The Only Thing to Watch Tonight is a Hockey Game

It's not often that I would champion the viewing of an NHL game, but tonight's Game 7 between the Red Wings and the Blackhawks has the potential to provide incredible suspense and drama. It should already be well known to sports fans that a Game 7 in the NHL playoffs is one of the more exciting sports scenarios that exists. The problem is the NHL can't get out of its own way, and by putting their games on obscure networks fort he past decade and a half, they do not get the attention they should, especially in this type of electric setting.

Tonight's game will air on NBC Sports. Sorry NBC Sports. You aren't ESPN. You aren't FOX. You aren't...well, NBC. People don't think to go to your channel to see what's on. Most people aren't even going to know what channel you are. Gary Bettman and the NHL did itself a huge disservice by not finding a way to get at least SOME of its programming on The World Wide Leader. ESPN has taken on a life of its own. And while NBC and FOX (FOX1 set to debut this year) attempt to challenge them,  they are not going to be able to rival the empire ESPN has established...certainly not anytime in the near future anyway.

Chicago RW Marian Hossa, a former Detroit Red Wing.

But back to the game. Chicago, who roared to an incredible start to the lockout shortened season trailed the Red Wings 3-1 but have taken the past two to even the series and force tonight's game at the United Center. I won't pretend to be a hockey expert with useful analysis for you, so here are so quick hits from the USA Today.

"Situation/TV: The No. 1 Chicago Blackhawks and No. 7 Detroit Red Wings are tied 3-3 in the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal going into Wednesday's Game 7 in Chicago (8 p.m., NBC Sports Network). The winner plays the winner of Tuesday's San Jose Sharks-Los Angeles Kings Game 7.

Story line: The Red Wings claimed a 3-1 series lead, but the Blackhawks have won the last two games to regain home-ice advantage. The teams haven't met in a Game 7 since 1965.

Goalies: Red Wings' Jimmy Howard (7-6, 2.49 goals-against average and .923 save percentage) vs. Blackhawks' Corey Crawford (7-4, 1.78, .935). Maybe you give an edge to Howard because he just won a Game 7 last round on the road against the Anaheim Ducks.

Who's hot: Blackhawks LW Bryan Bickell has two goals and is plus-3 in his past two games. He has five goals in this postseason, and he's a few weeks away from hitting the jackpot as an unrestricted free agent."