(A running blog while I watched episode 1 of HBO's 24/7 on the Winter Classic)
The intro was perfect. Just enough back story on both franchises, what links these two together as rivals, why this show exists, and the obligatory Ovechkin-Crosby link.
I like how they got right in to the game action in the midst of the Penguins winning streak (at 10 games at that point - vs. Toronto). I really liked how HBO brought you practically in to the midst of a fight between Colton Orr and Deryk Engelland. Being in the locker room in the intermission was a new perspective. You see why fighting is a part of the game that should never be removed. This point is reinforced later in the episode when Ovechkin and Rangers Center Brandon Dubinsky fight. When the fight is over, the simultaneously say "good job buddy". Guys who fight on a hockey rink will buy each other beers after the game. That's how it has always been and how it will always be.
In the first Capitals segment, we see coach Bruce Boudreau use the presence of HBO to motivate his players. The Capitals were in the midst of a 3 game losing streak and Boudreau talked about how the Penguins side of the HBO coverage will be all smiles since they are in a a long winning streak. The Caps are going in the opposite direction and changing in to more of a balanced team than being an "offensive juggernaut" . We also learn Boudreau is not a man to mince words. Throughout the course of this episode we see how much Coach Boudreau likes to gratuitously use the word "fuck". I'm okay with foul language, but it's every other word out of this guy's mouth and it almost sounds forced. With all the "Boudreau to be fired" rumors going around because of the Caps losing streak, I've been defending him, saying it's not his fault. After seeing the locker room dynamic, you can see the players tuning him out. But I digress, back to the running blog of the episode...
The profile of Penguins Coach Dan Bylsma was pretty good. You can see why the players like playing for him. The shootout competition for "Mustache Boy" is pure genius.
The Ovechkin/Backstrom profiles were done well. Working in the Scott Hannan trade that close to the beginning of filming and chronicling what its like for a player to move to a new team in the middle of the season was done well.
Seeing Bylsma and Penguins GM Ray Shero evaluate the players on their 5 scale was another example of how HBO Sports takes you deeper in their coverage.
Going inside the Capitals 3-0 loss is what frustration looks like. The frustration continues in a Sunday night game against the Rangers at MSG.I took personal enjoyment in seeing an in-depth perspective of seeing the Rangers embarrass the Capitals (I picked going to the Jets game instead that day...a 10-6 loss to the Dolphins...I made the wrong choice).
My only issue with the show was it was an awkward transition from the scene-setting to going right in to the grind of the season. With a sport like hockey that is only remotely popular with the general public (and HBO Sports features have to strike a balance of appeal for the die-hard fan AND the casual or novice fan), you need to show more of the personality of the two main focuses (Crosby and Ovechkin). Maybe more of that is to come over the next two weeks.Overall, I thought the first installment was solid. I'm looking forward to next week's episode. It should help the series that most television shows are in repeats for the Christmas Break.
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