Your Announcers and Open Thread For Red Wings-Blues

Detroit vs. St. Louis, 8PM, VERSUS
Play by Play: John Forslund
Color: Darren Eliot
Reporter: Charissa Thompson

I Love Getting an E-mail from Nate Ewell from the Caps Media Relations Dep’t

Especially when he brings news that the Washington NBC affiliate drew a 5.3 for Sunday’s game.  That’s as high as Game 1 of the Pens/Caps semi-final series on NBC last season.  Last year’s regular season Pens-Caps game did a 1.9 in DC.

Thank you, mother nature.

UPDATE: From Schuyler Baehman of the NHL, the official numbers are a 5.3/10 in Washington and a 13.4/24 in Pittsburgh.  Yikes.  Thanks to those two esteemed gentlemen for their help.

Your Winter Olympic Hockey Broadcast Teams

According to NBC’s talent press release from today.

Men’s Hockey

Studio
Bill Patrick, Mike Milbury and Jeremy Roenick

Games
1. Mike Emrick, Eddie Olczyk and Pierre McGuire (or Joe Micheletti)
2. Kenny Albert, Joe Micheletti and Mike Milbury

Women’s

Studio
Bill Patrick and Cammi Granato

Games
1. Mike Emrick, AJ Mleckzo and Joe Micheletti
2. Kenny Albert

It also should be noted that Universal Sports – NBC’s cable Olympic sports network – will have Helene Elliott, the venerable LA hockey writer, on a show it calls Meet the Olympic Press, so keep tuned for that.  Here’s NBC’s hockey press release:

HOCKEY: Veteran broadcaster Bill Patrick will host all hockey coverage in Vancouver, his second Olympic broadcast assignment with NBC. Mike “Doc” Emrick (sixth Olympics and third with NBC) and Kenny Albert (third Olympics, all with NBC) will serve as play-by-commentators for both men’s and women’s hockey. Analyst Ed Olczyk (first Olympics), inside-the-glass reporter Pierre McGuire (second Olympics) and studio analyst Mike Milbury (first Olympics) will reprise their NHL on NBC “Game of the Week” roles in Vancouver. Joe Micheletti (game analyst), making his sixth Olympic appearance, and former NHL all-star Jeremy Roenick (studio analyst), making his Olympic broadcasting debut, will bolster the men’s hockey roster. Micheletti will also serve as a reporter for both men’s and women’s hockey. Olympic gold medalist Cammi Granato returns to NBC for her second Olympic appearance as women’s hockey studio analyst. Reprising her role from Torino, AJ Mleczko will serve as women’s hockey analyst.

VERSUS: Harbringers of Impending Doom, Or Posturing to Get DirecTV To Pony Up?

John Ourand of SportsBusiness Daily writes:

Versus execs today expressed skepticism that the Comcast-owned sports channel would reach an agreement with DirecTV any time soon. “At this time, we are not optimistic that an agreement will be in place with DirecTV in time for the start of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs,” a network spokesperson said. The two sides still are talking, having met earlier this week, sources said. DirecTV dropped Versus from its lineup at the beginning of September. DirecTV wants to move the sports channel to a less popular tier, similar to a deal Versus has with Dish Network. Versus is seeking to keep the same level of service that it had before it went dark on DirecTV.

Not good.  But could this merely be VERSUS telling DirecTV that they’re going to continue to whine and complain so that DirecTV will cave, or an attempt to warn hockey fans and get them to quit the satellite giant before the post season?  Time will tell.

Another Useless Forum For Information

I’ve decided to go on Formspring.  Not sure why.  Feel free to ask any questions, and maybe I’ll use it to restart the mailbag.  REMINDER: You can always contact me on Twitter or at SMLepore@comcast.net to find out anything, suggest articles, etc.

This Has Nothing to Do With Puck the Media, But… Is Awesome

This was sent to me in an e-mail from the Prudential Center today:

Devils fans, see former Devils Stanley Cup Champion Grant Marshall suite up to take on The World-Famous Harlem Globetrotters at Prudential Center on Saturday, February 13 at 7:30pm. Grant will try to help the Generals past the Harlem Globetrotters in his basketball debut.

In addition to seeing Grant Marshall on the court, Bruce Driver and Rob Skarlac will coach the Generals! See all three alumni like you’ve never seen them before.

This is amazing.  Simply… someone find me a video.  I will pay.

Your Announcers and Open Thread For Devils-Flyers

New Jersey vs. Philadelphia, 7PM, VERSUS
Play by Play: Joe Beninati
Color: Keith Jones
Reporter: Bob Harwood

Something I’ll Be Noticing While Watching Hockey Tonight

Keith Jones will be working tonight’s Devils/Flyers game on VERSUS.  Now, those of you familiar with the network would see that as no surprise, as Jonesy is always present on VERSUS’ hockey coverage as a studio analyst.  But tonight, he’ll be throwing down as a game analyst, marking the first time in VERSUS history (that I can remember) that he will not be in the studio.  Darren McCarty will work Hockey Central with Bill Patrick and Brian Engblom, in what looks to be a continued effort to make Mac a regular.

BREAKING: NBC’s Pens/Caps Ratings Tie Season High

According to Sports Business Daily (reg. required), NBC’s telecast of the Penguins/Capitals Sunday showdown scored a 1.3 overnight rating, tying the two weeks ago telecast of Pens/Flyers for the network’s best rating for an indoor game this season.  It’s also the best overnight rating to date for Pittsburgh-Washington, which the NHL has attempted to promote as it’s biggest rivalry.

More later, local ratings tomorrow.

Good Morning

I’m under the weather early today, so please check out the “5 Reasons I Love Hockey” I did on Puck Daddy until Noon, when I tell you the ratings of Pens/Caps.  Enjoy.