The NHL Kings have "turned to video game simulations to keep some semblance of routine," so every time a real Kings game is "scheduled to take place ... the team instead stages a virtual rendition viewed by thousands on an online stream," according to Jack Harris of the L.A. TIMES. After the first stream "received rave reviews, the Kings' broadcast crew was invited to get involved." Now, the streams "open with an original pre-recorded package, include intermission reports, postgame shows and in-game video interviews with actual Kings players themselves, and are finding a steady audience online." A simulated game against the Blackhawks on Sunday "drew more than 4,000 views on Twitter," and some highlight packages posted by the team have "exceeded 10,000." Kings play-by-play voice Alex Faust: "It doesn't replace hockey in full. But it's a fun way to get together and talk shop for a little while." Most NHL and NBA teams have "staged something similar." The Ducks stage "online games in place of their actual schedule," while the Capitals' cable affiliate, NBC Sports Washington, "shows streams on its television airwaves." The Devils have "published game stories around each virtual result on their team website." As arenas "sit empty and fans are stuck sitting at home, the virtual world is offering one of the best escapes from the real one" (L.A. TIMES, 3/30).
ADDING A TWIST: In Boston, Chad Finn noted the Celtics-Grizzlies simulation last Thursday featured a "live online radio broadcast that sounded remarkably similar to the real thing ... right down to having play-by-play voice Sean Grande and color analyst Cedric Maxwell on the call." The games are broadcast on CLNS Media Network's live streaming service and "released as a podcast the next day." The idea came from CLNS -- which is "becoming increasingly prominent in the Boston market" -- and which "decided to broadcast simulations of every postponed Celtics game on the night they were originally scheduled, right on through the playoffs." The radio broadcasts feature a "halftime show; former Celtic Kendrick Perkins was a guest via satellite Friday." Grande and Maxwell are "on board to call the remaining games" (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/29).
