[2011] Lightning Strikes!

[GregT]

TUGgers,

Big Game 4 today -- the very tough Bruins holding a 2-1 edge in the Series over the feisty Lightning.

Will home ice help the Lightning even the count?

Can Lightning have yet another one of those rare multiple-goals in under a minute?

Or will the Bruins continue their solid play and head home with a decisive lead?

Tune in this afternoon....promises to be exciting...

Best to all,

Greg

And with apologies to SueDonJ.....Go Bolts!!!!

 

[SueDonJ]

No apologies necessary, Greg - nothing wrong with picking a team and sticking with them! Go Bruins!

This afternoon we're DVR'ing the game and will watch it later, so I'm going to have to stay away from the tv, the radio, this thread and any others about the playoffs. Wish us luck that no one inadvertently gives up the score before we get a chance to watch!

(Last year? Two years ago?? One of the playoff games went into OT and NBC cut away from it to air the Preakness on time. Understandably, folks who were recording it went crazy when they realized they didn't get the end of the game. So I did what the SportsTalkRadio guys said to do, set the DVR for both NBC and Versus with extra time. Just thought I'd mention it here in case anyone else is recording it.)

 

[puckmanfl]

good evening....

This one was special....

Now we have a best 2 of 3 with two evenly matched teams...

Now the fun really starts!!!!

ON to Boston ... and beyond!!!!

 

[puckmanfl]

good evening

Funny DVR story!!!!

Way back when... my Bolts were trailing Pittsburgh 3-1 ingames and were head up to the BURG for game 5. I was working the afternoon shift and the game was a matinee. I had the DVR going and told my family and partners not to spill the beans!!! Just before leaving work, I logged onto TUG and saw GregT's post that started THIS thread. When I saw the title "Lightning Strikes" I knew good news was forthcoming....

The rest as the say , is history!!!!

One way or another off to Kauai Lagoons on Saturday!!!1

 

[taffy19]

Have a wonderful trip, puckmanfl.

I know nothing about sports but I love to read all your posts and from Greg and Susan too. It changes my mind for the better with all the timeshare woes, at least for me.

 

[puckmanfl]

good evening...

Keep reading and I'll keep posting...

Here is another true, it ain't over till it's over story!!! Sue, this one will be a smidge painful. I was at this event live as I sold hot dogs at Yankee and Shea Stadium from 1974-1987!! Put myself thru college and medical school!!!

In 1986 the Bosox were leading the Mets 5-3 in the bottom of the 10th in game 6 of the World Series. The Mets had 2 outs and 2 strikes on Gary Carter with no runners aboard. Just before the 0-2 delivery came in, the Shea Stadium message board flashed this announcement

The New York Mets congratulate the Boston RedSox 1986 World series champs!!! The message flashed for 2 seconds before it was yanked..

Carter singled
Mitchell singled
Knight singled
mookie wilson steps up... wild pitch scores Mitchell

and of course everyone knows what happened next...

Today's Lightning game refreshed that memory, because I was ready to put a fork in em' as they were done!!!!

 

[puckmanfl]

good evening...

The problem with sports as that some people take it way to seriously. I am as passionate about my teams as anyone, but during today's Lightning game, I was sitting next to two fans in B's jersey's. When the b's were up 3-0 they were excited but not obnoxious. We returned the politeness when our team prevailed!!!

At the end of the day Sue and I have a date at some eatery on HHI memorial day weekend 2012 where we will toast this series.. Don and Mrs Puck can come too!!!!

 

[dioxide45]

good evening...

The problem with sports as that some people take it way to seriously. I am as passionate about my teams as anyone, but during today's Lightning game, I was sitting next to two fans in B's jersey's. When the b's were up 3-0 they were excited but not obnoxious. We returned the politeness when our team prevailed!!!

At the end of the day Sue and I have a date at some eatery on HHI memorial day weekend 2012 where we will toast this series.. Don and Mrs Puck can come too!!!!

Will the series even be over by Memorial Day weekend??? I guess it will, only the final runs in to June. That is my only beef with the NHL playoff schedule. They are practically playing hockey in to summer. I know it is all about the money and selling tickets for seven game series, but I firmly believe that the earlier rounds should be shortened to five game series.

 

[puckmanfl]

good evening...

the answer is shortening the regular season to 74 games!!! 82 is just way too long!!!

 

[GregT]

That was a great game yesterday!! I watched from home and was a bit concerned for our Lightning fans when the Bruins were up 3-0.

But the Lightning pulled off one of their patented 2 goals in under a minute (or so it seemed) and then 3-2 became a tied game and then the Lightning surged forward.

Wow!!!!! Puck, it must have been exciting to be there (and it must have been loud).

Back to Boston where this great series will continue between two very well matched teams.

Best to both teams, but with the customary apologies.......Go Bolts!!!!

Greg

 

[SueDonJ]

It's on to a brand new 2 out of 3 series now ... may the best team win!

Yesterday was very frustrating for Bruins fans as I'm sure the game before that was for Lightning fans. Plus we ended up watching it helter-skelter, half of the 2nd period and the third in realtime, then the DVR'd first and half of the 2nd later last night. What can I say, we're gluttons for punishment but had to see what it was the Bruins were doing right at the beginning that they then switched to doing wrong! (A lot as it turned out.)

Dioxide, are you confused or am I? Puck and I won't be visiting SW at the same time until next year, 2012. Hopefully this series will be over by then! But I agree all around with most every sport - the playoffs drag on far too long and tv revenue is the reason.

 

[puckmanfl]

good evening...

The NHL gets minimal revenue per team from the TV contract. The NFL could make a profit without a single fanny in the seat, however the NHL is a "gate" based league. The playoff games are pure profit as the players draw their season checks over the regular season. The playoff games are pure profit based on gate and concession revenue minus facility operating charges. Take a building such as TD garden with 18,000 seats with an average playoff price of $100/seat. This generates an opening revenue of $1.8 mil/game, add concessions and you get the picture. The Bruins have already had 8 home games with 9 on Monday. The math becomes pretty obvious...

The recently done NHL TV package with NBC/Versus/comcast is 1 billion $$$ over 10 years. This gives each team about 3.3 million/year . A small piece of the overall budget. Many of the bigger traditional hockey markets (Rangers/Bruins/flyers) have sweet deals with cable networks (MSG/NESN/Comcast). At the end of the day "fannies" in the seats pay the freight!!!

The demographics of Hockey and it's fans keep this a distant 4th to the other Big 3 (NFL,MLB and NBA)

Last weekend you will recall NBC did not have any NHL on TV. It was usurped by the Players championship. The last thing NBC needs is a triple overtime game encroaching on a potential Tiger sighting in the Players Championship. Golf doesn't generate large numbers but the demographics of the golf TV watcher are in the coveted 25-45 High income demographic that advertisers crave!!!

I know about as much regarding the Economics of Sport as I do about marriott timesharing!!!!

 

[puckmanfl]

good morning..

Tough one for the Bolts last night....

I felt it was an outstanding battle with both teams playing well...

The mountain just became a bit steeper, but this team just won't quit and be counted out!!!

Go Bolts...hopefully some home cookin' will help....

 

[SueDonJ]

Go Bruins!

The announcing for playoff games gives me apoplexy. EVERY SINGLE play is LIFE AND DEATH and these guys SCREAM AT THE LISTENERS to let them know that EVERY MINUTE of EVERY GAME is THE MOST IMPORTANT MINUTE!!!!!!!!!!

You don't realize how much that affects you until the game is over and you find yourself falling off the edge of the chair that you were perched on for the entire 3rd period! Next game I'm going to experiment with muting the sound to see if I can recognize the MOST IMPORTANT PLAYS without their insane screaming.

 

[puckmanfl]

good morning

Sue..
enjoy the game with the sound off!!!

I can't describe what a defining moment is, but I know you will recognize it when you see it!!!!

The game is even better live and in person!!!!

 

[GregT]

That was another exciting game last night! Back to Tampa now, with the Bruins in a position to advance to the Finals -- wow!

But the Lightning doesn't fold when their back is against the wall -- (remember Pittsburgh? Remember Game 4 a few short days ago?)

Exciting times to be a Hockey TUGger......and with apologies.....Go Bolts!!!!

Best,

Greg

 

[GregT]

Big Game Tonight Hockey Fans!!!

Back to Tampa Bay, with the very tough Bruins with a 3-2 game edge in the series....Will the Lightning pull off another improbable victory?

Tune in tonight...8pm ET.....I'm sure devoted TUGgers Puck and Sue will be watching....with Puck watching the action live!!!

Here's to a good game......and..........(apologies).......Go Bolts!!!!

Best,

Greg

 

[SueDonJ]

Hmmmmm. Wonder if the high-def feed is in sync with the radio broadcast ... Listening to the radio guys is my favorite way to take in Sox games (other than actually being at the park) but the two feeds aren't in sync. Maybe it'll be different for the hockey games and instead of watching sound-less I'll get to listen to the regular-season announcers who aren't insanely hysterical for the whole game.

(BTW, Sox have an early game today, 12:05 first pitch.)

(Also BTW, Don will probably be having NONE OF THIS even if it does work!)

 

[puckmanfl]

good evening....

The broadcasts are definitely not in Sync. During OT of the Bolts 3-2 win over the Caps in game 2, I was watching on Direct TV Versus HD. My son was watching on Standard Def cable in his room. The puck was crossing the red line on a long pass and I heard a scream from the other room!!! I then learned there is about an 8 second dlay on the satellite HD feed as the Bolts had already scored!!!

Kind of like a time machine!!!!

Go Bolts!!!

Win or lose will report back aftert the game!!!!

 

[dioxide45]

good evening....

The broadcasts are definitely not in Sync. During OT of the Bolts 3-2 win over the Caps in game 2, I was watching on Direct TV Versus HD. My son was watching on Standard Def cable in his room. The puck was crossing the red line on a long pass and I heard a scream from the other room!!! I then learned there is about an 8 second dlay on the satellite HD feed as the Bolts had already scored!!!

Kind of like a time machine!!!!

Go Bolts!!!

Win or lose will report back aftert the game!!!!

I think the HD and DVR is the cause of the delay, not necessarily the feed itself. We have an HD DVR and a SD DVR, the HD one is a few seconds behind. When we only has a SD DVR and SD receiver, the SD DVR was also always behind. I think DVRs actually play live TV under a short buffer.

I know in the past when I lived in Canada and would watch Blue Jays games, I would often mute the TV and listen to the radio broadcast. They were always in sync and the radio announcers were far better, especially during post season as we always had to deal with the announcers on the American networks.

 

[GregT]

Wow......what a Game Six!!!!

Back and forth....just the way the entire Series has been....but the scrappy Lightning held off charge after charge by the Bruins in the final minutes as the Bruins relentlessly attacked.......forcing Game 7 back in Boston -- Friday night...the day before Puck flies west.......

Winner to the Stanley Cup Final.....wow....wow....

Best to all.......(a)..........Go Bolts!!!!


Greg

 

[puckmanfl]

good evening...

The team that won't go away didn't!!!! A good power play cures lots of ills!!!

Off to Boston and whatever awaits!!!! The joint was jumping tonight!!!

To infinity and beyond!!!!

This series is as good as it gets....

 

[SueDonJ]

(Oh my word, less than two hours to go and I can barely function. This is too too nerve-wracking.)

 

[puckmanfl]

good evening...

I agree....

I am doing the last minute packing!!!!

may the best club win... it has been great!!!!

either way off to KL on saturday....

To infinity and beyond!!!!

 

[SueDonJ]

WOW!! What a game! This one could have gone either way, the teams were that evenly matched. I'm sorry for your team, Puck, but happy for mine.

Hey Puck, have a wonderful trip. Really looking forward to your posts from Hawaii, when you can manage a minute or two away from paradise. (That reminds me when we got an exchange to Waiohai. I asked TUGgers, "how do you pronounce that anyway?" And got the answer: "Pair-Oh-Dice." I guess it fits anywhere in Hawaii.)