LINK CITY: Game 5 early start, New NHL TV contract, Who fills Kunitz's spot, Links & GIF

Posted by TPB Staff on Wed, Apr 20, 2011 1:10am.

Links that are very confused as to why a playoff game is being played at Noon on Saturday

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It was announced yesterday that Game 5 will be at noon on Saturday. [ pens ]

For a playoff game to begin at noon is just ridiculous. We asked Puck the Media's Steve Lepore whose fault this was:

Just as much the American networks fault. VERSUS wanted the game too, but couldn't infringe on NBC's 3-6 slot for NYR/WSH.

But yeah, CBC would've had a conflict with the BOS/MTL game so they initially wanted it moved.

Also, CBC had the World Synchronized Figure Skating Champs. CBC probably could've moved it to 3, but NBC has exclusivity, therefore Root Sports and TB RSN would've been shut out. This is the best they could do for everyone.

With the new TV deal, this is how they're gonna' do shit in the future. You guys are the first in line. Sorry.

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Speaking of the new NHL TV contract, it is $2 billion over 10 years. [ Globe and Mail ]

The league will make $2-billion (U.S.) over the course of the decade-long deal. (The previous agreement saw NBC and the NHL splitting profits on their network package with no rights fee to the league.) While the dollar figure represents only an annual $6.6-million per team, finally getting paid for a network deal marks a minor triumph for NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, who spurned ESPN after the 2004-'05 lockout and has stuck with NBC and Comcast despite criticism of the household reach of Versus, their hockey channel.

Great job by Gary Bettman in our opinion. Anytime you get a $120-million, raise you did something right. The contract will include more games being broadcast, including all playoff games.

ESPN sucks. Versus and NBC have been doing this for almost five years now, and things are getting better. A move to ESPN would have been a step backwards.

Circling back to the Penguins. Rossi thinks Tangradi gets the call in light of Kunitz's suspension. [ Trib ]

Tangradi's lone game since then was the regular-season finale at Atlanta, though he impressed coach Dan Bylsma in that contest — and early in the season.

"One of the things he did very well was immediately establish his presence in front of the net," Bylsma said. "His puck skills are good around the net, but they're also good down low and on the wall."

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Hopefully Tangradi gets the call. Pens need some size. Roloson is a complete head case when there is traffic in front of him. No pressure on Tangradi either. Shit, like this has history will be made written all over it.

Five links:

One of the dumbest articles written in awhile by some guy at the SportingMews. He tries to compare a big game from Dave Bolland to the new NHL contract. [ SportingNews ]

Bruce Boudreau has a 2-1 series lead. And he also pretty much woke up MSG. [NYRangersblog ]

And since we haven't made fun of Boudreau in a while, check out this Boudreau doppelganger. [ Awful Announcing ]

P.S. Doppelganger means: a ghostly counterpart of a living person. [ Webster's ]

And if you missed it, from late last night/early this morning. The Sharks pull a stunner in LA. Down 4-0, they stormed back to win 6-5 in OT. Devin Setoguchi just bought some land in Clutch City [ Fear the Fin ]

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unreal stunned pics in the background.

GIF of the day:

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WIKI read of the day: Dream Interpretation

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