All throughout the Kings-Canucks Western Conference Quarter-Final series, Vancouver fans were screaming about the officiating. Canuck supporters were convinced the referees were calling penalties after penalties because the NHL wanted to see Los Angeles advance into the next round. Big market, big ratings, right?
So, if these fans are right, that means the league now is trying to screw with two of the Original Six teams--Detroit and Montreal--right?
From a schedule standpoint, it's bizarre.
The Red Wings finished off the Coyotes in their series in Game Seven on Tuesday, then had to open their second-round series in San Jose on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Canadiens outlasted the Capitals in their seventh game on Wednesday to finish off an emotional series, and then had a short turn-around as they played in Pittsburgh to begin their next series on Friday.
The Canucks-Hawks series? It didn't start until Saturday night (CBC Hockey Night in Canada), giving both teams quite a few days of rest after each club wrapped up its first-rounder in six games. (Since when did Vancouver become Canada's team? I thought Saturday Night hockey was reserved for teams like the Canadiens, who play the Penguins in what should be a series that gets good ratings.)
Philadelphia-Boston? It started Saturday afternoon (NBC), again with both teams having had a lot of rest. (Again, one would have assumed NBC would have wanted Detroit-San Jose open up on Saturday, with the Red Wings having a big following... no problem playing an 11 a.m. Pacific Time game in California, of course.)
If Vancouver fans were crying foul in the last round, then it should be Detroit and Montreal supporters this round.
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