Alright, NBC. We forgive you.
On Tuesday, with the Penguins and Capitals playing a thriller in Consol, NBCSN decided instead to show a Sabres-Devils game that was about as interesting as watching sap grow on a tree. Their reasoning (ratings, markets or whatnot) could be sound, but there's no question it was a missed opportunity for hockey fans.
But NBC hit a home run on its Wednesday Night Rivalry game. The Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks don't face off as often as they used to after Detroit's move to the Eastern Conference. But when they do, their games are just as exciting as their playoff series from years past. Wednesday was no different.
Controversial goals. Fantastic saves. The Wings and Blackhawks brought just about everything you wanted, including a shootout where Patrick Kane disappointed but Jonathan Toews and Gustav Nyquist impressed. Thanks to NBC, we got a brief glimpse at a waning rivalry capable of stealing our attention.
Cross your fingers for a Stanley Cup Final matchup.
Scores
Red Wings 3, Blackhawks 2 (SO)
Oilers 4, Bruins 3 (SO)
Three things we learned
1. P.K. Subban needed some ice.
From the outset, you knew Subban's night was going to be rough. Montreal went down a defenseman when Alexei Emelin left with an injury early in the first, so Subban had to pick up the extra shifts for the rest of the night. Shortly afterward, he blocked a shot that left him limping mightily. Somehow, he finished the game with aplomb, blocking key shots down the stretch to keep the Habs alive. Subban's compete level simply can't be questioned.
2. If Boston was desperate for a win, it sure didn't play like it.
The Bruins decided to start Tuukka Rask on the road in Edmonton, which many took as a sign of their desperation as they cling to the ledge of the playoff race in the East. And yet, they came out flat and quickly fell into a 3-1 hole to the inferior Oilers. Boston eventually chipped away to tie the game 3-3. It eventually went to a shootout and Boston's shooters -- and most of the Oilers -- proved incapable of executing. The teams combined to miss the first 23 shootout attempts before Martin Marincin found the back of the net for the Oilers. Not a good night for a Boston team fighting for the playoffs.
3. The Flames and Wild split two points and benefited.
As the seconds wound down in the third period tie game in Calgary, you could just sense the other teams in the Western Conference wishing one of the teams would score. Instead, the Wild and Flames both earned at least a point and further solidified their chase for a playoff spot. Calgary moved to second place in the Pacific, while the Wild moved within one point of San Jose for a playoff berth.
Impact Moment
This bird's eye view of the Stadium Series in San Francisco got a little too literal.
Stat of the Night
Averaging 21:08 a night, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins leads all NHL forwards in ice time. #youprobablyknewthis
— Mark Spector (@SportsnetSpec) February 19, 2015
All that time, and only 35 points to show for it.
Post to Post
- Brandon Saad's goal was a good instance where a coach's challenge would come in handy.
- Eric Gryba almost injured Lars Eller again.
- Finally, Siri talks hockey!