http://www.rawcharge.com/...ing-poor-2016-nhl-plaoffs

Ratings down 23% from last year. NBCSN is a joke, only 3 games are on NBC, the rest on NBCSN, no wonder ESPN couldn't care less and the league is still not taken seriously. Still think its stupid that gm 7 will be on June 15th.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEAsNrbHmUw

this is what gets me up currently . . .

http://www.rawcharge.com/2016/5/28/11806194/NBC-Sports-net-coverage-of-NHL-biased-poor-NHL-marketing-poor-2016-nhl-plaoffs

Ratings down 23% from last year. NBCSN is a joke, only 3 games are on NBC, the rest on NBCSN, no wonder ESPN couldn't care less and the league is still not taken seriously. Still think its stupid that gm 7 will be on June 15th.
- sammy87

If the NHL can't market the storylines thay organically sprung up this post season then they're hopeless. Sharks making it past LA for the first time in ages and Jumbo finally getting a shot at his cup. Lightning making a phenomenal run without their Captain and super star Steven Stamkos. Blues making it over the hump in the first round against a team that usually has their goat. Pens making it past the team that has knocked them out the past two years and Crosby going back to the cup for the first time since '09. The best American player from last Olympics goes from maligned scapegoat in Canada to a Conn Smyth candidate in less than a year. These are things that if they happened in the NBA or the NFL, those leagues' ratings would skyrocket. This has been an incredible playoff season and the NHL is just proving their incompetence

http://www.rawcharge.com/2016/5/28/11806194/NBC-Sports-net-coverage-of-NHL-biased-poor-NHL-marketing-poor-2016-nhl-plaoffs

Ratings down 23% from last year. NBCSN is a joke, only 3 games are on NBC, the rest on NBCSN, no wonder ESPN couldn't care less and the league is still not taken seriously. Still think its stupid that gm 7 will be on June 15th.
- sammy87

Who cares if ESPN covers the NHL or not. Even if they did heavy coverage, who in their right mind would want to listen to Barry Melrose talk about hockey?? NBCSN isn't much better - the NHL won't get solid coverage until jokes like Milbury, Roenick, McGuire and Jones are gone. They need people who actually know the sport and can talk about it intelligently and without bias before it will be able to grow.

One thing that I haven't heard mention is how good both of these teams are on the road. San Jose's road record is phenomenal and that is quite an accomplishment considering the travel they have to endure. The Pens are going to have to steal a game at home to win this series. Seriously though that is quite a feat.
- Thunderbolt

Their record on the road is 5-4... Of which, the first three were at LA in the first round... Since that point, they are 2-4... That's not that good when you look at it.

If the clock strikes midnight on Murray...it could be a short series.

Teams are pretty even, it should be a great series. Thornton and Marleau are going to be balls to the wall.
- sammy87

Clock could very well strike midnight on Martin Jones too.

If the NHL can't market the storylines thay organically sprung up this post season then they're hopeless. Sharks making it past LA for the first time in ages and Jumbo finally getting a shot at his cup. Lightning making a phenomenal run without their Captain and super star Steven Stamkos. Blues making it over the hump in the first round against a team that usually has their goat. Pens making it past the team that has knocked them out the past two years and Crosby going back to the cup for the first time since '09. The best American player from last Olympics goes from maligned scapegoat in Canada to a Conn Smyth candidate in less than a year. These are things that if they happened in the NBA or the NFL, those leagues' ratings would skyrocket. This has been an incredible playoff season and the NHL is just proving their incompetence
- Victoro311

Coming from the same league that let a guy buy the Islanders with no money. Can't expect a two-legged dog to walk straight after circling its butt for 25 years.

Man, this is gonna be a fun series. San Jose is one of my favorite non Pens team and Burns is probably my favorite player that's not a Penguin.

Can't wait to get started. I can see us rattling Jones and the SJ defense with our relentless speed and forecheck.

It's our speed and depth at forward vs their top 4 defense and powerplay. If we get stuck in the neutral zone, they are going to draw penalties from our D and we will suffer. If we can keep the puck in their end, we can wear them out and get more chances for timely goals from our bottom 6.

I expect a back and forth series that goes 7. If Sid and Geno can shut down their top 6 and we take less penalties, I like our chances. If we can get our powerplay going, I like them even more.

Did you not see the first stat the blogger included? Sharks are a top 5 possession team, the 3 teams they have dominated were also top 5, the team they will play, is the other. Seems like you don't know what the Pens are getting into.

The Pens are probably the team I would fear to play the most in the East, but the West is just the better conference, and has been for 20 years.

Like the Sharks are going to have to work hard, as they did in the other 3 series. It's not a gimme, and I think it will go to 6. I just think the Sharks are the better overall team and have an edge in many of the key matchups.

I wouldn't say I'm overconfident, but I am confident based on what I have seen.
- IntotheTeal

Just remind me of the seedlings again???

I think the west was grossly inconsistent this season, but admit when the Sharks are on they are very good. This is the Stanley Cup, so in your estimation why aren't there 2 western teams in the final - surely Bettman should see the error in his ways??

Look lets just forfeit & give the Cup to its rightful owner this season, .........the Blackhawks!



Has everyone seen who the people that know have picked?? We don't stand a (frank)ing chance although in saying that shouldn't we have been already golfing according to most of them???

Their record on the road is 5-4... Of which, the first three were at LA in the first round... Since that point, they are 2-4... That's not that good when you look at it.
- hipcheck_goalie

28-10-3 in the regular season, best in the NHL. But okay I will play your silly game, if we then take out the Nashville series, which they went 0-3 in two overtime games that leaves them going 2-1 against St. Louis. Not to mention, one of those Nashville games the Sharks had a controversial goal taken away in overtime.

28-10-3 in the regular season, best in the NHL. But okay I will play your silly game, if we then take out the Nashville series, which they went 0-3 in two overtime games that leaves them going 2-1 against St. Louis. Not to mention, one of those Nashville games the Sharks had a controversial goal taken away in overtime.
- Thunderbolt

If I remember correctly they played about 6 on the road over the east coast & won all of them, then returned home & lost a few 'easy' games. They were quite inconsistent through the year. Let's hope that inconsistency reveals itself again to give us a little hand!

Clock could very well strike midnight on Martin Jones too.
- Oneonta Penguin

Difference is they don't have fleury on the bench. Should be a great series. It's the match up I was hoping to see.

If I were a sharks fan I would be pretty confident right now too. But what everyone is over looking is the sharks haven't seen speed like this ever.

I'm not saying it's gonna be easy for the pens. I think it goes 7. In the end it will be the speed that wore out the sharks. Sharks are bigger, stronger and older. It takes more effort to get ur bigger body up and down the ice.

Just don't take any damn penalties....like zero would be nice.

Game day, fellas. Clear the sched. We have chatting to do.

17 out of 21 "NHL Experts" agree and picked that the Sharks will win the Cup over the Penguins...

...the week the playoffs started however, only 1 of these "experts" picked the Sharks in even making the final...and didnt pick them to win.

https://www.nhl.com/news/...-cup-playoffs/c-280133146


I love that the Pens are such an underdog this series.

Pens are going to have to win it by turning the series into a track event. Better speed and what I expect will be better conditioning should help the Pens win it.

Don't give me this "Jumbo Joe is on a mission" garbage. They beat a weak LA team, let Nashville (another weak team) take them to 7 and then beat up the Blues who were slow and ran out of gas. If the Pens can get on the attack early I think we will see the old collapse when the going gets tough Sharks.

Kessel and Letang are going to be ready to make their respective World Cup management teams look even more stupid than they already do.

Malkin still hasnt shown his full game in these playoffs... he will make his impact in this one.

Crosby might be playing like the best version of himself right now. Doing everything and even taking the puck to the net again.

Pens in 6.

I like when the Pens play scared -- they play for their hockey lives. Hopefully the Sharks and all the analysts predications are scaring the sh!t out of them so they play like they do when they're down 0-4 going into a third period in game 5 vs. Tampa for the whole series.

Nh and everyone that has and is currently serving, thank you for your sacrifice and selflessness. Happy Memorial Day! Enjoy the game and remember you're the true heroes and who our children should aspire to be like. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

Pens are going to have to win it by turning the series into a track event. Better speed and what I expect will be better conditioning should help the Pens win it.

Don't give me this "Jumbo Joe is on a mission" garbage. They beat a weak LA team, let Nashville (another weak team) take them to 7 and then beat up the Blues who were slow and ran out of gas. If the Pens can get on the attack early I think we will see the old collapse when the going gets tough Sharks.

Kessel and Letang are going to be ready to make their respective World Cup management teams look even more stupid than they already do.

Malkin still hasnt shown his full game in these playoffs... he will make his impact in this one.

Crosby might be playing like the best version of himself right now. Doing everything and even taking the puck to the net again.

Pens in 6.
- MacPatty

Even still he's on a 5 game point streak and seemed to be getting better and better every game. His line with Kunitz and Rust really started gelling.

Nh and everyone that has and is currently serving, thank you for your sacrifice and selflessness. Happy Memorial Day! Enjoy the game and remember you're the true heroes and who our children should aspire to be like. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
- dbell646

Thank you!

Look lets just forfeit & give the Cup to its rightful owner this season, .........the Blackhawks!



Has everyone seen who the people that know have picked?? We don't stand a (frank)ing chance although in saying that shouldn't we have been already golfing according to most of them???
- Aussiepenguin

Who knows really though, like really really? As long as all the betters find out who Ek thinks is going to win(and bets on the other team of course) then it will be like pennies from heaven.

Who knows really though, like really really? As long as all the betters find out who Ek thinks is going to win(and bets on the other team of course) then it will be like pennies from heaven.
- Dcoms

You been on a holiday Dcoms? I don't think the Sharks guys are real stirrers - you just have to avoid reading a few others comments in here!