I heard that the Pittsburgh Penguins are the new Stanley Cup Champions. I didn’t personally watch any of the Stanley Cup final games when they were broadcast.  I was so incensed by Gary Bettman and the NHL kowtowing to the NBC schedulers (putting all of the players at a disadvantage by making them unnecessarily play back to back games) that I vowed not to watch. After hearing about Crosby’s breach of Stanley Cup etiquette, I am glad I remained true to my boycott. 

Apparently Crosby was too busy celebrating to shake the hand of Nicklas Lidstrom when the line formed. Nick Lidstrom waited around awhile but Crosby wasn’t forthcoming. Being the gentleman he is, Lidstrom did not complain in the press. But his teammate of over 15 years, Kris Draper, another gentleman and fellow four time Stanley Cup Champion refused to remain silent. Now Draper is being castigated in the media for taking a shot at hockey’s Poster Boy, Sidney Crosby. How dare Draper?

Lidstrom and the rest of the Red Wings formed the line, as did most other Penguins, and went through the time honored ritual which makes hockey the greatest sport. The self-absorbed Sidney was nowhere to be found. Crosby can’t plead innocent by lack of inexperience. He was in the same line last year on the losing side.  Traditionally, Coaches and Captains seek each other out immediately to congratulate each other as soon as the lines form. Crosby may have captained his team to the Stanley Cup but that doesn’t mean he can flout tradition because he’s God’s newest gift to hockey.

I am very happy for Long Island’s own Rob Scuderi, a St. Anthony HS alum, who came up through the hockey programs out here in Suffolk County and later at Boston College. I am also happy that  another Staal brother gets his name on the Stanley Cup. I only hope that our Staal will have the same good fortune with the Rangers some day soon. 

In fact, I congratulate all the Pittsburgh Penguins, except Sidney Crosby. Bettman has chosen his Poster Boy well. Both have a lot of class, all of it low.

Posted under New York Rangers

Because of Gary Bettman’s lousy television contract, the Stanley Cup Final schedule is being dictated to the NHL, its teams, the players and their fan base by the programmers at NBC Sports.

The first two games of the Stanley Cup finals are going to be played back to back this weekend in Detroit because NBC doesn’t want to take up its valuable weeknight primetime schedule with NHL hockey. Bettman acquiesces because he needs the exposure for the NHL and he’ll take it anyway he can get it, even if it means putting the game and it’s players to disadvantage.

After garnering good ratings with the Winter Classic, one would think that NBC would be willing to put the Stanley Cup Finals up against its schedule of all repeat sitcoms on Monday night, thus allowing both teams a day off in between games. Televising the Stanley Cup Finals in primetime might also attract fans who might not watch midday on a weekend but would watch on a week night. But, that would make too much sense.

Having back to back games on Saturday and Sunday is a win/win situation for Pittsburgh, whose younger legs might not be so weary come Sunday, as opposed to the beat up Red Wings.  Doesn’t it play into Herr Bettman’s hands to give the Penguins every possible advantage. The Cindy Crosby/Gary Bettman love fest continues.

For me, the best possible scenario is for the Red Wings to sweep and for the NBC ratings to be dismal this weekend. Well, maybe a sweep is too hopeful but I’ll take a  Red Wings victory anyway they can get it.I wonder how the officials will try to hand the series to Penguins.  Let’s see if they’ll make up any “new rules” during this series. Perhaps they’ll drag out the old “goaltender interference penalty on Tomas Holmstrom” chestnut that worked so well last year. Maybe another intended but not blown whistle to waive off a goal. 

If the Wings do prevail, their victory will be besmirched for the simple reason that for yet another year, we will have to watch that smarmy little pisher of a Commissioner hand out the greatest trophy in sports.

LET’S GO RED WINGS

Posted under New York Rangers

The Washington Capitals certainly had their day this afternoon when  they defeated the New York Rangers 5-3  in a game that saw Ranger players concussed and bitten by Capital players. That’s right. You heard me correctly. Brandon Dubinsky was bitten by Shoane Morrison of the Washington Capitals. 

What happens to a disturbed child in nursery school when they bite others? They are ostracized from the class until their abhorent behavior desists. Shoane Morrision should be suspended at least three games by this joke of a league for biting Dubinsky.

Brandon Dubinsky had  to get a tetanus shot. Morrison obviously broke his skin. Were I Dubinsky, I would demand that Morrison be tested for AIDS  as a precaution. Were I Brandon Dubinsly, I would sue Morrison for assault. What’s next? Morrison biting off another player’s ear, ala Mike Tyson?

Donald Brashear was allowed to remain on the ice after he instigated an altercation with Colton Orr during the pre-game warm up. According to NHL rules, Brashear should not have been allowed to play in the game for this offense committed in the warm up. Perhaps if he had been ejected, he would not have had the opportunity to hit Blair Betts late and high, thusly removing Betts from the game and sending him to the hospital with a serious concussion.  

Where will the double standards end? There is one set of rules for the Caps and another for the Rangers. But with Colin Campbell and Gary Bettman running this league one shouldn’t expect anything different.

The NHL is a disgrace and a joke. Not even the WWE tolerates biting.

Posted under New York Rangers

Based upon my friend’s eyewitness testimony, the NHL may regret its suspension of John Tortorella. In fact, if the Rangers organization deposes the three “Ranger”  fan witnesses, they may have a very good assualt/wrongful behavior suit against The Washington Capitals organization, Ted Leonsis and the NHL.

My friend was sitting right behind Schoenfeld on the glass said he heard and saw the whole thing. (See man in blue and woman in white Ranger jerseys with the Let’s Go Rangers thunderstick.) he was 5 ft away from the abusive fan.

Schoenfeld and Tortorella had requested the Caps Arena security to speak to the abusive fan. Security did speak to the fan but they did not eject him. He was left there to continue the abuse. The incident that precipitated Tortorella’s outburst was the fan spilling something on Tortorella through a large separation in the glass.

The whole back of Tortorella’s suit was wet. It prompted Tortorella’s  verbal and then physical response by throwing the water bottle at the abusive fan. The bottle bounced off the abusive man and hit a nearby woman on the arm, not the head as claimed.

The onus is clearly on the Caps and Arena Security for their failure to correct the situation permanently and eject  the fan from the building before he doused liquid on Tortorella. Sadly, there was a little boy sitting with the abusive man. Wonderful example to set for your child.

If I were Dolan, I’d file an injunction against the league tomorrow morning. I would also threaten to revoke NBC’s broadcast rights to the game if the league doesn’t temporarily reverse the decision to suspend Tortorella. I wouldn’t let NBC in the building. I believe Dolan retains all broadcast rights. He could do it. If Soupy and Bettman want to play hardball, I’d throw it right back in their faces.

Even if it means forfeiting the game, someone must put a stop to the imperious Colin Campbell and the smug Gary Bettman. They are making a laughing stock of this league, not John Tortorella and not Sean Avery.

Posted under New York Rangers