Networks Hold Their Breath

Will Canadian television see the return of the Jets next season? Will CBC get Canadian content in the third round of this year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs? Will TSN get any content? Will NBC be shutout from its marquee player? Answers to these and other questions could begin to appear as early as tonight.

On the ice, the Vancouver Canucks host Chicago in game six of their second round playoff series. A win by the Blackhawks would eliminate Vancouver and produce an all-American Western Conference Final between Chicago and San Jose. Under such a scenario, TSN would be contractually permitted to air a handful of third round games and NBC would have the luxury of not having a Canadian team drain ratings – at least for one series. But should the Canucks force and eventually win game seven, and should the Canadiens win the game seven they’ve already forced in their series against Pittsburgh, both Conference Finals would involve Canadian teams. Under this scenario, CBC would have exclusive coverage of both third round series, TSN’s playoff coverage would be over for the year, and NBC would have to choose between two series it doesn’t want – both absent of star players Sidney Crosby and previously eliminated Alex Ovechkin – before having to possibly consider the network’s worst nightmare: An all-Canadian Stanley Cup Final. This evening’s action will go a long way in determining if such a scenario could ultimately prevail.

But the action is not only limited to the rink. About 30 minutes after tonight’s opening faceoff between Chicago and Vancouver, another high drama event is scheduled to get underway in the Phoenix suburb of Glendale, Arizona. On the agenda at tonight’s city council meeting is the NHL’s demand that the municipality cover the Coyotes operating losses for next season. Should the city refuse, a likely albeit not guaranteed outcome, the stage would be set for the return of the Winnipeg Jets. Montreal and Vancouver may be the only Canadian teams still alive in this year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs, but the biggest street party of all may be elsewhere in the Great White North.

Whatever the results of this year’s playoff bracket, both this country and its broadcasters have reason to be optimistic about the future.

TONIGHT'S GAME:
Blackhawks at Canucks - Game 6, 9:30 p.m. (CBC)/(RDS)