NHL on NBC

I watch the Flyers and Pens play today on NBC. I like the coverage that NBC does. I guess you get a good team when you just take the broadcasters from TSN in Canada. I like how they don't try to dumb down the coverage to appeal to the un-hockey-baptized. I think more people would like hockey if it acted more like the cool kid who doesn't need you to like him instead of the nerdy kid who constantly seeks approval. Canadian broadcasters rarely reference other sports. American broadcasters try to legitimize hockey by saying how much like other sports it is. It is not like other sports, that is what makes it great. Yes there is a lot of athleticism on display, but there is nothing like skating fast and checking or sniping the top corner when the goalie butterflies. Hockey broadcasts need to appeal to hockey people.
Also, the game made me realize how important the first goal of a game is. The Pens were running a hard 2-1-2 press forecheck to try and create turnovers and get the first marker. But, the Flyers got the goal off a Simon Gagne shot. After that, they had all the confidence in the world and were able to control the pace of the game. That goal was huge for Philly. It got them a valueable road win.
The other thing I saw was how whiny Sid the Kid is. Don't get me wrong, I think he plays the game the way you are supposed to play it. But he complains to the refs way too much. He got called offside when he clearly wasn't and his solo camera caught him throw a temper tantrum to the linesman. I think he needs to just play and not gripe so much.