It was a dream spectacle for the NHL with the overhead shots on NBCSN showing off a legitimately sold out Levis Stadium, the sparkling new home of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers. The visual demonstrated the remarkable growth of hockey in California and in many ways vindicates the NHL Sun Belt strategy of placing teams in non-traditional markets.
With good ownership, hockey can thrive anywhere. Hockey fans and the NHL had every right to feel proud and even vindicated with that spectacular setting. The game itself was solid, with plenty of fast action and scoring chances. Los Angeles won a highly important 2-1 decision to extend their winning streak to seven and take over the seventh spot in the Western Conference Standings.
Gaborik Steals the Show
Marian Gaborik of the Kings broke a 1-1 tie in the third period with an outstanding poke-check steal at center ice that he converted into a breakaway goal. Gaborik continues to deliver for Kings general manager Dean Lombardi, who traded for him last spring, in what has proven to be the best trade of the 2014 deadline. It was the play of the night and earned Gaborik the number three star of the game. Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick continued his resurgent play with 31 saves to earn the number one star. Brent Burns was a one man show for San Jose with six shots, four hits, and a goal to earn the number two star, although we was also the victim of Gaborik’s heist.
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Kings of Resiliency
The Kings have again pulled off one of their patented stretch runs in which they become a force of nature. Just a couple of weeks ago, the Kings looked as good as finished, and there were legitimate concerns about their ability to find the on-switch. But find it they have, and they are back in form as a heavy team with a ferocious heart that nobody will want to face in the playoffs. That being said, Lombardi will no doubt try to acquire some depth for a depleted defensive corps that remains a constant worry.
Toothless Sharks in Free Fall
The Sharks have lost eight out of their last 11 games to fall to ninth place and out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference. Since general manager Doug Wilson has merely tweaked the roster, the man that may pay the price is head coach Todd McLellan. An upcoming three game homestand against Detroit, Ottawa, and Montreal has become a do or die scenario. With a ranking of 15th in the NHL for goal scoring and 23rd for goals against, the metrics make a compelling argument that the window is closing fast for the Sharks.
Another Missed Opportunity for NHL
The Stadium Series game presented a solid argument that 2-1 games with plenty of action and chances can be exciting. But the game also illustrated the NHL’s refusal to adapt to the realities of evolution and change its rules. Larger players and XXL-sized goaltenders continue to keep scoring down. The game remains imbalanced and as a result will not attract new fans. While existing hockey fans can no doubt enjoy a well-played 2-1 game with plenty of scoring chances, the fact remains that you are not going to attract new fans with constant 2-1 and 1-1 games on national TV.
Beyond that, what harm would it do for the NHL to become a wide open 5-4 or 6-5 league instead of its self-described “3-2 shutdown league” marquee?
Imagine the 6-5 type of game that the Islanders and Rangers played last week in a Stadium Series setting. Now THAT is how you grow the game.
Today’s Pinball Hockey
Leave it to the mastermind of paint dry hockey, former NHL head coach John Tortorella, to describe hockey in its current state. Tortorella says that today’s hockey is “pinball” that is based on shot deflections and odd bounces. That is because there is no longer enough room for creativity in five-on-five situations because players are far bigger and faster than in the past.
When you add in goaltenders that are as large as the nets with their bulky, over-sized equipment you rob the game of its honesty. The fact that the NHL goes to four-on-four in overtime is the ultimate acknowledgement that five-on-five is an outdated way to play. With four-on-four there is much more room for creativity and playmaking rather than playing pinball.
Have no Fehr
The man that played a large role in Major League Baseball’s home run derby/roid rage era of incredible hulks, former MLB Players Association Director Donald Fehr, is now the NHL Players Association Director. It is obvious that Fehr and the union will not allow for smaller goaltending equipment. It’s also obvious that teams are drafting the largest possible sized goaltending prospects. That leaves the only rational and logical alternative of making the nets larger. Watch a game from the 1980’s sometime. Your jaw will drop at the amount of net that there is to shoot at.
Just as the Major League Baseball era that was damaged by Fehr’s defiant union deserves a big fat asterisk, so too does this era of hockey when the league has handed the game to the goalies that have a dishonest advantage.
The Real Skills Competition
Unfortunately, the shootout has become the best opportunity for NHL stars to showcase their offensive skills. Rules should be engineered to have that skill flourish in actual game conditions. With more scoring comes fewer overtimes, not to mention overtimes that end with shootouts.
College Football sets Example
College football has exploded in popularity to become the number two sport in America behind only the NFL. That popularity was not achieved with games that ended at 7-3, 14-7, and 14-10. Wide open offense has been a major contributor to its rapid rise in popularity. The NHL should take notice.
