NHL Scheduling Fiasco

There was a time the NHL sent 16 of its 21 teams into the playoffs. (Now it is 16 of 30.) Worse than that money making farce, the league scheduled a potential  four games in five nights in the first round of the playoffs.

Sure, play all year to eliminate but five teams and then for the “all important” playoffs, schedule the teams to play a possible four times in five nights. Certainly three time in four nights! It was absurd.

Now the NHL may have another scheduling fiasco, not as bad, but still horrible. Three series currently are (3-2) and in all three cases should the home team, which trails (3-2), win game six, the decisive seventh game would be played the next night. There also would be a change in venue for that game.

I love the NHL playoffs, know to “ignore” the regular season and accept it is a business. However, having this possible next night, game seven with a change in venue really shows how little the integrity of the sport matters when television, money and short sighted thinking gets in the way.

For the record, the Pittsburgh Penguins lead the New York Islanders three games to two, with #6 at Long Island tonight. If the Isles win, then game seven is scheduled in Pittsburgh tomorrow night.

Repeat and rinse, (this scheduling horror bothers me almost as much as having little hair to rinse, which is truly sad) for Washington Caps leading the New York Rangers and the Boston Bruins leading the Toronto Maple Leafs.

In each case, if the trailing team wins Sunday, then game seven is Monday night with a change of venue. Next hockey report and the next round hopefully will be more positive regarding the schedule.