Where do you see 10:50. NHL.com and everywhere else has it set for 10:30. Even TSN during the NJ/FLA pregame acknowledged that the game may need to start on the deuce.

I guess this one was closer to 10:40. The NHL has been starting some of the late games at :20 past the hour (or half-hour in this case). An example is VAN-LA last night. I guess they didn't tonight, for whatever reason.

I suspect that it may not be the NHL's decision to start later but the home team an all their pre game fan fair.

All games on NBC and NBCSports Network have been starting 10 or 15 minutes past the hour/half hour all season this year.

^^Hmm, it may be a network requirement as they only schedule 2 1/2 hours for the game, which really isn't quite enough.

We've no TV coverage due to the heavy snow. Kudos to Cbc.ca for their excellent quality stream of the Sens game. Unfortunately Tsn.ca doesn't appear to have the Phoenix @ Chicago game.:mad:

You ain't gonna miss much until OT happens. lol

If you really want to see/hear the Coyotes-Blackhawks games you could listen to a radio stream online. I think WGN Radio is the Blackhawks affiliate. Not TV, but if satellite isn't coming in, it's better than nothing.

We've no TV coverage due to the heavy snow. Kudos to Cbc.ca for their excellent quality stream of the Sens game.

Given that you are in Toronto, why not just plug an antenna into your TV and watch the CBC games in HD (assuming your TV has an ATSC tuner, which most most modern TVs do). You might want to do this even when your Sat is working as you will get a better PQ.

Here are the start times for game seven in all three series.

April 25, Capitals-Bruins 1630h Pacific, 1930h Eastern

April 26
Senators-Rangers 1600h Pacific, 1900h Eastern
Devils-Panthers 1730h Pacific, 2030h Eastern

It is an unusual start time for the Devils-Panthers game but, it does allow fans to see more of both games.

NHL is learning....NBA always has unusual times for playoffs

Another thing the NHL could learn from the NBA is not to wait around to start a series. It's not uncommon for the NBA to start a second round series before the first round is over. (Since they play with a firm bracket in the playoffs rather than a re-seed, the second round matchups are often set early.) Since all of the Western Conference series were over by Monday night, they could have started the second round in the West last night or tonight, but they waited until Friday. Along with all of those two off-day breaks in the first round, the playoffs are stretching out longer than they need to.

@jaymeister: The way the NHL does it is neater, tidier and easier to follow. You're not having to keep track of who is playing a first round vs second round series. In addition given the roughness of the game giving the players a few days off allows for injuries to heal more completely and also rewards those teams that complete their series in fewer games.

Off topic but... If you want to look at a league that to me draws out its playoffs way too far, it's the NFL. That two week break before the Super Bowl just deadens the excitement that the playoffs have built up. It's mid-winter and I find myself almost forgetting that the BIG game is coming up. Teams go stale from the break in what has been their routine for the six previous months. I believe that the layoff is one of the reasons why Super Bowls often turn into Super Bores. Neither team has been able to maintain their momentum.

I don't like the way the NBA does their playoffs. The start times are terrible for local fans (lots of 8:30 or even 9:00 local starts). There's no real reason to start the West games before the Eastern Conference finishes. Those would just be lost in the shuffle anyway. There are 3 big game 7s on between last night and tonight, just enjoy those. The Predators-Coyotes series begins Friday night, so its not like there are days off between the two rounds.

I tend to agree with NB Josh. I don't see how an 8:30 pm local start can be good for viewership. Imagine if it is one of those record breaking overtimes. In basketball it is rare to have more than one overtime period, so they can get away with it more easily.

My guess is we have NBC to thank for this. I am just glad the Sens game is starting on time.

Off topic but... If you want to look at a league that to me draws out its playoffs way too far, it's the NFL. That two week break before the Super Bowl just deadens the excitement that the playoffs have built up. It's mid-winter and I find myself almost forgetting that the BIG game is coming up. Teams go stale from the break in what has been their routine for the six previous months. I believe that the layoff is one of the reasons why Super Bowls often turn into Super Bores. Neither team has been able to maintain their momentum.

Unfortunately, one week is not enough time for all the families and friends of the players to prepare and travel to the Superbowl city; and 2 weeks is too long as you stated. The NFL has tried both and they chose the 2 week plan. Ten days would be perfect, but they don't want to play the SB on a Wednesday--after all it is Superbowl Sunday. And I disagree: The last several SB's have been very entertaining. Back on topic.

2012 EASTERN CONFERENCE Semifinals
series i Time (ET) #1 vs. #7 Networks
Saturday, April 28, 2012 3:00 p.m. Washington at NY Rangers NBC, CBC, RDS
Monday, April 30, 2012 7:30 p.m. Washington at NY Rangers NBCSN, CBC, RDS
Wednesday, May 2, 2012 7:30 p.m. NY Rangers at Washington NBCSN, CBC, RDS
Saturday, May 5, 2012 12:30 p.m. NY Rangers at Washington NBC, CBC, RDS
*Monday, May 7, 2012 7:30 p.m. Washington at NY Rangers NBCSN, CBC, RDS
*Wednesday, May 9, 2012 TBD NY Rangers at Washington TBD, CBC, RDS
*Saturday, May 12, 2012 TBD Washington at NY Rangers TBD, CBC, RDSI

series j Time #5 vs. #6 Networks
Sunday, April 29, 2012 3:00 p.m. New Jersey at Philadelphia NBC, CBC, RDS
Tuesday, May 1, 2012 7:30 p.m. New Jersey at Philadelphia NBCSN, CBC, RDS
Thursday, May 3, 2012 7:30 p.m. Philadelphia at New Jersey NBCSN, CBC, RDS
Sunday, May 6, 2012 7:30 p.m. Philadelphia at New Jersey NBCSN, CBC, RDS
*Tuesday, May 8, 2012 TBD New Jersey at Philadelphia NBCSN, CBC, RDS
*Thursday, May 10, 2012 TBD Philadelphia at New Jersey TBD, CBC, RDS
*Saturday, May 12, 2012 TBD New Jersey at Philadelphia TBD, CBC, RDS

2012 WESTERN CONFERENCE semiFINALS
series k
Time #2 vs. #8 Networks
Saturday, April 28, 2012 7:30 p.m. Los Angeles at St. Louis NBCSN, TSN, RDS
Monday, April 30, 2012 9:00 p.m. Los Angeles at St. Louis CNBC, TSN, RDSI
Thursday, May 3, 2012 10:00 p.m. St. Louis at Los Angeles NBCSN, TSN, RDS
Sunday, May 6, 2012 3:00 p.m. St. Louis at Los Angeles NBC, TSN, RDS
*Tuesday, May 8, 2012 TBD Los Angeles at St. Louis CNBC, TSN, RDSI
*Thursday, May 10, 2012 TBD St. Louis at Los Angeles TBD, TSN, RDS
*Saturday, May 12, 2012 TBD Los Angeles at St. Louis TBD, TSN, RDS

series l
Time #3 vs. #4 Networks
Friday, April 27, 2012 9:00 p.m. Nashville at Phoenix NBCSN, TSN, RDS
Sunday, April 29, 2012 8:00 p.m. Nashville at Phoenix NBCSN, TSN, RDS
Wednesday, May 2, 2012 9:00 p.m. Phoenix at Nashville CNBC, TSN, RDSI
Friday, May 4, 2012 7:30 p.m. Phoenix at Nashville NBCSN, TSN, RDS
*Monday, May 7, 2012 10:00 p.m. Nashville at Phoenix NBCSN, TSN, RDS
*Wednesday, May 9, 2012 TBD Phoenix at Nashville TBD, TSN, RDSI
*Friday, May 11, 2012 TBD Nashville at Phoenix TBD, TSN, RDS

I can't wait for tomorrow's NBC backhaul wildfeed between the Caps and Rangers... 35 Mbps!!! 3.5 the rate of Rogers!!!

I prefer how the NHL waits to play the second round until all the first round series are done. It's stupid to have games from multiple rounds all happening at once, and as someone else said it rewards teams that finish early. I do agree that the 2 week break before superbowl is really annoying. Nobody cares about the pro-bowl, so it's just a wasted week.

Which is why they are getting rid of the Pro Bowl. But the Pro Bowl for many years was played AFTER the Superbowl. The built in rest week was for purposes of travel and promotion of the game.

But maybe its time for us to get back on topic now.