games, such as the Vancouver Canucks trip to Seattle for the Seattle Kraken home opener on October 23, would be very tempting just to hear him a few more times. Then again, retirement is often stopping, even when you can still do it well. Happy retirement to Jim Hughson.

photo credit: Hockey Night in Canada
Twitter captures: @SportsnetPR; @hnicsimmer; @CCpxpSN
video credit: YouTube/Phenia Films the MLB archives Original Broadcasts (MLB/TSN)

2021 Stanley Cup notebook: Montreal to play for the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1993

ARTURRI LEHKONEN SEND MONTREAL TO THE #STANLEYCUP FINAL! 🚨 #ItsOn pic.twitter.com/WxIDBQ3toC

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 25, 2021

The Montréal Canadiens are in the Stanley Cup final for the first time since 1993. The Canadiens will play either Tampa Bay or the New York Islanders. That Game 7 is tonight.

Artturi Lehkonen had the overtime winner in Game 6 to give Montréal the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl, the trophy of the "western" conference. Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver are the other Canadian teams to have won the trophy.

Phillip Danault got the primary assist on the OT winner, his first point of the series. Danault does so much on the ice that scoring isn't as big of a deal for him. He does bring pizza to the postgame news conference.

Cole Caufield had 4 goals in the series with Las Vegas, including one in Game 6. Shea Weber got his first playoff goal in 2021 on a power play in Game 6.

Game 5 saw Nick Suzuki get his first 3-point playoff game, Eric Staal adding his 2nd playoff, Caufield added a goal, and Jesperi Kotkaniemi scored a rebound goal off a Josh Anderson attempt.

Carey Price has been incredible in goal with a .934 save percentage, especially on the power play. The Habs gave up 3 power play goals to Toronto back in the first round. The Canadiens added to their playoff record with 13 games without allowing a power-play goal.

The Montréal Canadiens are the first Canadian team to get this far since the 2011 Vancouver Canucks. The Canadiens were the last Canadian NHL team to win the Stanley Cup. The team is by far the leader in the NHL with 24 Stanley Cups.

The last time the Montréal Canadiens were in the Stanley Cup final, the MLB Expos existed, the CFL Alouettes did not, and the Habs played at the Forum. This marks the first Stanley Cup final for Youppi! as the Habs mascot and former Expos mascot.

This was the first time Les Canadiens ever played on Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, the big provincial summer holiday. The team is now 1-0 on June 24.

The Canadiens are 11-0 when scoring 2 or more goals. The other win was Game 2 with Winnipeg by a 1-0 score.

Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final will be on Monday.

2021 Stanley Cup notebook: Montreal, Las Vegas tied 2-2

The inside capacity at the Bell Centre is limited to 3,500. The outside capacity is much larger. The Canadiens fans outside the Bell Centre have been a beautiful sight. Merci beaucoup for all that love for Les Habitants.

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

NBC picked a lousy time to not air the anthem. A huge holiday in Quebec and a loud crowd for Game 6. They aired all the anthems from Las Vegas.

Thought she’d be a Habs fan! pic.twitter.com/otq4u7N2fl

— Chris Cuthbert (@CCpxpSN) June 23, 2021

Celine Dion rarely comes up on the blog. Dion denied posing for the Las Vegas photo. We believe her.

Cette passe de Perry mérite aussi une reprise. 👀

This pass from Perry deserves another look too. pic.twitter.com/loCd6AdvZq

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) June 23, 2021

Max Pacioretty and Mark Stone were the big names for Las Vegas who were stars on Canadian teams. Pacioretty was a long-time Canadien and Stone excelled in Ottawa.

Pacioretty finished the series with 2 assists and a goal, the same totals as Nick Suzuki had just in Game 5. Stone had 0 points.

The Ottawa Senators traded Stone and forward Tobias Lindberg in February 2019 for forward Oscar Lindberg, defenseman prospect Erik Brannstrom, and a 2nd-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft (Egor Sokolov LW from Russia).

2021 Stanley Cup notebook: Montreal set to play Las Vegas in Stanley Cup semifinals

2021 Stanley Cup notebook: Montreal sweeps Winnipeg to head to Stanley Cup semifinals

The CBC audience matters a lot to the overall NHL ratings. The Game 5 numbers, only on Sportsnet, were 61% of the Game 4 numbers. CBC carried the Indspire Awards instead of Game 5.

Game 1: 2,300,000
Game 2: 2,499,000
Game 3: 2,875,000
Game 4: 3,029,000
Game 5: 1,848,000 (Sportsnet only)
Game 6: 3,687,000

TVA Sports numbers

Game 1: 990,000
Game 2: 1,060,000
Game 3: 1,372,000
Game 4: 1,292,000
Game 5: 1,348,000
Game 6: 1,608,000

Those Game 6 numbers were rather impressive, English and French.

2021 Stanley Cup playoffs scoreboard

John Bartlett and Garry Galley will call Game 7 of the Tampa Bay-NY Islanders series for CBC and Rogers Sportsnet. Game 7 will be their last game of the playoff season. Chris Cuthbert, Craig Simpson, and Kyle Buskauskas will call the Stanley Cup final; the first Stanley Cup series for Cuthbert and will involve a Canadian-based team.

Kenny Albert, Ed Olczyk, and Brian Boucher (aka village idiot) will call the Stanley Cup final on NBC and NBCSN. John Forslund, Joe Micheletti, and Pierre McGuire covered the Montréal series with Las Vegas. This will be the first NBC appearance for a Canadian NHL team since last August with 2 Habs games and a game with the Edmonton Oilers.

CanadianCrossing.com NHL coverage

We got a CBC rebroadcast of Game 6 on the NHL Network matinee schedule. The game, overtime included, was condensed into a 2-hour block so some content was lost. They also needed to cover the handshakes.

A Death in Cryptoland is a CBC podcast. There was a visual only reference to the Players Own Voice podcast before the 2nd period.

Montréal Game 6: Tokyo Olympics (1st); A Death in Cryptoland (2nd); CBC Gem; Tokyo Olympics CBC Kids (3rd)

Twitter captures: @Sportsnet; @CCpxpSN; @CanadiensMTL
photo credit: USA Network/NHL

2021 Stanley Cup notebook: Montreal advances to play Winnipeg

Nos rivaux de toujours. 🤝

Forever rivals.#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/NpUqDYcxtE

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) June 1, 2021

Editor's note: This story has been updated with Canadian TV numbers for Game 7.

Carey Price.

The Montréal goaltender, who spent several weeks toward the end of the regular season on the sidelines with an injury, dominated the Stanley Cup playoff series over the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Canadiens struggled early in the series to score. Toronto had as many goals in Game 4 (4) as the Canadiens had in the first 4 games combined. Montréal outscored the Maple Leafs 10-6 in the final 3 games.

The Maple Leafs won 3 games by May 25. By May 31, their season was done.

This 3-game run reminded us of his run in the 2014 Olympics in Sochi. Price surrendered 3 goals in 5 games with back-to-back shutouts over the United States and Sweden to win the gold medal for Canada.

William Nylander led the Leafs with 5 goals in 6 games. Auston Matthews had a single goal in Game 2 while Mitch Marner was scoreless.

Brendan Gallagher, who was also injured late in the season, broke the scoreless tie in Game 7. Corey Perry, one of several Canadiens with a Stanley Cup, scored the insurance goal.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi had 3 goals in the series for the Habs, 7 playoff goals overall and he wouldn't be allowed to drink in the United States.

Jake Muzzin was out for Game 7 with a long-term injury. John Tavares missed all but the early part of Game 1. The "win one for the captain" was a theme in Games 2-4 but seemed to disappear over Games 5-7.

Frederik Andersen was the Maple Leafs starting goalie but didn't play at all. Jack Campbell did well in his first playoff series but couldn't match up with Carey Price.

The Maple Leafs lost 3 of the 4 games at Scotiabank Arena but did manage to go 2-1 at the Bell Centre. Toronto is now 0-8 in attempts to clinch a series.

🚨 KYLE CONNOR ENDS IT IN 3OT! 🚨

The @NHLJets are moving on to the Second Round of the #StanleyCup Playoffs! #ItsOn pic.twitter.com/xJniBzPz6B

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 25, 2021

The Canadian final has no Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Auston Matthews, or Mitch Marner. Winnipeg and Montréal were the more balanced teams in the opening round.

Winnipeg held a 6-3 edge over Montréal in the regular season, going 3-1 at home and 3-2 on the road. Then again, Toronto and Edmonton dominated their opponents in the regular season.

We know the west winner (Colorado/Las Vegas) will play Winnipeg or Montréal in the final four. The Maple Leafs would have had home ice over Tampa Bay but not against Carolina. We hear there may be a travel exemption allowing the Canadian winner to go back and forth to play the next round.

We have talked about the Toronto woes in winning a playoff series. 2018 saw the Jets win back-to-back playoff series over Minnesota and Nashville. Winnipeg won the opening playoff series in 1985 and 1987, both over Calgary.

That is the total success for Winnipeg in the NHL both 1.0 and 2.0. The Winnipeg Jets did win the Avco Cup in the WHA in 1976, 1978, and 1979.

The Winnipeg-Edmonton series was the third series to end. Montréal fans shouldn't underestimate Winnipeg, given the regular season dominance. The Oilers made that mistake. Winnipeg has depth at centre, lots of people who can score, and a tough goaltender in Connor Hellebuyck.

2021 Stanley Cup notebook: Toronto-Montreal reaches Game 7

The Montréal veterans who have won the Stanley Cup had the better numbers over the Toronto veterans who haven't won the Stanley Cup. Eric Staal set up Brendan Gallagher on the opening goal last night. Corey Perry also scored and has had a terrific series. Joel Edmundson has played solid defence.

Jason Spezza had a strong series. Joe Thornton and Wayne Simmonds played well for Toronto but weren't as strong on the scoresheet.

2021 Stanley Cup notebook: Winnipeg Jets pull off the sweep

550 fully vaccinated health-care workers attended Game 7. Ontario Premier Doug Ford initially would not let anyone, even for Game 7.

Alberta let in 12 health-care workers for Game 1 in Edmonton in the first round. Quebec and Montréal allowed 2,500 regular fans for Game 6.

In a news release, Ford said the decision was made in consultation with Ontario's chief medical officer of health, Toronto Public Health and hospital administrators.

There is a nuance between allowing health care workers and fans. Every playoff game in Canada should have had health-care workers symbolically in the stands, even in Manitoba, a province struggling with the current wave.

We get that Canada wants to be "safe" but the U.S. crowds have been embarrassingly large in contrast to the virtually empty Canadian arenas. The games in Montréal (Games 3-4 at least) can have 2,500 fans for each game.

Today would’ve been an amazing day to visit Toronto for a Game 7 (this picture is how I remember it from 2018). Alas… still amped to be on the call tonight with @mooredom for the for the first Leafs-Habs Game 7 since 1957 😧! See you tonight at 7 ET on CNBC. #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/Qj2pWXJN2V

— Alex Faust (@alex_faust) May 31, 2021

We appreciate the airing of the Game 7 anthem in the United States. The U.S. hockey audience might have been startled by the news of the bodies of the 215 children found at the Kamloops residential school. We suggest doing a bit of research to learn more.

Martina Ortiz-Luis performed O Canada from Scotiabank Arena. She had been performing the anthem from home during the regular season. Been fun watching her on the final season of Wynonna Earp.

Alex Faust and Dominic Moore finished up the Canadian final for NBC. They certainly have earned their way toward calling the Canadian final. NBC never did release announcer information for Game 5 or Game 7. The Alex Faust Twitter feed has been more reliable than NBC.

2021 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs preview for Canadian teams

NHL notebook: Waiting to start the Stanley Cup chase in Canada

The Canadian ratings for the Toronto-Montréal series have been dream numbers for Rogers Sportsnet. These are the numbers for CBC and Sportsnet:

Game 1: 3,509,000
Game 2: 3,096,000
Game 3: 3,381,000
Game 4: 3,128,000
Game 5: 3,241,000
Game 6: 4,727,000
Game 7: 4,825,000

These do not include TVA Sports numbers. Game 6 drew 1,185,000 and Game 7 drew 1,150,000 en Francaise.

By contrast, Game 1 of Winnipeg at Edmonton drew 2,038,000 on CBC and Sportsnet.

The high end of these numbers have far exceeded any game Rogers Sportsnet has had since taking over in 2014.

2021 Stanley Cup playoffs scoreboard

CanadianCrossing.com NHL coverage

Chris Cuthbert and Craig Simpson will call this series on CBC and Rogers Sportsnet with Scott Oake in Winnipeg and Kyle Bukauskas in Montréal. CBC will not carry Game 3 on Sunday night because of the Juno Awards.

We are tracking CBC telecasts in the second round here. This story will be updated. John Bartlett and Garry Galley will handle the U.S. games on CBC. Here is the total CBC schedule:

May 30 Las Vegas @ Colorado, 8p
May 31 Montréal @ Toronto, 7p
June 2 Montréal @ Winnipeg, 7:30p
June 2 Las Vegas @ Colorado, 10p
June 3 Boston @ NY Islanders, 7:30p
June 4 Montréal @ Winnipeg, 7:30p
June 4 Colorado @ Las Vegas, 10p
June 5 Boston @ NY Islanders, 7p
June 7 Winnipeg @ Montréal, 8p
June 8 Las Vegas @ Colorado, 9p
June 9 Boston @ NY Islanders, 7:30p
June 10 Colorado @ Las Vegas, 9p
June 12 Las Vegas @ Colorado, 7:30p (if needed)

We haven't had U.S. matinee rebroadcasts of any Canadian game on the NHL Network due mostly to the IIHF World Championship. That tournament ends June 6 so maybe the schedule will open up.

Twitter captures: @CanadiensMTL; @sportsnet; @alex_faust
photo credits: Rogers Sportsnet; NHL

2021 Stanley Cup notebook: Game 7 for Toronto-Montreal series

OH BABY! 😱😱😱

JESPERI KOTKANIEMI ENDS IT IN OT TO FORCE GAME 7! #ItsOn pic.twitter.com/w6kdPd6Z5V

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 30, 2021

Jesperi Kotkaniemi scored at 15:15 of overtime to tie the series at 3-3. Montréal scored its first power play goal of the series and then added another PP goal after the Maple Leafs challenged for goaltender interference. Toronto tied the game 2-2 with all 4 goals coming in the 3rd period.

Kotkaniemi brought us to Game 7. The 7 pm start will be on CBC and Rogers Sportsnet in Canada and CNBC in the United States.

CHILLS.

Oh how we missed Canadian fans back in the rink 🇨🇦🏒 pic.twitter.com/DAzOGv7Cuy

— Hockey Night in Canada (@hockeynight) May 29, 2021

Did the 2,500 fans make a difference. Difficult to argue against them. There were some blue and white in the crowd alongside the bleu, blanc, et rouge.

They were loud during the anthem, throughout the game, and especially in overtime. Chants of "Go Habs Go" and "Carey" for Carey Price were rather loud.

Game 7 will have 0 fans. Not likely to have fans in Toronto or Winnipeg anytime soon. The only way more fans will be allowed is if Montréal wins Game 7.

The resale prices got ridiculous even if you are a born cynic. The range we saw was $1,500-$12,000 per ticket and you had to buy 2 tickets. We don't know the original cost of the tickets, which would have been offered to season ticket holders.

William Nylander provided necessary secondary scoring with 4 goals in the first 4 games. This was in sharp contrast to 5 goals in 25 playoff games from 2016-2020. Then again, Nylander didn't score in Games 5-6. Alex Galchenyuk had a goal and 2 assists in Game 4.

Nikolaj Ehlers had 2 goals for Winnipeg in his return to the lineup in Game 3. Mark Scheifele had 2 goals in Game 4 for Winnipeg.

Winning in the playoffs means help from stars and not-so stars.

CAUFIELD ➡️ SUZUKI 🚨

The @CanadiensMTL force Game 6 in OT! #ItsOn pic.twitter.com/MCiznGekzu

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 28, 2021

Game 4 could have featured Jake Allen vs. Frederik Andersen. The Montréal and Toronto backup goalies have proven competent at times. The regular season often features backup goalies on an end of back-to-back games. Allen filled in well for Price and Andersen used to be the starter.

Edmonton and Winnipeg went with their starting goalies in back-to-back games that ended with triple overtime.

The logic of using the backup goalie gets tossed in the playoffs. A backup starts because of injury or incompetence; unwritten hockey law.

The Canadian final will also have a back-to-back between Games 3 and 4.

Giving Allen and Andersen a start could keep them fresh in case they are needed. The only way that might have happened is if the coaches met and agreed and didn't cross their fingers behind their back. That would not happen.

2021 Stanley Cup playoffs scoreboard

2021 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs preview for Canadian teams

We have had 2 anthems so far, both from Montréal. Game 4 came because of the 1-year anniversary of the death of George Floyd. Alexandre Sylvestre sang the Montréal version of O Canada (French/French/English). Game 6 was almost certainly due to the 2,500 fans in the stands. NBC used to care a bit about anthems but that feels like a long time ago.

There are a lot of ways to encapsulate the Toronto-Montréal rivalry. The Hockey Sweater is an animated version of a Roch Carrier short story. The kid in Quebec thinks he is getting a replacement Montréal Canadiens hockey sweater. Instead, "Mr. Eaton" sends him a Toronto Maple Leafs sweater.

You've heard the stat of how the teams faced each other 15 previous times and 13 times the winner went on to win the Stanley Cup. Often, the teams met in the Stanley Cup final in the Original 6 days.

2021 Stanley Cup notebook: Winnipeg Jets pull off the sweep

We noted the Tragically Hip in the last Stanley Cup notebook. Their song Fifty-Mission Cap mentions Maple Leafs defenceman Bill Barilko, who scored the Stanley Cup winning goal in 1951. Bill Barilko died that summer in a plane crash after a fishing trip.

As the story goes, Toronto was supposedly under a curse since Barilko had never been found. The Maple Leafs did win the Stanley Cup in 1962; 6 weeks later, the plane wreckage was found.

CanadianCrossing.com NHL coverage

May 25 Game 4 Toronto @ Montréal 7:30p Alex Faust/Joe Micheletti
May 27 Game 5 Montréal at Toronto 7p Brendan Burke/Dominic Moore
May 29 Game 6 Toronto @ Montréal 7:30p Alex Faust/Dominic Moore
May 31 Game 7 Montréal at Toronto 7p Alex Faust/Dominic Moore

Joe Micheletti would be the top national colour analyst in the United States if he didn't have a day job with the New York Rangers. Micheletti does his homework, gives sharp analysis, and understands the concept of a national telecast.

As we saw in the 2018 playoffs, Pat Micheletti, brother of Joe, is pretty good too. That April 15, 2018 coverage with Gord Miller and the Micheletti brothers was one of the best NBCSN telecasts that didn't involve Ray Ferraro. ESPN and TNT: consider either Micheletti.

Alex Trebek was a fan of Alex Faust. Felt like Faust pronounced Le Centre Bell like Trebek would have done. Merci.

I used to wonder if there was little difference between Faust and Brendan Burke. Burke, who called the April 7 game between these teams, is good but Faust is better. Moore also called Game 2; good but not Micheletti. Moore has a habit of saying, "I was going to say." It's a crutch that will disappear over time.

NBC didn't send any advance notice as to who would call Game 5.

NHL notebook: Waiting to start the Stanley Cup chase in Canada

CBC had the Las Vegas @ Colorado game last night and tonight's Game 7. We will track the CBC games in tomorrow's second-round preview. CBC will pad the Canadian final with other U.S. games.

Twitter captures: @Sportsnet; @hockeynight; @Sportsnet
photo credit: Rogers Sportsnet
video credit: NFB

2021 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs preview for Canadian teams

The drooling can begin. Those who salivate at the prospect of a Toronto-Montréal NHL playoff series are very happy, waiting 42 years for a rematch.

The goalie battle has been Jack Campbell and Jake Allen instead of Fredrik Andersen and Carey Price down the stretch. The Habs getting back Shea Weber and Brendan Gallagher will be a welcome sight in La Belle Province. The Maple Leafs have the best depth of any playoff team in Canada.

Old school NHL fans also love the Edmonton-Winnipeg matchup. The teams met 6 times between 1983-1990 though the rivalry was one-sided. The Oilers had a 22-4 record over the Jets in that stretch; Winnipeg had good teams but not as great as the one with the Great One. The teams met in 1983-1985, 1987-1988, and 1990, the final one without Wayne Gretzky. Edmonton won the Stanley Cup in 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, and 1990.

Montréal swept Toronto 4-0 in the quarterfinals of the 1979 Stanley Cup playoffs. The Canadiens had a bye while the Maple Leafs swept the Atlanta Flames 2-0. This was the 15th playoff series meeting between these two teams, splitting the previous 14 meetings. The teams almost met in the 1993 Stanley Cup finals, the last Cup won by a Canadian team.

This Michael Farber report for TSN might help you out if you are a young person and don't understand the Toronto-Montréal hype.

All of that is very nice history. Auston Matthews was 6 the last time Toronto won a playoff series.

Toronto (35-14-7) went 7-3 against Montréal (24-21-11) while Edmonton (35-19-2) went 7-2 against Winnipeg (30-23-3).

The Maple Leafs won the team's first division title since 2000. The Maple Leafs finished first in what was known as the Northeast Division. Toronto hasn't won a playoff series since the spring of 2004 when the Maple Leafs defeated Ottawa in 7 games. That is ancient history though every other Canadian team has won a playoff series in the 2010s.

2021 NHL season preview

We noted back in January of the influx of older Canadian players actually playing for a Canadian team. You can add Eric Staal to the roster in Montréal with Corey Perry and Joel Edmundson against Joe Thornton and Wayne Simmonds in Toronto in the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The winning team might have a good chance to end the losing streak for Canadian teams.

We hear a lot about playoff experience with veteran players. The Toronto veteran players have experience with no Stanley Cups while Staal, Perry, and Edmundson have all won the Cup.

Stephen Harper, whatever one might have thought about his time as prime minister, loved sports. We would see the prime minister at sporting events in the crowds.

Justin Trudeau is not that kind of prime minister.

Trudeau is a well-established Montréal Canadiens fans. He represents the Papineau riding in the French part of Montréal.

"I'm just amazed at how hope continues to spring eternal in Leafs fans. As a Habs fan, I'm kind of in admiration of Toronto fans who continue to cling to hopes every year — year in and year out. It's impressive to see," Trudeau said in a video to CP24. "If the unthinkable does happen, and we're all wonderfully surprised to see the Leafs in the Stanley Cup Final, I know there will be ways to make sure everyone gets to watch."

Trudeau's memory of the 1979 Montréal Canadiens Stanley Cup win on May 21 might have been overshadowed by Joe Clark winning a minority government over his father the next day. Pierre Trudeau wasn't down for long as he became prime minister again in March 1980.

The last prime minister to be in office when a Canadian team won the Stanley Cup was Brian Mulroney in 1993, days before he jumped off the sinking Progressive Conservatives ship.

If the Toronto Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup, the current prime minister will be as upfront as he was when the Toronto Raptors won the NBA championship in 2019.

NHL notebook: Waiting to start the Stanley Cup chase in Canada

The U.S. playoff games have fans. There is finally a break for Canadians to watch NHL playoff games in person, maybe. 

A potential Game 6 in Montréal could be the first time since last summer with fans in the stands for a major sport. 

Quebec is opening up with up to 2,500 fans for indoor venues starting May 28. May 29 would be home for a potential Game 6 for the Montréal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Montréal MLS franchise had 250 fans for 3 home games at Stade Saputo last summer.

The provinces have the power to set those limits. Dr. Howard Njoo, Canada's deputy chief public health officer, said this week that allowing fans into games is not under "serious consideration."

Down the stretch for the end of the 2021 NHL regular season

Rogers will use Chris Cuthbert, Craig Simpson, and Kyle Buskauskas in the Toronto series. Harnarayan Singh and Louie DeBrusk will work the Edmonton series with Gene Principe in Edmonton and Scott Oake in Winnipeg. Montréal fans might not be thrilled with the de facto Toronto announcers calling the series; same for the Jets fans with DeBrusk. Some of this is COVID-19 reality, wanting to limit travel.

We would assume the Cuthbert crew would call the Canadian final in the second round while the other crew works some U.S. games. Jim Hughson is sitting out of the postseason.

Canadians can stream any game that is on CBC on CBCSports.ca.

We have been keeping track of the CBC schedule for Canadian and American teams in our earlier update. We will update that story through the first round.

.@GMillerTSN isn't listed on the @NHLonNBCSports release on #StanleyCup coverage. Miller and @rayferrarotsn have brightened the otherwise dismal postseason coverage in the U.S. If this is Miller's call, respect. His talent will be missed this spring. https://t.co/OSbCioNRE7

— Chad Rubel (@canadian_xing) May 13, 2021

Gord Miller, Chris Cuthert, and Ray Ferraro have been a part of recent NHL playoffs for NBCSN. Last year, Miller worked in the bubble in Toronto while Ferraro wasn't available. Cuthbert worked in the bubble for CBC and Rogers Sportsnet. This year, no one from Canada is on the NBCSN list.

Turns out Miller and Ferraro will be at the World Championship in Riga, Latvia.

NBC used American announcers for all but one of the games on NBCSN this season. We expect more games with insufficient research done on the players. Mike Johnson could have been available to have someone on Canadian soil.

Game 1 of the Leafs-Habs will be on the NHL Network so that will feature Chris Cuthbert with Craig Simpson from the CBC.

Alex Faust and Dominic Moore will work the first 2 games in Edmonton. John Walton will join Moore for Game 2 in Toronto.

This is NBC's last hurrah with the NHL. Last year, we saw Mike Milbury do game analysis and a few interruptions of playoff games where the TV viewer lost the coverage. This is especially problematic since the NHL Network matinees are highly unlikely to have Canadian teams. Promising to show the games means showing the whole game.

Since there will be a few starts (Edmonton-Winnipeg Games 1-3) where the beginning of the Canadian game will likely end up on the NHL Network, we should also note that the games can be streamed. Don't expect anthems or any pre-game; NBC isn't into that.

2021 Stanley Cup playoffs scoreboard

CanadianCrossing.com NHL coverage

The U.S. portion of the Stanley Cup playoffs started on Saturday. The Canadian teams had to wait until Calgary and Vancouver finished, which didn't make much sense. None of the U.S. teams have a back-to-back in the first round. All the Canadian teams have back-to-back games between Games 3 and 4.

We saw this last summer when the NHL punished the Vancouver Canucks with the only back-t0-back in the 3rd round.

The back to back creates a doubleheader on Victoria Day. Rogers Sportsnet is hoping the Leafs-Habs game ends in regulation.

logo credit: NHL
photo credit: CP24
Twitter capture: @canadian_xing

NHL notebook: Waiting to start the Stanley Cup chase in Canada

The four remaining Canadian teams in the Stanley Cup playoffs are getting a much needed rest. Montréal has been off since Wednesday. Toronto and Winnipeg finish tonight. Edmonton will be done before supper on Saturday.

Winnipeg-Edmonton starts on Wednesday and Montréal-Toronto starts on Thursday.

In a typical season, games end on a Saturday and the playoffs start on Wednesday. Most of the U.S. teams will get as long a rest as the Canadian teams. The question comes about where the playoffs will be given a team or 3 teams have to cross the still-closed Canada-U.S. border for the final four.

The American series in the first round have a day off in between games. The Canadian series have back-to-back games between Games 3 and 4.

Down the stretch for the end of the 2021 NHL regular season

NHL the month in preview May 2021

2 Canadian NHL teams made coaching changes in the middle of the season. Montréal made the playoffs while Calgary missed the playoffs.

The Canadiens under Claude Julien went 9-5-4 and 15-16-7 under Dominique Ducharme. Geoff Ward went 11-11-2 for Calgary. Darryl Sutter (along with the interim coaches) went 13-15-1 with 3 games to play.  

Ducharme is the interim coach while Sutter has a 3-year contract.

The management of both teams felt the players needed a jolt from a change. This is the nature of sports. NHL teams in Canada have an intense pressure. The Canadian division has really brought this out. Every team but Ottawa really wanted 2021 to be the year.

The Habs got off to a great 7-1-2 start this season. That wasn't good enough.

The Canadiens have the playoffs to show whether this was good short-term move. The Flames have a few years to see about the Sutter move.

NHL the month in preview April 2021

The NHL Network dropped a few Canadian telecasts during the heart of the season, some not the fault of the network. The channel will fill a playoff weekend with Vancouver Canucks games down the stretch.

We don't know what kind of relationship the channel will have with ESPN and TNT, especially in the Stanley Cup playoffs. The NBCSN deal was pretty worthless to Canadian teams. Things might not be too much better but hopefully with a bit more respect.

We know there have been some signings. We will comment when the whole announcing teams have been, well, announced.

NHL the month in preview March 2021

The lineup of Ron MacLean, Nick Kypreos, Kelly Hrudey, and Elliotte Friedman with Don Cherry on Coach's Corner was a HNIC reality not that long ago. We wondered about the post-Cherry approach.

The 2021 HNIC panel is a lot more crowded. Anthony Stewart, Jennifer Botterill, Cassie Campbell-Pascall, and Anson Carter has joined Kevin Bieska, David Amber, Hrudey, Friedman, and MacLean. The variety has been quality AND quantity in scope and perspective.

Kypreos had been dead weight for some time. You really feel how little Cherry contributed that was positive or inspiring.

Rogers has claimed poverty almost from the start on the NHL deal. Flying Hrudey into Toronto and lodging every Saturday night had to cost a pretty penny. Bieksa has been in California for some time. Botterill and Carter have day jobs in the United States, though Carter will be a free agent. This may be a rare moment when Rogers improves its studio coverage and saves money.

This isn't about being PC or "woke." This is smarter, brighter analysis that is informative, relevant, and entertaining.

NHL the month in preview February 2021

There is an all-Canadian matchup on Saturday but that won't be Hockey Night in Canada. The NHL playoffs start Saturday but not in Canada.

CBC fills in nights with U.S. teams when Canadian teams aren't playing. The dynamics of 2021 has forced CBC to fill in more time with the delays to the end of the NHL regular season. The Canadian teams fell further behind due to the Vancouver Canucks severe reaction to COVID-19.

CBC and Rogers Sportsnet will carry the Toronto series and the Edmonton series. Rogers Sportsnet will show most of the U.S. series with simulcasts of local feeds or NBCUniversal feeds. Games on CBC have to be produced by Sportsnet; i.e., no simulcasts.

John Bartlett and Garry Galley will handle the U.S. games on CBC. Here is the CBC schedule:

May 15 Boston @ Washington, 7p
May 17 Boston @ Washington, 7:30p
May 18 NY Islanders @ Pittsburgh, 7:30p
May 19 Winnipeg @ Edmonton, 9p
May 20 Montréal @ Toronto, 7:30p
May 21 Winnipeg @ Edmonton, 9p
May 22 Montréal @ Toronto, 7p
May 23 Edmonton @ Winnipeg, 7:30p
May 24 Toronto @ Montréal, 7p
May 24 Edmonton @ Winnipeg, 9:45p
May 25 Toronto @ Montréal, 7:30p
May 26 Pittsburgh @ NY Islanders, 6:30p
May 27 Montréal @ Toronto, 7p
May 28 Minnesota @ Las Vegas, 9p
May 29 Toronto @ Montréal, 7:30p
May 31 Montréal @ Toronto, 7p

U.S. viewers in Detroit, Buffalo, Seattle, and other markets get a great option, even for some U.S. games. This schedule will be updated as needed in the opening round.

NHL the month in preview January 2021

CanadianCrossing.com NHL coverage

The CBC promos in the regular season telecasts ended poorly. The first promo in the 3rd period on May 1 ran before the period started. We had more consistent promos from the late game this season but not during the final Battle of Alberta.

Rogers Sportsnet decided on a FU to the CBC in the early game on May 8. Kyle Bukauskas read the first promo of the game just before the 2nd period (violation). The first in-game period promo didn't run until 6:08 left in the 2nd period. Bukauskas read back-to-back promos (violation) at the 4:10 mark of the 2nd period.

Chris Cuthbert's copy for the final promo was for the CBC News app though the visual was for the CBC Sports app.

Watching the late game on May 8 to see which promo was supposed to be the 6th promo. As elegantly paced as the promos were in the late game, they blew off the final promo.

The rules are fairly similar: 2 promos per period, in-game and not consecutively. Not that difficult. If you blow off the 1st period, you don't run into problems. CBC gets so little for giving Rogers Sportsnet so much.

The 2021 Junos celebrate Canadian music on June 6.

May 1 late game: None (1st); Family Feud Canada auditions; CBC Gem; World Athletics Relays (2nd); Tokyo 2020 Olympics; 2021 Junos; CBC News app (3rd)

May 8 early game: None (1st); Family Feud Canada auditions; CBC Gem; Tokyo 2020 Olympics; 2021 Junos (2nd); CBC Gem; CBC News/Sports app (3rd)

May 8 late game: Family Feud Canada auditions; CBC Gem (1st); Tokyo 2020 Olympics; 2021 Junos (2nd); CBC Gem (3rd)

photo credit: NHL

Down the stretch for the end of the 2021 NHL regular season

Team	Record	Points	Games left	Max points
Toronto	34-13-6	74	3	80
Edmonton	32-18-2	66	4	74
Winnipeg	28-21-3	59	4	67
Montréal	24-20-9	57	3	63
Calgary	22-26-3	47	5	57
Ottawa	21-27-5	47	3	53
Vancouver	20-25-3	43	8	59

Editor's note: The NHL has set start times and TV schedules for the rest of the Canadian games.

We have 3 of the 4 teams that will make it out of the Gord Downie Memorial North Division, as referred to by Jay Onrait of Sportscentre on TSN. Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers, and the Winnipeg Jets are in the club.

The Montréal Canadiens are close to clinching a playoff spot. Any Montréal point or lost point from Calgary means the Flames are out of the playoff chase. The Ottawa Senators are eliminated. Vancouver's maximum point total is 59 points and the Habs are currently at 57.

Ottawa Senators had a great second half of the season. Winning 6 of the 10 games against the Habs might cost Montréal 3rd place.

Edmonton needs a point to clinch home ice in 1st round. The real battle is for the third slot with Winnipeg and Montréal. There aren't that many games remaining in terms of playoff positioning.

Here is the remaining schedule for the Canadian teams. The May 15-19 contests don't have starting times and could get moved to the afternoon.

May 8 Ottawa @ Winnipeg, 7p+/Montréal @ Toronto, 7p*+/Vancouver @ Edmonton, 10p*+
May 9 Ottawa @ Calgary, 8p
May 10 Edmonton @ Montréal, 7p/Vancouver @ Winnipeg, 8p
May 11 Vancouver @ Winnipeg, 8p
May 12 Edmonton @ Montréal, 5p*/Toronto @ Ottawa, 8p+
May 13 Vancouver @ Calgary, 9p+
May 14 Toronto @ Winnipeg, 8p*
May 15 Vancouver @ Edmonton 3:30p*+
May 16 Calgary @ Vancouver 10:30p*+
May 18 Calgary @ Vancouver 4p
May 19 Vancouver @ Calgary 3:30p

* means the game will run on the NHL Network in the United States
+ means the game will run on CBC, Citytv, or nationally on Rogers Sportsnet in Canada

Montréal had its COVID-19 woes earlier in the season but will finish before every other Canadian team, though the Ottawa season will end about 3 hours later. That will give the Canadiens a bit more rest before the Stanley Cup playoffs.

We will update the starting times of those last games north of the 49th parallel.

NHL the month in preview May 2021

NHL the month in preview April 2021

NHL the month in preview March 2021

Count on Chris Cuthbert and Craig Simpson to call the Toronto series in the first round for Rogers. Cuthbert and Simpson have been the de facto Sportsnet Ontario crew for the Maple Leafs but know when to kick in the national take.

John Bartlett and Garry Galley or Greg Millen will likely call the CBC games of U.S. teams. Rogers can run U.S. feeds but CBC can't. That would start as early as May 15.

As for the Edmonton series, the second crew isn't easily defined. Jim Hughson would get that call if he decides to travel outside Vancouver. If not, Harnarayan Singh and Rick Ball have called games out west this season. Louie DeBrusk and Cassie Campbell-Pascall have been the primary analysts on the late games.

Singh and Millen called the Oilers-Jets on Hockey Night in Canada when that game was moved up to 7 pm on April 17. Reducing travel has guided who covers games: Would DeBrusk work the games in Edmonton and not in Winnipeg (assuming that matchup holds)?

NHL the month in preview February 2021

NHL the month in preview January 2021

Anson Carter has been working for Rogers Sportsnet on Wednesday night telecasts this season. Carter has been known for his work in the studio for NBC. Like Kevin Bieska, Carter is based in the United States.

For his day job, Carter did go after the quality of the Canadian division, arguing that only 1-2 teams should make the playoffs. While we don't agree with his take, we would like to understand his logic. NBC doesn't offer time for nuance in its analysis. NBC didn't use Carter to his full potential.

Good for Carter to step up. ESPN, TNT, and Rogers Sportsnet might be interested in working with him after the NBC run.

CanadianCrossing.com NHL coverage

While there isn't a NHL Center Ice free preview, NHL.TV is making games free to watch as long as you sign up (no money or credit card needed).

photo credit: NHL

NHL the month in preview May 2021

Editor's note: The schedule has been updated for additional games.

NBCSN won't carry any Canadian regular season games for the rest of the life of the network. In past years, late season games involving Canadian teams would end up on the network because the Anaheim Ducks or Florida Panthers needed a game on television.

The NHL Network will carry games in 3 of the 4 HNIC slots. While the U.S. channel has ignored Canadian teams (mostly) in the matinee rebroadcasts, the games in the final week or so should get airings in some form.

There is a potential HNIC game of sorts scheduled for May 15. If Vancouver and Calgary don't make the playoffs, those last few games may run alongside the playoffs.

The NHL Network and ESPN+ schedules stop at May 9. We will have updates if Canadian games are added.

The regular end of season NHL Center Ice free preview might run earlier than literally the end of the season. Keep awake just in case we get a preview.

NHL Network

May 1
Edmonton @ Calgary, 10p (HNIC)
May 8
Montréal @ Toronto, 7p (HNIC)/Vancouver @ Edmonton, 10p (HNIC)
May 12
Edmonton @ Montréal, 5p
May 14
Toronto @ Winnipeg, 8p
May 15
Vancouver @ Edmonton, 3:30p
May 16
Calgary @ Vancouver, 10:30p

ESPN+

May 4
Edmonton @ Vancouver, 10p
May 6
Vancouver @ Edmonton, 9p
May 9
Ottawa @ Calgary, 8p
May 10
Edmonton @ Montréal, 7p
May 11
Vancouver @ Winnipeg, 8p
May 13
Vancouver @ Calgary, 9p
May 15
Vancouver @ Edmonton, 3:30p
May 16
Calgary @ Vancouver, 10:30p

Hockey Night in Canada

May 1

Vancouver @ Toronto, 7p/Ottawa @ Montréal, 7p/Calgary @ Edmonton, 10p

May 8

Montréal @ Toronto, 7p/Ottawa @ Winnipeg, 7p/Vancouver @ Edmonton, 10p

Rogers Sportsnet national telecasts

May 5 Montréal @ Ottawa, 7p

May 6 Edmonton @ Vancouver, 9p

May 12 Toronto @ Ottawa, 8p

May 13 Vancouver @ Calgary, 9p

May 15 Vancouver @ Edmonton, 3:30p

May 16 Calgary @ Vancouver, 10:30p

May 18 Calgary @ Vancouver, 4p

May 19 Vancouver @ Calgary, 3:30p

Curious if @CBC will run a #cdnfilm in the late #HNIC slot this week. Game postponed due to #COVID_19 protocols. Would be a chance to get more eyes to see a Canadian film. @NHL

— Chad Rubel (@canadian_xing) April 2, 2021

There were doubts the Vancouver Canucks would return to the ice in the spring of 2021. The team had the roughest experience with COVID-19 of any NHL team: Number of players and others, impact on family members, and time lost. Braden Holtby helped out the team in a huge way in the restart.

The schedule originally was going to end on May 8 but that had been pushed back long before the Canucks hit the COVID-19 wall.

Hockey Night in Canada didn't run a late game on April 3 and April 17. We suggested that CBC run a Canadian film in the HNIC slot. CBC went with a combination of Schitt's Creek, Just For Laughs Gags, This Hour Has 22 Minutes, and other programming.

The last regular Saturday night without a late game might have been the 2014 Winter Olympics. Hockey Night in Canada still had a doubleheader at 3 pm and 6 pm Eastern that day. CBC went straight to Olympics coverage at 9 pm.

A reminder that we update the monthly previews.

ESPN acquires primary U.S. NHL package in new 7-year deal

ESPN and TNT will form an exciting duo for NHL TV rights in the new U.S. deal. ESPN/ABC get the A package and 4 Stanley Cups. Turner will get the B package: 3 Stanley Cups and the Winter Classic.

TNT has more flexibility than USA or Fox Sports 1 though not as much as NBCSN, which is going away before the end of 2021. The ESPN/ABC money is $400 million per season; Turner $225 million. NBC, in the current deal, paid $200 million for the whole deal.

Speculation on announcers is wide open. Eddie Olczyk, Keith Jones, and Brian Boucher along with Liam McHugh and Kathryn Tappen likely have enough ties to stay at Comcast/NBC. Gord Miller, Ray Ferraro, and Mike Johnson could work for ESPN or Turner. Dave Randorf would get good consideration, Darren Pang will get recruited, even if he isn't likely to say yes. AJ Mleczko should be recruited.

We would have been concerned about a Wednesday doubleheader on TBS since Full Frontal with Samantha Bee (featuring Canadian Samantha Bee) airs at 10:30 pm Eastern on Wednesdays. HBO Max will be in the mix.

As for the NHL on NBC, some praise the network's focused presence on hockey. We criticize poor hiring choices (Mike Milbury and Boucher as game analysts), bailing out of playoff games, short intermissions, biased coverage of national games. Coverage on ESPN and TNT will have problems; they will be different problems than what we saw from NBC.

Canada surpasses 1 million COVID-19 cases

Congratulations to the 2021 Kraft Hockeyville winner: Elsipogtog First Nation, NB. The community will get $250,000 in arena upgrades and a NHL preseason game. Elsipogtog First Nation beat out Bobcaygeon, ON; Lumsden, SK; and Saint Adolphe, MB in the voting.

The 2020 Kraft Hockeyville winner — Twillingate, Newfoundland and Labrador — still hasn't had its NHL preseason game. When we do get preseason games with fans, there will be a tilt in the direction of the Atlantic provinces.

2021 NHL season preview

NHL the month in preview April 2021

Greg Millen returned to Hockey Night in Canada on April 3. We mentioned that Millen hadn't been working Toronto Maple Leafs local games on Rogers Sportsnet Ontario. COVID-19 changed everything so no judgments on any of this. Millen worked with Chris Cuthbert on the Ottawa-Montréal game. The two were partners back in the CBC days with Cuthbert pointing out that this was their first game together in 17 years.

Millen also worked with John Bartlett in Montréal on April 10.

NHL the month in preview March 2021

NHL the month in preview February 2021

Victor Findlay got more TSN5 Ottawa Senators games on April 5, 7, and 8. The Mississauga announcer called a Sens game on February 4. Jon Abbott called the Sens game on April 12. Abbott previously called a game in January and 4 games in March. Both of them are sort of filling the TSN hole once held by Chris Cuthbert.

TSN shifted Bryan Mudryk to international hockey from his Montréal Canadiens duties. This was shortly after Mudryk announced that he wouldn't call Canadiens in person at the Bell Centre. This presumably was due to the Ontario-Quebec border closure. Jon Abbott called the Habs game April 26 in Calgary. Dan Robertson, the Habs radio voice, will finish the season on TSN2.

NHL the month in preview January 2021

Our guide to the NHL Canadian teams coverage

April 7 Edmonton at Ottawa 5p Kenny Albert/Brian Boucher
April 7 Montréal at Toronto 7:30p Brendan Burke/Pierre McGuire

The beauty of the 2021 NHL season was not having to hear Brian Boucher. You could find men and women in random small town Canadian rinks who could deliver better analysis than Boucher, His analysis is painfully simple, he repeats himself often, he offers little from his own experience, and he won't travel outside the tiny box of thought he draws out for himself.

Fascinating to watch NBCSN cover a team (Ottawa Senators) where some viewers know more about the team that the U.S. national announcers. Brady Tkachuk got a lot of notice but ignoring Thomas Chabot and Tim Stutzle felt hollow. The NBCSN team also ignored most of the players on the Edmonton Oilers, the channel's new favourite Canadian team.

The local Edmonton announcers know more about the Ottawa team (and vice versa) than the U.S. national announcers. Other national announcers in other sports have a sense of the players on their teams.

Could Turner do worse than NBC? Possible but difficult to imagine. Here is hoping (outside this spring's playoffs) to never hear Brian Boucher ever again.

NBC did show some lovely shots of Ottawa and Kanata in the April 7 telecast.

We thought Gord Miller would work that game for TSN5, but Victor Findlay worked that game.

NBCSN used the Gord Miller/Mike Johnson combo in the first game this season and didn't go back to using Canadian announcers. We will be curious how they might be used in the first round of the playoffs.

NBCSN picked up the Rogers Sportsnet feed for the 3rd period of the Battle of Alberta on April 29. Thought the NHL Network might carry the game or at least put the game into Chicago on NBCSN, since the market was blacked out of the national feed. Nope. They wouldn't do this to U.S. teams.

CanadianCrossing.com NHL coverage

"Friends, family, and a whole lot of laughs. More than a store. Kim's Convenience final episode Tuesday at 8 on CBC and CBC Gem." We had been surprised that Kim's Convenience wasn't showing up too often in the CBC promos during Hockey Night in Canada. The series finale did get a mention on the April 10 games.

When Chris Cuthbert first read a CBC promo for the show in January, his copy said Tuesday at 9 pm instead of 8 pm.

We realise the NHL Network lost a HNIC game due to COVID-19 rescheduling. The NHL Network did take away another HNIC game, leaving the 2 games as the only live broadcasts involving Canadian teams for the whole month of April.

The British seat fillers shared a promo: Miss Scarlet & the Duke and Victoria filled the gaps on Monday nights. Good to see that even if a promo has 2 shows, the promo is counted as a single promo.

The April promos weren't as dynamic since the regular shows ended before the NHL season did. Pretty Hard Cases ended on the first Wednesday in April.

The 2021 Junos celebrate Canadian music on June 6.

April 10 late game: CBC Gem; Family Feud Canada auditions (1st); Miss Scarlet & the Duke/Victoria; Kim's Convenience (2nd); CBC Gem; Tokyo 2020 Olympics (3rd)

April 24 early game: Miss Scarlet & the Duke/Victoria; Family Feud Canada auditions (1st); CBC Gem; Tokyo 2020 Olympics (2nd); 2021 Junos; CBC Sports app (3rd)

Twitter capture: @canadian_xing
photo credits: @TurnerSportsPR; Hockey Night in Canada/Sportsnet

NHL the month in preview March 2021

NBCSN again only has a single game, a matchup the channel had never shown: Battle of Alberta finally comes to NBCSN on St. Patrick's Day.

This is exciting on some level but also unsettling on the nerves. Will NBCSN use its regular announcers who know nothing about the Battle of Alberta? Gord Miller and Mike Johnson would be made for this game, among people NBCSN would use. If the regular announcers (this includes Pierre McGuire) are being used, do some research. Impress us with elements of the rivalry. This may be the only time NBC Universal ever shows that matchup. Please do it justice.

The NHL Network runs Hockey Night in Canada doubleheaders on March 6 and March 27. The U.S. channel loves Winnipeg traveling to Vancouver because there is now a 3rd game being carried with those teams in that location this season.

The channel is not carrying any Hockey Night in Canada games on March 20, a rarity this season. ESPN+ is carrying the Flames and Maple Leafs that night.

Speaking of that game, March 20 marks the second and final installment of the Rogers Sportsnet experiment where the Toronto Maple Leafs are pulled off CBC to get more subscribers to Sportsnet.

Rogers Sportsnet will carry the Calgary Flames in Toronto while CBC and Citytv show the Vancouver Canucks in Montréal. Quite frankly, the Canucks and Habs might be the better game that night, though with the awkwardness of 2 of Canada's 4 major English language networks carrying the same game.

Rogers Sportsnet initiated the experiment with the early game on January 30 with Edmonton and Toronto.

NBCSN

March 17
Edmonton @ Calgary, 10p

NHL Network

March 6
Toronto @ Vancouver, 7p (HNIC)/Calgary @ Edmonton, 10p (HNIC)
March 13
Edmonton @ Vancouver, 10p (HNIC)
March 22
Winnipeg @ Vancouver, 10p
March 26
Edmonton @ Montréal, 7p
March 27
Edmonton @ Toronto, 7p (HNIC)/Winnipeg @ Calgary, 10p (HNIC)

ESPN+

March 1
Calgary @ Ottawa, 7p
Toronto @ Edmonton, 10p
March 2
Vancouver @ Winnipeg, 8p
March 6
Winnipeg @ Montréal, 7p
March 7
Ottawa @ Calgary, 9:30p
March 8
Ottawa @ Edmonton, 9p
March 10
Montréal @ Vancouver, 11p
March 12
Ottawa @ Edmonton, 9p
March 15
Montréal @ Winnipeg, 8p
Edmonton @ Calgary, 9p
March 19
Vancouver @ Montréal, 7p
Calgary @ Toronto, 7p
March 20
Calgary @ Toronto, 7p
March 26
Winnipeg @ Calgary, 10p
March 28
Ottawa @ Montréal, 7p
March 29
Winnipeg @ Calgary, 10p

Hockey Night in Canada

March 6

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

March 13

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

March 20

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

March 27

Edmonton @ Toronto, 7p/Winnipeg @ Calgary, 10p 

Rogers Sportsnet national telecasts

March 1 Toronto @ Edmonton, 10p

March 3 Toronto @ Edmonton, 8p

March 10 Ottawa @ Edmonton, 8p

March 14 Toronto @ Ottawa, 7p

March 15 Edmonton @ Calgary, 9p

March 17 Vancouver @ Ottawa, 7p/Edmonton @ Calgary, 10p

March 24 Edmonton @ Montréal, 7:30p

March 28 Ottawa @ Montréal, 7p

March 31 Toronto @ Winnipeg, 7:30p/Calgary @ Vancouver, 10:30p

Hockey Day in Canada has only missed a single year since the concept started in 2000. The 2005 version was cancelled due to the lockout. Chris Cuthbert's concern over that was reportedly a reason why CBC let him go. The 2021 version of Hockey Day in Canada was shorter (1 hour) and more subdued.

For the first time that we can recall, Rogers Sportsnet showed exclusive content not aired on the CBC. Sportsnet showed Hockey 24: A film by Canada, a collection of Canadians filming a typical day of hockey in their community. The film ran before the Hockey Day in Canada activities. Rogers Sportsnet also ran HDIC in the 6 pm Eastern news window for CBC.

The 2021 theme was diversity and inclusion. Tara Slone talked to Jermaine Loewen, the first Jamaican-born player chosen in the NHL Draft. Christine Simpson looked into the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association (PWHPA) and new programs launching soon to make hockey a safe and fun experience for young girls. There was a panel discussion on inclusion and diversity in hockey with Cassie Campbell-Pascall, Jennifer Botterill, Anthony Stewart, Ron MacLean, and David Amber.

As far as we know, NHL Center Ice didn't carry the coverage. NHL Network showed a rebroadcast of a different game. While the U.S. channel did show all 3 games, one of them was its own production (a lot more on that later in this update).

You could watch the segment videos via sportsnet.ca to catch up if you missed the coverage.

Last year's Hockey Day in Canada in Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories with reports from Whitehorse, Yukon and Churchill, Manitoba showed parts of Canada that even Canadians don't get to see too often. That is part of the appeal of Hockey Day in Canada and its sibling, Hometown Hockey. We know this joy will return once we can gather again.

More than 200 women's hockey players won't play in NWHL or any other league next season

The Toronto Six finished the National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL) season at 4-1-1 and qualified as the top seed in what would have been the NWHL playoffs.

The Metropolitan Riveters dropped out before the playoffs. The Connecticut Whale forfeited its final game and dropped out. The league suspended its season the day before the NWHL playoffs were to start in the bubble in Lake Placid, NY. The season started January 23 and the champion was to be crowned on February 5.

The Boston Pride, Buffalo Beauts, and Minnesota Whitecaps were to join the Toronto Six in the NWHL playoffs with the Beauts lined up to be the opponent of the Six.

NBCSN had agreed to carry the NWHL playoffs. The ideal permanent scenario is a NHL-sponsored women's league with multiple Canadian teams.

2021 NHL season preview

Canadian NHL teams have fan bases who don't know the meaning of patience if they had a dictionary in front of them. No wonder the streak goes back to 1993.

Montréal — the last team from Canada to win a Stanley Cup — fired head coach Claude Julien and assistant coach Kirk Muller on Wednesday. Dominique Ducharme, an assistant coach with the team, is the interim head coach. Alex Burrows is now on the coaching staff.

The Habs got off to a great 7-1-2 start this season. That wasn't good enough. Their kryptonite has been the Ottawa Senators: the Canadiens had a win, a regulation loss, an overtime loss, and a shootout loss. That didn't help.

NHL the month in preview February 2021

The NHL Network carries games but doesn't produce telecasts, well, until now. The channel will produce select Saturday and Sunday matinee games that double as the European Game of the Week, giving Saturday and Sunday night games for the European audience.

Stephen Nelson, who also calls games on its sibling network MLB Network, will handle play-by-play with Mike Rupp, Brian Lawton, Dave Reid, and Kevin Weekes handling analysis.

The MLB Network telecasts called by Nelson were filled with an overall league feel to the telecast, sacrificing elements of the game in front of them. This approach is more difficult with hockey.

NHL the month in preview January 2021

TSN is resorting to piecemeal solutions to fill rare gaps. Gord Miller and Bryan Mudryk have been able to cover more Maple Leafs (TSN4), Senators (TSN5), and Canadiens (TSN2) games. The loss of Chris Cuthbert to Rogers Sportsnet presented a challenge to fill those games. 

Miller isn't traveling to the United States for NBCSN games and there are fewer games to cover.

Former Vancouver Canucks radio play-by-play person Jon Abbott and Victor Findlay, broadcaster for the OHL Mississauga Steelheads, have each called an Ottawa Senators game. Abbott worked for TSN 1040 in Vancouver (more on this later in this update).

Dan Robertson moved over from Canadiens radio to do Habs TV for Mudryk, who is covering curling.

Our guide to the NHL Canadian teams coverage

We knew the Canada federal 14-day quarantine would affect Canadian NHL teams in case of a trade. Most trades do not involve strong talent such as Pierre-Luc Dubois and Patrik Laine. The blockbuster trade sent Laine and Jack Roslovic to Columbus for Dubois and a 3rd-round draft pick.

The issue was that Laine and Roslovic got to play right away for Columbus while Dubois sat in a Winnipeg hotel room.

The Manitoba government was comfortable with Dubois having a "working quarantine," according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.

Though the trade came on January 23, Dubois didn't debut for the Jets until February 9 at Calgary. Winnipeg had enough depth on the wing so the Jets didn't miss Laine and Roslovic too much.

As for the deal itself, even if you think Dubois and Laine went straight up for each other, Laine had more games and goals than Dubois, though Dubois is a valuable centre. Roslovic already signed an extension with Columbus. Roslovic is worth way more than a 3rd-round draft pick. Seems like Columbus won the deal in the short-term and likely in the long-term.

Tim and Sid as well as Jay and Dan are separating

Pivot. We’ve heard that a lot from people and businesses lately. Now it’s time for me to pivot. After 23 years with TSN my time has come to an end. Thank you all for watching and listening. I will miss you. Be kind to one another.

— Brent Wallace (@tsn_wally) February 3, 2021

Brent Wallace and many, many others lost their jobs at Bell Media in the beginning of February. A lot of these media cuts are blamed on COVID-19 but they seem over the top. Wallace was the Ottawa Senators host/maître d' for TSN5. This is an important role, especially when Gord Miller and/or Jamie McLennan are calling the games remotely.

Dan O'Toole of Jay and Dan fame also got laid off.

Dave Randorf eventually landed on his feet after Rogers let him go. For every Wallace, there are a lot of people behind the scenes who also lost their jobs. The hope was that Bell Media and Rogers wouldn't have to do this now that the NHL is back. Obviously not.

Brian Burke went To The Point during his stay at Hockey Night in Canada. Burke left HNIC and television to be the president of hockey operations in Pittsburgh with Ron Hextall as the new general manager. Burke was president of hockey operations for Calgary most recently, served as president and general manager in Toronto, and general manager in Vancouver. He understood the pressures of working in Canadian markets.

Burke had a good sense of television soundbites. His true calling was to jump back into a hockey management situation. Hockey Night in Canada will miss him.

Canadian ads from winter 2021 NHL Center Ice free preview

The NHL gave the impression that Lake Louise in Alberta was considered for an outdoor game. Given that Lake Louise is in Banff National Park, the challenge would be difficult. The NHL didn't have those issues with Lake Tahoe. NBC's only practical window was the midday in Lake Tahoe where the sun is brightest. 5 of the 6 periods in Lake Tahoe were shifted to night and NBCSN.

The pandemic is bringing a lot of firsts, including having NBCSN and the NHL Network carry hockey at the same time. The conclusion of Saturday's game (NBCSN) went opposite the Battle of Alberta (NHL Network) and the end of the Sunday game with the beginning of Winnipeg at Vancouver. Normally, the U.S. outlets weren't allowed to carry games at the same time.

Have been to Lake Louise but not Lake Tahoe. So gorgeous. The Battle of Alberta is no longer forbidden on U.S. TV so there should be consideration for Lake Louise.

U.S. NHL coverage has a large hole with Doc Emrick retirement

February 17 Winnipeg at Edmonton 10p Brendan Burke/Pierre McGuire

This game for NBCSN was more about Edmonton than Winnipeg. You could have predicted that even before the game began. Brendan Burke and Pierre McGuire were okay but made the NHL Network people look better by comparison. The NHL Network announcers do their homework.

Even in an all-Canadian game, the NBCSN telecasts are so pro-Edmonton thanks to Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

We joke that the NBCSN intermissions spend so little time on the current game. The second intermission spent 0 seconds on the game and Kathryn Tappen gave the wrong score.

February 13 Ottawa at Winnipeg 3p Stephen Nelson/Dave Reid

The only scheduled game involving Canada in the NHL Network experiment was substituted for the CBC feed on Hockey Day in Canada. The timing was very poor since the audience would get some glimpse into the HDIC segments. The NHL Network didn't carry the 1-hour version just before the game and no intermission coverage during the matinee game.

Stephen Nelson and Dave Reid were better than a lot of NBCSN crews simply because they didn't go out of their way to be sarcastic or rude. A low bar. They were okay, nothing spectacular. They did their homework on the teams, something where some NBCSN employees struggle. Nothing personal to Reid but Kevin Weekes would have been a better fit since he used to work on Hockey Night in Canada.

The better question is whether Nelson and his analyst add more to a telecast than the home team announcers they usually show. The jury is still deliberating.

The NHL Network did add the late game of Calgary at Vancouver that day because the scheduled U.S. game was postponed due to COVID-19.

The February 9 Edmonton at Ottawa game ended up being a hybrid with the first 2 periods on NBCSN and the 3rd period on the NHL Network via TSN5. The game was a pickup due to another COVID-19 cancellation.

CanadianCrossing.com NHL coverage

Rogers Sportsnet is supposed to run 6 CBC promos during the Hockey Night in Canada game. The promos are supposed to run during the game, reasonably spread out, and not next to other promos. What we saw in the February 13 early game is not how things should go.

The first CBC promo of the February 13 early game aired before the 2nd period started. There shouldn't be a period without a promo. The telecast went the first 35 minutes with only a single, not in game promo. The 3 promos in the 2nd period came within a minute of game action. The early game only had 5 promos, missing the Being Black in Canada promo. The CBC doesn't get extra promos if they are missed.

The 3rd period promos on February 20 ran :37 in game time apart.

The Great Canadian Baking Show didn't debut until February 14. The Being Black in Canada Web page had news, documentaries, interviews, and other content. Arctic Vets is about veterinarians, not soldiers.

The February 13 promos for Pretty Hard Cases were for an encore presentation of the Meredith MacNeill vehicle.

February 6 early game: Pretty Hard Cases; Coroner (1st); Great Canadian Baking Show (2nd); Pretty Hard Cases; Bobsleigh; Being Black in Canada (3rd)

February 6 late game: Pretty Hard Cases; Coroner (1st); Great Canadian Baking Show; Pretty Hard Cases (2nd); Bobsleigh; Being Black in Canada (3rd)

February 13 early game: None (1st); Pretty Hard Cases; Coroner; Great Canadian Baking Show; Pretty Hard Cases (2nd); Alpine World Championships (3rd)

February 13 late game: Pretty Hard Cases; Coroner (1st); Great Canadian Baking Show; Pretty Hard Cases (2nd); Alpine World Championships; Being Black in Canada (3rd)

February 20 late game: Pretty Hard Cases; Coroner (1st); Great Canadian Baking Show; Arctic Vets (2nd); Alpine World Championships; Pretty Hard Cases (3rd)

February 27 early game: Pretty Hard Cases (1st); Coroner; Great Canadian Baking Show; Arctic Vets (2nd); Pretty Hard Cases; Women's Soccer (3rd)

photo credit: Rogers Sportsnet
Twitter capture: @tsn_wally