Scheduling Tips Open Thread
April 11, 2010 22 Comments
From now until the thing gets released tonight, let’s use this thread to post updates in the comments. You can also e-mail me at SMLepore@comcast.net or Twitter me @stevelepore with info.
Enjoy the day.
UPDATE 8:18 PM: Matchups are set. * for matchups that I think have an NBC shot:
West
#8 Colorado vs. #1 San Jose*
#7 Nashville vs. #2 Chicago *
#6 Los Angeles vs. #3 Vancouver
#5 Detroit vs. #4 Phoenix*
BEST CHANCE: Detroit-Phoenix
East
#8 Montreal vs. #1 Washington
#7 Philadelphia vs. #2 New Jersey*
#6 Boston vs. #3 Buffalo*
#5 Ottawa vs. #4 Pittsburgh
BEST CHANCE: Jersey/Philly and Buffalo/Boston is a pretty even split. Possibly, whichever series TSN gets.
UPDATE 1:26 PM: From a tip in the comments, CBC is actually asking fans of the net on Facebook whether they want to see Pittsburgh/Ottawa or Montreal vs. Whoever.
UPDATE 6:37 PM: Red Wings GM Ken Holland wants their series in Phoenix to start on Thursday. I have my doubts on him getting it.
UPDATE 8:18PM: Anthony SanFlippo says Devils-Flyers Game 1 Wednesday at Prudential Center.
UPDATE 9:00PM: Ansar Khan reports Red Wings-Yotes 1-3 Wednesday/Friday/Sunday.
UPDATE 9:10PM: Rich Hammond says Canucks-Kings Thursday.
UPDATE 9:18PM: Habsinsideout.com says Caps-Habs Thursday. Adrian Dater tells us he “hears” Sharks/Avs Thursday.
UPDATE 9:38PM: Haggerty says Bruins-Sabres Wednesday. Haggs is now saying Sabres/Bruins Thursday/Saturday, with Games 3 & 4 Monday/Wednesday.
UPDATE 10:03PM: The Caps confirm 1-4 for Thursday/Saturday/Monday/Wednesday too. Looks like I’ll eat some crow and CBC will take it.
About stevelepore
Steve, this is interesting: CBC’s facebook page is asking people which series they want to see, in other words, which series they should select, Montreal’s series, or Sens vs Penguins.
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/CBCSports?v=wall&story_fbid=112531408774336&ref=mf
CBC would be stupid not to select Montreal. They draw huge ratings, even if RDS does take away part of the audience. TSN would still get massive ratings with Crosby vs Ottawa. That’s how I think it will happen.
I’ll be surprised if the Habs will last very long in the playoffs and I wonder if that will play into the decision.
The Habs must be hoping for the Rangers to beat the Flyers so they will get NJ, because I imagine they would rather play the Devils than the Caps.
I could see CBC taking Montreal vs. Buffalo for a boost in ratings in Southern Ontario and sticking with Pittsburgh vs. Ottawa if Montreal draws New Jersey.
Yes that makes sense. We’ll know soon…
So who does CBC pick? Habs/Caps or Pens/Sens? Or do they choose both and leave Kings/Canucks for TSN? Either way, both networks are guaranteed a great series.
Montreal vs. Washington has to be picked by the CBC. That has high ratings written all over it and will do better than the Ottawa vs. Pittsburgh series. I have learned that RDS will cover both of these series.
Scott Morrison has said on many radio shows this past week that HNIC’s first pick has been chosen and it is the Canucks.
Ovechkin is just as big as a star as Crosby and with Montreal being a bigger market than Ottawa, it will be Canucks/Kings starting on Wednesday and Habs/Caps starting on Thursday (according to habsinsideout.com)
Red Wings start Wednesday in Phoenix:
http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2010/04/red_wings-coyotes_series_to_op.html
I’m going to bet game 3 Phoenix-Detroit is the NBC game Sunday.
Just thought i would throw this out there
The first time Ottawa played the Penguins in round 1 (2007) , game 2 was on NBC and drew a 1.0 rating. Now im not sure, but is it possible that Pens/Sens this year could best that ?
My guy tells me that NBC is taking Washington-Montreal Saturday, CBC gets Pittsburgh-Ottawa and LA-Vancouver Saturday night, and NBC has Detroit-Phoenix or NJ-Philly Sunday.
that’s my gut feeling telling me this. i don’t have any inside guys (and i’d provide a link if I could).
Haggerty says Bruins/Sabres starts on Wednesday according to what he was told.
http://twitter.com/HackswithHaggs/status/12015549043
No way NBC takes Caps-Habs. The only way NBC takes a Canadian team, even the Habs, is if they play Detroit or possibly the Pens (and there I think it depends on the Canadian team).
I can see NBC and CBC fighting over Pens-Sens. It makes sense for CBC. NBC has to choose between Crosby, but playing a Canadian team (no offence to those teams), Ovechkin playing a Canadian team, Chicago vs Nashville (would they go for that?), Detroit-Phoenix, and Devils-Flyers for 2 games next weekend. I really see them saying that Crosby vs a Canadian team is a lesser evil than most of those choices (if they get to choose over CBC for Saturday night).
Agreed, Canadian ratings don’t count so while NBC would love to have Captain A.O., he isn’t enough of a draw to pull the ratings all by himself. The Caps-Habs are more likely to end up on CBC, especially if CBC is gauging interest in a Caps-Habs series.
Jeff Marek’s twitter:
Pitt/Ott, Van/LA, Buf/Bos, SJ/COL
Those are CBC’s games.
No need to eat crow. Caps/Habs TSN, Versus series.
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=524941
Caps local coverage:
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/capitalsinsider/caps-first-round-schedule-set.html?wprss=capitalsinsider
from the Albany Times-Union, Sabres games on MSG Buffalo when not on NBC and Devils games on MSG PLUS (NY).
http://blog.timesunion.com/sportsmedia/2010-nhl-playoff-first-round-tv-schedule/4085/