The Hurricanes are one of four wildcard teams still alive in the playoffs and vying for the Stanley CupGETTY IMAGES
The parity seen during the Stanley Cup Playoffs is the "world Commissioner Gary Bettman envisioned" when the league instituted a salary cap in '05, and this is "one of the wackiest, wildest postseasons in recent history," according to Stephen Whyno of the AP. All four division winners have been eliminated, and there is the "potential that the seventh- and eighth-seeded teams on each side meet in the conference finals." Bettman "prefers to call it 'competitive balance,' and it's the thing he trumpets the most about the state of the league." There is "not a lot of national buzz" if teams from Raleigh and Columbus meet in the Eastern Conference Finals, and absent a potential Bruins-Sharks Stanley Cup Final, there are "some combinations that don't exactly sizzle for those who aren't avid fans." But Bettman said that "nothing in sports is better than the first round of the NHL's playoffs, and NBC Sports reported the highest first-round ratings in the network's history." If more big markets go out, that picture "could change and interest could wane, but Bettman believes it all evens out over time" (AP, 5/5).
ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN: THE ATHLETIC's Sean McIndoe writes this is the "year of the wildcard in the NHL playoffs." The Hurricanes are already through to the Eastern Conference Finals, and the Stars "have a chance to head to the Western final." The Blue Jackets and Avalanche are "still alive," and if all four Wild Card teams make the conference finals, it would be "safe to call this year the most unpredictable postseason we’ve ever seen" (THEATHLETIC.com, 5/6). In Denver, Mike Chambers wrote, "Have we ever seen so much parity in the league?" Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said, "You get in and you’re a top-16 team and all the teams are so good that it becomes so hard to win" (DENVER POST, 5/5).
NOT FOR THE CASUAL FAN? In Montreal, Jack Todd writes with stars such as Penguins C Sidney Crosby, Capitals LW Alex Ovechkin, and Oilers C Connor McDavid out of the picture, this has become the "generic playoffs." By contrast, in the NBA, the "glamour lights are on and the stars are still flying in the second round." If there is a Blue Jackets-Hurricanes matchup, hardcore hockey fans "will be there, glued to their television sets for whatever overpriced feed they can get." Todd: "The more casual fans, those who might drop in around playoff time? They’ll go tend the garden in the sunshine or they’ll watch the NBA or Game of Thrones or go out for the Avengers movie" (MONTREAL GAZETTE, 5/6).
STORM WATCH: In Pittsburgh, Mark Madden noted the Hurricanes are playing to 101.7% capacity "during home playoff games" at PNC Arena after they attracted 76.7% capacity during the regular season, "third-worst in the NHL." That is "not remotely meant to ridicule," because winning "draws money, and sports teams badly need bandwagon dollars" (TRIBLIVE.com, 5/3). After the Hurricanes advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals, Sportsnet's Don Cherry -- who took objection to the team's postgame celebrations during the regular season -- said the Hurricanes have "front-running fans as far as I'm concerned." Sportsnet's Ron MacLean countered: "It's not hard to embrace it." Cherry said, "The fans there now -- the 17,000-18,000 -- are front-runners. They're there because they win, not because they act like fish" ("HNIC," Sportsnet, 5/4).
