# The Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/577925
**Category:** The Game Room
**Created:** [April 11, 2011, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/577925 "2011-04-11T02:46:29Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 14
### Author:  [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2011, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/577925/261 "2011-05-07T19:14:08Z")
So Vancouver gets a chance to close out the Preds tonight. If they win, that leaves only the Sharks and Red Wings in this round. No pressure.
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### Author:  [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2011, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/577925/262 "2011-05-07T19:38:19Z")
> [@KennerTheGreat](#):
>
> You’ll have a hard time convincing a lot of Canadians of this.
Rather doubt Bettman wants San Jose/Tampa Bay.
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### Author:  [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2011, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/577925/263 "2011-05-07T19:48:34Z")
> [@etv78](#):
>
> Rather doubt Bettman wants San Jose/Tampa Bay.
He sure as hell doesn’t want a Canadian team in the Finals. The ideal matchup for him at this point would be Boston versus San Jose.
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### Author:  [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2011, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/577925/264 "2011-05-07T19:54:30Z")
> [@RickJay](#):
>
> He sure as hell doesn’t want a Canadian team in the Finals. The ideal matchup for him at this point would be Boston versus San Jose.
Am I being _whooshed_ (a distinct possibility) or are you contending Bettman hates Canada? Because IMO, casual fans, which all sports (especially hockey) need in the championship round, probably aren’t interested in watching two Sun Belt teams playing _hockey_.
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### Author:  [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2011, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/577925/265 "2011-05-07T20:54:33Z")
Bettman wants Detroit/Boston. That’s the best matchup for US ratings.
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### Author:  [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2011, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/577925/266 "2011-05-07T21:08:06Z")
Are they really going to make the Eastern Conference teams wait 8-9 days to start playing the conf. finals? Will they move both final series up if Vancouver and San Jose wrap things up this weekend?
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### Author:  [@Xan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xan)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2011, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/577925/267 "2011-05-07T21:13:59Z")
Why do you care what he wants?
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### Author:  [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2011, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/577925/268 "2011-05-07T21:17:33Z")
The NHL has a rule against any teams starting the next round before all of the previous round is wrapped up, out of fairness. **etv78** , Bettman wants the largest TV markets in the Finals, that’s all. Most of them aren’t in Canada.
Rick Bowness got fired as the Bruins coach in 1992 for only getting the team this far. They haven’t been back _as_ far until now.
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### Author:  [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2011, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/577925/269 "2011-05-07T21:19:00Z")
**dalej42** -I absolutely agree this is the ideal match-up for ratings, just don’t see Detroit digging out of 0-3.
**Xan** -He’s the commissioner of the league. :rolleyes:
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### Author:  [@Xan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xan)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2011, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/577925/270 "2011-05-07T21:23:34Z")
Again, why does it matter what the commissioner wants? His wishes for the Cup matter about as much as mine, that is not at all.
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### Author:  [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2011, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/577925/271 "2011-05-07T21:52:18Z")
> [@Xan](#):
>
> Again, why does it matter what the commissioner wants? His wishes for the Cup matter about as much as mine, that is not at all.
He has a stake in the health of the league. :rolleyes:
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### Author:  [@Xan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xan)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2011, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/577925/272 "2011-05-07T22:14:36Z")
> [@etv78](#):
>
> He has a stake in the health of the league. :rolleyes:
So? it’s not like he’s going to influence the results.
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### Author:  [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2011, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/577925/273 "2011-05-07T22:40:42Z")
Boston is a sun belt team?
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### Author:  [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2011, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/577925/274 "2011-05-07T22:43:51Z")
I think he meant San Jose. We have great weather here, but it sure ain’t no sunbelt city.
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### Author:  [@fubbleskag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fubbleskag)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2011, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/577925/275 "2011-05-07T22:56:25Z")
> [@RickJay](#):
>
> He sure as hell doesn’t want a Canadian team in the Finals. The ideal matchup for him at this point would be Boston versus San Jose.
with Thornton scoring the cup-winning OT goal in game 7 to finally balance the universe?
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### Author:  [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2011, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/577925/276 "2011-05-07T23:08:35Z")
> [@garygnu](#):
>
> I think he meant San Jose. We have great weather here, but it sure ain’t no sunbelt city.
When was the last blizzard in San Jose? :dubious:
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### Author:  [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2011, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/577925/277 "2011-05-07T23:10:47Z")
> [@Xan](#):
>
> So? it’s not like he’s going to influence the results.
He doesn’t influence results! All I mean is: It behooves Bettman to be in charge of a healthy league.
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### Author:  [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2011, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/577925/278 "2011-05-07T23:26:56Z")
> [@etv78](#):
>
> He doesn’t influence results! All I mean is: It behooves Bettman to be in charge of a healthy league.
You know that, and I know that, but does Bettman? The man couldn’t find his own ass with both hands and a flashlight.
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### Author:  [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)
#### Post date: [May 8, 2011, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/577925/279 "2011-05-08T11:36:38Z")
> [@Xan](#):
>
> So? it’s not like he’s going to influence the results.
He doesn’t have to. The refs, coaches, and even the players know the business side too.
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### Author:  [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)
#### Post date: [May 8, 2011, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/577925/280 "2011-05-08T17:02:57Z")
Well, for far too long the NHL marketing plan has included “hope the Rangers go far in the playoffs” as a bullet point.
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