Fox's coverage of last night's Game One of the Stanley
Cup Finals featuring the Capitals and Red Wings earned a
3.6/6 overnight rating. The rating is down 29% from last
year's Saturday night 5.1/10 Game One overnight between the
Flyers and Red Wings (THE DAILY). USA TODAY's Rudy Martzke
writes that Fox's efforts last night to make the game "more
attractive to the viewers paid off," noting the use of the
FoxTrax system and a microphone on Capitals coach Ron Wilson
as two enhancements (Rudy Martzke, USA TODAY, 6/10).
GAME ON, OR OFF? In Detroit, Joe Falls writes under the
header, "Red Wings' Style Works, But It Doesn't Help
Hockey's Effort To Expand Its Fan Base." Falls, on last
nights game: "Was this the start of the Stanley Cup Finals
or an exhibition game in September." He noted the Red
Wings' "forechecking, backchecking and smothering play,"
adding, "Anyone watching this game on TV had to start
reaching for the remote control long before the game was
over" (DETROIT NEWS, 6/10). In Toronto, Bob McDonald writes
under the header, "NHL Ice Action Watered Down." While TV
ratings are down, McDonald writes that an NHL "grab for more
expansion-fee dollars" has led to the "addition of more and
more players with mediocre skills" (TORONTO SUN, 6/10).