HBO 24/7 - Winter Classic - Episode 1

 Could we be seeing the last days of Bruce Boudreau as head coach of the Capitals? It's beginning to look like it.

(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.

WINTER CLASSIC PREVIEW BEGINS TONIGHT

My Checklist of Storylines for HBO's 24/7 Winter Classic to be a success in no particular order:

 (Over the course of the 4 episodes)

-How much goes in to getting the stadium ready for the Winter Classic

-The rivalry between the Capitals and Penguins

-Profiles of Alexander Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, Bruce Boudreau, Dan Bylsma, Mario Lemiuex, Ted Leonsis, Ray Shero, Semin or Backstrom -all varying in length

-Evgeni Malkin's escape from the KHL

-Obligatory Jordan Staal from a hockey family piece

-George McPhee's hunt for a goalie

-Quick review of the Penguins being in the first Winter Classic

-Recap of the Penguins-Capitals game right before the Winter Classic

-Recap of the Winter Classic

-Pittsburgh being a football town but loves its hockey

-Crosby living at Lemiuex's property

-A brief history of the Winter Classic/Herritage Classic

-Penguins winning streak (if it continues in to the airing of the series)

-The Capitals losing streak

-Penguins-Capitals Conference Semifinals series from 2 seasons ago

A review of each episode will be posted every Thursday

Plight of the Pacific

 Jaime Benn and Mike Ribiero celebrate a goal in last night's 3-2 road win for the Stars in San Jose last night (Ben Margot - AP)

We're about 30 games in to the NHL Season and the Dallas Stars are in 1st place in the Pacific Division while the San Jose Sharks are in last place. Granted, 1st place and last place are separated by 4 points, but the order is practically upside down. A brief recap of each team's season in the NHL's tightest division:


Dallas - Goalie Kari Lehtonen has benefited from a change in scenery (13 wins 2.59 GAA before his back injury) and head coach Marc Crawford is executing his style of play well. The blueline could use one another Top 3 guy, but the top 2 lines are producing and the bottom two lines are grinding it out and wearing down the other team. As great as the Stars are at home (11-3-1), they need to improve on the road (6-7-1) and on special teams (22nd ranked PP, 27th ranked PK)


Anaheim - When you're getting production from where you're supposed to (their top 5 scorers are Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf, Teemu Selanne, Bobby Ryan, Lubomir Visnovsky), solid production on the blueline (Tony Lydman 's +18 is good enough to hover around the league lead, rookie Cam Fowler has chipped in with 15 points), solid goaltending (Jonas Hiller's 14 wins are 3rd best in the league); and have leadership (Saku Koivu, Todd Marchant, Jason Blake), that all adds up to being a tough out each game.


Los Angeles - The team went in to a really bad funk for most of November, but was one of the hottest teams out of the gate and it looks like they are finding their form again. Goalie Jonathan Quick has stepped up this season and played very well. Getting D Willie Mitchell back from injury provides the blueline with experience and leadership. It will be interesting to see what type of role newly acquired winger Marco Sturm takes on this team. Getting that 27th ranked PP going would help the Kings get back on track.

San Jose - The optimistic Sharks fan can say that the Sharks are pacing themselves this year instead of dominating the regular season to fall short in the playoffs. That could be the case, but this team is struggling no matter how you slice it. Ryan Clowe and Logan Coture are the only two guys on the roster to have scored multiple goals this month. Clowe is the team leader in assists and Coture is the leading goal scorer...this is a problem when you have guys like Thornton, Heatley (the team leader in points, at least) and Marleau (an ugly -17 on the season) on your roster. G Antti Niemi has hardly looked like the most recent Stanley Cup winning goalie but Antero Niittymaki has been serviceable. The 6th ranked PP is one of the bright spots this season.

Phoenix - The surprise team of the West last season is hanging tough this season. They've lost 4 of 7 after winning 7 in a row and rank in the middle of the pack of goals scored (13th), goals against (13th), power play (12th) , and penalty kill (18th). Off-season acquisition winger Ray Whitney has panned out nicely and leads the team in assists (16) and points (20). Goalie Ilya Bryzgalov is shouldering the load between the pipes and is as reliable as usual (12-5-6, 2,54 GAA, .922 Save%). I'd like to see someone distinguish himself as a top goal scorer on this team as the season hits the midway point (Lee Stempniak, Lauri Korpikoski, and Scottie Upshall each lead the team with 8 goals - none of which are household names).

NHL Weekly TV Viewer Guide

Sidney Crosby travels across the Keystone State for the NHL's Game of the Week on Tuesday

NHL Viewers Guide for the week of 12/13/10

MONDAY - Kings @ Red Wings - 7:30PM - Versus

Why you should watch: The best in the West are hosting a Kings team that is turning it around as of late. After spending much of the season near the top of the Western Conference, LA went through a stretch where they lost 8 of 9 and dropped to the bottom of the Pacific Division. However, they've won 3 of 4 and this team is much better than their record. The Red Wings have won 2 in a row after dropping 3. This is their 2nd meeting of the season (Kings won at the Staples Center last Saturday 3-2 in OT)

TUESDAY - Penguins @ Flyers - 7PM - Versus

Why you should watch: This is the game of the week in the NHL. These are the top 2 teams in the league points-wise. The Penguins are looking for their 13th win in a row while the Flyers have earned points in 5 straight games since a 3 game losing streak to end November. This is their 4th meeting of the season with Philly winning 2 of the 3 games so far.

WEDNESDAY - No nationally televised game

THURSDAY - Bruins @ Canadiens - 7:30PM - NHL Network

Why you should watch: This classic Original 6 rivalry always provides for entertaining hockey. The Canadiens lead the Northeast Division but the Bruins only trail them by 2 points. Montreal won the only prior meeting of the season back on Veterans Day. The Canadiens set off on a 7 game road trip to close the calendar year after this game.

FRIDAY - Red Wings @ Blackhawks - 8:30PM - NHL Network

Why you should watch: Another classic Original 6 rivalry that always provides entertaining hockey. The Hawks trail Detroit by 6 points in the Central Division and this is only their 2nd meeting of the season (Detroit spoiled the Blackhawk's banner-raising party on Chicago's opening night). Keep an eye on Blackhawks rookie goaltender Corey Crawford, who is starting to heat up.

SATURDAY - Maple Leafs @ Canucks - 10PM - NHL Network

Why you should watch: This cross-Canadian match-up features the 2nd best team going against the worst in the Northeast. While this seems like a mismatch on paper, both teams can score goals quickly and have strong bluelines. Vancouver has earned at least a point in 7 of their last 8 games. The Canucks beat the Leafs 5-3 in their previous match-up and this will be the last time these two play each other this season.

SUNDAY - Kings @ Blackhawks - 7PM - NHL Network

Why you should watch: Both of these teams play a fast-paced game and like to get the puck up the ice quickly. Common sense says this would be a high scoring match-up, but Chicago has won the prior 2 match-ups this year 3-2 and 2-1 respectively. These teams have one more meeting in LA after Sunday's game.