2008 Woodie Awards
In the Crease
Ali Myers
Issue date: 11/1/07 Section: sports
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One of the NHL's main goals to bring viewers into the game is to put new rules into place that may help increase goal scoring. Whether it's shrinking the size of goalie pads, increasing the size of the net, or designing a smaller neutral zone, it seems like the NHL will do just about anything to turn a 2-1 or 3-1 game into an 8-1 romping.
So which would you rather watch? Do you choose a 9-2 smashing (such as the Rochester vs. Syracuse game that took place in the AHL last week) or a tight 2-1 game that may or may not have gone into overtime? Let's weigh the pros and cons.
The NHL may have a point that more scoring makes the game more exciting. The suspense as the crowd rises to their feet as a player rushes down the ice on a breakaway creates a ripple effect of screaming and cheering throughout the arena. There are times you can tell that nothing is slowing a player down and he knows just how to beat even the best goalie to get ahead or tie the score en route to a come from behind victory.
Also, more scoring increases the chance that a player who is close to breaking a previous record will get his wish that night. Another player may also get a hat trick if there are more than two goals on the scoreboard. And admit it, you want to throw your $10 hat on to the ice and get it over with. You may even get to see your most hated goaltender pulled from the game.
However, more scoring can also make the game boring. When the score is 8-2 with ten minutes left, you realize that unless extreme divine intervention sets in, the opposing team will not be able to score six goals in time. They would have to score roughly six goals every minute and a half. This leads fans to leave for the parking lot hoping to beat traffic or just go home and go to bed early. Everyone knows who is going to win. There is not much else to look forward to.
Plus, the crowd probably gets tired of yelling and the players, who had enough energy to keep shooting all those pucks into the net, slow down. Slower and tired players makes the game boring and almost downright frustrating to watch.
So which would you rather watch? Do you choose a 9-2 smashing (such as the Rochester vs. Syracuse game that took place in the AHL last week) or a tight 2-1 game that may or may not have gone into overtime? Let's weigh the pros and cons.
The NHL may have a point that more scoring makes the game more exciting. The suspense as the crowd rises to their feet as a player rushes down the ice on a breakaway creates a ripple effect of screaming and cheering throughout the arena. There are times you can tell that nothing is slowing a player down and he knows just how to beat even the best goalie to get ahead or tie the score en route to a come from behind victory.
Also, more scoring increases the chance that a player who is close to breaking a previous record will get his wish that night. Another player may also get a hat trick if there are more than two goals on the scoreboard. And admit it, you want to throw your $10 hat on to the ice and get it over with. You may even get to see your most hated goaltender pulled from the game.
However, more scoring can also make the game boring. When the score is 8-2 with ten minutes left, you realize that unless extreme divine intervention sets in, the opposing team will not be able to score six goals in time. They would have to score roughly six goals every minute and a half. This leads fans to leave for the parking lot hoping to beat traffic or just go home and go to bed early. Everyone knows who is going to win. There is not much else to look forward to.
Plus, the crowd probably gets tired of yelling and the players, who had enough energy to keep shooting all those pucks into the net, slow down. Slower and tired players makes the game boring and almost downright frustrating to watch.