(Photo by Len Redkoles/Getty Images)
The 2009 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs have given us so many intriguing story lines. From the Blackhawks early arrival into the NHL's elite, to the Ducks besting the Cup-favorite Sharks, to controversy over suspensions, non-suspensions, and fines. These NHL playoffs have been the most compelling in years, and NEARLY EVERY MATCHUP so far has provided some sort of drama thus far.
The Conference Quarterfinals have been as exciting as ever, and you can look no further then the two pictured at the top of this article, Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin to prove that point. They have not only rose to the occasion in these playoffs, but they have also brought the NHL top of the broadcast SportsCenter segments, which hasn't happened in years. Even last year's Stanley Cup Finals between the Penguins and Red Wings had a hard time securing a first 30 minutes slot.
TV ratings have skyrocketed this year with the added drama. Versus' opening nights of the playoffs gave us a 91 percent jump in viewership overall. Opening nights in 2008 averaged 264,000 viewers, and in 2009 they averaged 504,000 viewers.
Game One of the Penguins-Flyers series produced a 14.7 local rating in Pittsburgh, the ninth highest all-time in Penguins history at the time, and it outdrew CSI: New York, American Idol, Criminal Minds, and Bones. Plus, the post-game show outdrew Law and Order with a 6.9 rating. TV outlets have proclaimed Pittsburgh as establishing themselves as a major hockey market.
Game Six of the Penguins-Capitals series drew a 24.2 local rating, the best EVER for RSN, and barely beat out the 21.4 that Game Five drew.
Pittsburgh isn't the only place making big ratings jumps. In D.C., Game Six of the series with the Penguins, they drew a 5.3 local rating, a 6.0 regional rating, and peaked at a 9.1 rating. That's pretty impressive with how large the D.C. Metro area is.
NBC also got what they wanted with the Game One of that series in drawing a 1.4/4 rating, up 40 percent from last years Colorado-Detroit game.
Well, enough with the TV ratings, onto the matchups. We'll start by taking a look at the Boston-Carolina series which has seen its fair share of drama.
No. 6 Carolina Hurricanes (3) @ No. 1 Boston Bruins (3)
The biggest news in this series, for me, so far has been the pulled suspension of Scott Walker. Not only should he have received a one game mandatory suspension for getting an instigator penalty in the final five minutes of regulation, the league stated, with the early suspension of Daniel Carcillo, that it wouldn't tolerate "message sending" at the end of decided games.
Game Five was all but decided when he sucker-punched Aaron Ward, and it should have warranted a suspension similar to Donald Brashear's.
Getting back to the news at hand, Game Seven, Cam Ward has to play better and the offense needs to put a few goals on the board if they plan to move onto the Eastern Conference Finals. The most important individual battle in this Game Seven will be, without a doubt, Tim Thomas vs. Cam Ward. The goaltender who plays his best inevitably gives their team the better odds to win the game, and move one step closer to the dream.
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