NHL 2021: I Pledge Allegiance to Gritty

[Kepler]

The Islanders win a playoff series at home for the first time since 1993.

[Fighting Sioux 23]

The Islanders win a playoff series at home for the first time since 1993.

First win of a playoff series at Nassau Coliseum since 1993. They won at "home" at the Barclay's Center against Florida in 2016.

[Jimjamesak]

What a great lineup Comcast is gonna have for their Outdoor Life Network coverage of the NHL! The 2005-06 season is gonna be lit!

[inaudible whispering]

What's that? *checks watch* It's 2021? Where the **** did they dig these three up from? Could they have found anyone more removed from the sport?

Where's the Kevin Bieksa's and Patrick Sharp's... you know, guys who retired while Trump was in office, and not those who retired while Clinton was in office.

Doesn’t Bieksa work for Sportsnet/CBC?

And Olczyk and Albert are the main duo in the booth, which is almost universally guys who have been retired for years (Romo being the only real exception to that in any sport).

[Jimjamesak]

Ok, I did the research on the main commentary teams for the five major sports on TV (because yeah I'm including MLS):

NFL: NBC has Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth (retired 1988)
Fox is Joe Buck and Troy Aikman (retired in 2000)
CBS is Jim Nantz and Tony Romo (retired in 2016)

MLB: Fox has Joe Buck and John Smoltz (retired in 2009)
Turner is Brian Anderson and Ron Darling (retired 1995)

NBA: ESPN is Mike Breen (Bang!) with Mark Jackson (retired 2004) and Jeff Van Gundy (last coached in 2007)
Turner is Marv Albert (though he's retiring at the end of this season) and Grant Hill (retired 2013)

NHL: NBC is John Forslund with Eddie Olczyk (retired 2000) and Brian Boucher (retired 2013)

MLS: ESPN is Jon Champion and Taylor Twellman (retired 2010)
Fox is John Strong and Stuart Holden (retired 2014)

Boucher, Hill, and Romo are definitely outliers for "main" network teams, with most going back the W Bush admin or earlier. Networks always want someone experienced and reliable and that's what Olczyk is.

[state of hockey]

Huzzah, a game seven. Minnesota and Vegas get to fight over who wants to be a tired sacrificial lamb to the Avalanche, who looked like a machine against the Blues.

[Kepler]

First win of a playoff series at Nassau Coliseum since 1993. They won at "home" at the Barclay's Center against Florida in 2016.

Oh. **** that place though.

Soon.

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Oh. **** that place though.

Agreed.

Here's to a few more series wins at Nassau, and close it out with the Isles skating around with the Cup. Seems appropriate. : )

[Kepler]

Agreed.

Here's to a few more series wins at Nassau, and close it out with the Isles skating around with the Cup. Seems appropriate. : )

Send the old girl out right.

[MissThundercat]

I'm laughing at the Habs. The first team to let the Leafs past the first round in awhile.

At least with Boston, you know the Leafs would have lost in 5.

[SonofSouthie]

Nice to see that whiny punk b*tch Crosby goin' fishin'.

[Jimjamesak]

I'm laughing at the Habs. The first team to let the Leafs past the first round in awhile.

At least with Boston, you know the Leafs would have lost in 5.

No, the Leafs are being allowed to win a few series to get their fans’ hope up, only to lose to Vegas in an epic meltdown that’ll cause Steve Dangle to explode.

[Spartanforlife4]

The IIHF tournament is full of randomness. Slovakia was the last undefeated team coming into today, which included a win over Russia(n Olympic Committee). They come out and flop with a 8-1 loss to Switzerland, dropping them to 3-1. Switzerland is also 3-1, with their only loss being 7-0 to Sweden. Sweden only has one win.

US won against Latvia today. They're look to be in good position with three games to go in group play. Still have Norway and Italy on the schedule.

Chance for some lulz tomorrow with Kazakhstan vs Canada.

[MichVandal]

Just when you think that Toronto's great comeback would be finished in OT, Montreal picks an easy pass, and a 2 on none leads to an easy game winner.

[Kepler]

I'm rooting hard for the Not Stars here, it just doesn't seem to be helping.

Difficult to watch a CHL sweater against a rejected 1997 Devils' 3rd sweater.

[Deutsche Gopher Fan]

So high stick to face that draws blood isn’t called anymore? Cool cool