NHL Playoffs 2011: Most Favorable Stanley Cup Matchups for NHL TV Ratings

Face it. Everyone says they love the underdog, small-market team winning it, but the ratings don't lie. Nobody watches. In 2006, there were two small market teams in Edmonton and Carolina. Ratings were minuscule. In 2007, there was Anaheim and Ottawa. Ratings were infinitesimal.

Although they won't say it, the NHL is quietly rooting for two big market teams or teams with star studded players to face off in the Final. In no way are they fixing matches but they are silently hoping for a great matchup. After all, the NHL is a business and with a new TV deal coming up this summer, the NHL is hoping to capitalize again for the fourth consecutive year.

Since he won't tell you, I'll tell you the top 5 Stanley Cup Final match-ups Bettman is wishing for.

5. Pittsburgh (with Sidney Crosby) vs Detroit

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DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 03: Niklas Kronwall #55 of the Detroit Red Wings tries to check Mike Rupp #17 of the Pittsburgh Penguins in a preseason game on October 3, 2010 at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. The Penguins defeated the Red Wings 5-2. (P

Yes we know it's the third time in four years. But this series is compelling and if Sidney Crosby is playing it will draw big ratings. The two teams are already bitter rivals after meeting twice before in the Stanley Cup Final. Imagine a third matchup. It will create the greatest East-West rivalry in NHL history. It will be remembered the same way the Lakers-Celtics rivalry is.

The ratings for the rematch in 2009 were greater than the matchup in 2008 and this will be the rubber series because Detroit won the Cup in 2008 and Pittsburgh won it in 2009. In a sense, the winner of this series will "win the rivalry."

4. Philadelphia Flyers vs Chicago Blackhawks

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PHILADELPHIA - JUNE 09: Antti Niemi #31, Patrick Kane #88, Patrick Sharp #10, and Nick Boynton #24 of the Chicago Blackhawks combine to stop a scoring chance from Mike Richards #18 of the Philadelphia Flyers in Game Six of the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Final

Why not?

This matchup drew higher ratings than both Pittsburgh-Detroit showdowns. The Flyers and Blackhawks both have very strong fanbases and are both hockey towns.

Both teams have star players. Philadelphia has Mike Richards, Jeff Carter, and Chris Pronger. Chicago has Jon Toews, Pat Kane, and Patrick Sharp.

Like the Pittsburgh-Detroit series, another rematch of these two teams will create a rivalry between the two teams, making it a compelling series for viewers to watch.

3. Pittsburgh (with Sid) vs Chicago

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

CHICAGO, IL - FEBRUARY 20: Maxime Talbot #25 of the Pittsburgh Penguins looses control of the puck as Patrick Kane #88 of the Chicago Blackhawks closes in at the United Center on February 20, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. The Blackhawks defeated the Penguins

When Washington, New Jersey, and Buffalo all fell last year in the first round, many believed that the Penguins and Blackhawks would definitely faceoff in the Final because of the Penguins "easy" road. As we saw, it wasn't easy at all for Pittsburgh as Jaroslav Halak stoned them.

Face it. This series provides the greatest player in the game going against one of the greatest fanbases in the game. It's proven that the Blackhawks draw huge ratings based on last year's Final. It's also proven that fans love stars and if Sid is playing the ratings will skyrocket.

This is also a rematch of the 1992 Final when Mario Lemieux dominated the Blackhawks to win the second Stanley Cup for the Pens so there is some rivalry involved in this matchup too. The proximity between the two cities also makes the series more enticing.

2. Washington vs Chicago

Rob Carr/Getty Images

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 13: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals skates with puck against the Chicago Blackhawks at the Verizon Center on March 13, 2011 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

This series would be absolutely amazing with a lot of scoring. Both goaltenders are shaky against .500+ teams and there are plenty of stars in this series. From Kane to Ovechkin, this series would not disappoint at all.

Fans have seen Crosby win, but they haven't seen Ovechkin in a Final yet. That itself would draw higher ratings. Ovechkin's personality is also more alluring than Crosby, who can be dry at times. Ovechkin brings an NBA style attitude to the game with his goal celebrations. Fans love that.

Stars plus great fan bases equals high ratings.

1. New York Rangers vs Chicago Blackhawks

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NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 01: Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers tends net against the Chicago Blackhawks at Madison Square Garden on November 1, 2010 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Blackhawks 3-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Yes. In order for this matchup to happen, both #8 seeds need to advance to the Final. This is highly unlikely but it will easily top the ratings of any other possible series.

Why?

New York.

If New York pulls off a great run they'll attract their unbelievably large and passionate fanbase to their television sets. Remember when the Rangers won it all in 1993? Hockey had never been more popular since those times in America. It was around that time when the famous Sports Illustrated cover explaining why the "NHL is hot and the NBA is not" was released.

It doesn't matter that the Rangers don't have that many star studded players. New York is the largest market in the United States. In any sport when New York is involved, the ratings skyrocket.

Pair them against another huge market that has stars in Chicago and you got yourself a Stanley Cup that could probably break a 5.0 rating and bring in plenty of money for the NHL through the cable deals they will make this summer.