Speaking as an American, I like 1-0 or 0-0 scores. Of course, I also like 1-0 Maddux/Johnson-esque pitchers duels in baseball too, so I may not be the average fan. On the other hand, I do HATE 3-0 football games.
It probably has something to do with the fact that I watch football to see TDs, not defense. Baseball/Hockey though, those I appreciate enough to know the sublities of taking a no-hitter into the 8th or taking a shut-out into the third. I guess that I find (in my experiences) that the games I REALLY love and REALLY enjoy and REALLY
know, in and out, are the games where I can tolerate a lack of scoring.
That's why I love 1-0 scores in hockey and baseball, but hate them in NBA/MLS/NFL. I don't know those games as well. I kow the ins and outs of working a count with a man on in baseball, but I don't appreciate the finer points of a 4-5/nickel defense. Since I don't know that much, I don't care - I just wanna see the flashy touchdowns.
I think (like Brent kinda said) that is why most Americans don't like low scoring hockey games or call it soccer on ice, because they DON'T get it. They don't have a fine appreciate for the finer point of the game. They just don't. It must be incredible frustrating for Canucks to see that. Living as close as I do to Canada, I can understand as well.
I do think that there are some things that need to be done that will end up opening up offense (goalie pads, wider ice, and yes obstruction/the trap - even though our coach basically invented the current version of the trap
).
With changes to the game, I think it will open it up a bit so that we can get back to some Gretzky/Hull era 60/70/80 goal scores (maybe 4-2 type games instead of 7-6 games). I remember the scoring of the 80s... when was the last time we had a 60-goal scorer in the NHL?
I agree with HE in that more scoring = more interest from the non-hard core NHL fan. I am in total agreement that more scoring = more popularity, but I understand the frustration of the longtime fan. The trick is to get just enough "more scoring" to catch new fans, but not too much "more scoring" to turn off the Canucks.
So, not to derail your "fun" Salaray Cap debate, what do you guys think about the Shootout? How does that fit into the "more scoring" debate?
Would seeing your teams 5 best snipers duke it out be more exciting than a tie? Or, would a shoot-out pander even more towards Americans for you Canucks?
Jeff
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