Even folks who do follow the NHL in the United States — and there aren’t many anymore — can’t be enjoying the post-season much because, let’s face it, there hasn’t been nearly enough scoring.
One goal in 60 minutes, as was the case when the Anaheim Ducks edged the Ottawa Senators Wednesday night in the second game of the Stanley Cup final, simply doesn’t cut it.
And so NHL executives, who’ve tried in the recent past to create more offence with rule adjustments, are now on the verge of making a major revision.
Two league sources have told Metro that the NHL will introduce larger nets soon, quite possibly for next season.
“I think the majority of (NHL execs) are in favour of a bigger net now,” one of the sources said. “It’ll happen soon. We can’t keep going on like this. Tradition doesn’t matter any more. What matters is making hockey appeal to the masses. Fans want goals. Research shows that. We have to satisfy them.”
• Bigger nets will produce a desire for bigger goaltenders, which may explain why Tampa Bay is pursuing Team Russia goalie Vasily Kosheckin.
He’s 6-foot-7.
• If the Sens are to bounce back against Anaheim, a long shot now since they trail the best-of-seven final 2-0, Daniel Alfredsson, Dany Heatley and Jason Spezza must start scoring.
“We’re counting on these guys,” Ottawa coach Bryan Murray lamented. “I’m hoping when we get home, we can do a little juggling and it will come. But I’m concerned.”
• Don’t blame Eric Crouch if he doesn’t think much of Canadian doctors.
During his first CFL season last year, the Argonauts’ quarterback kept being told that the pain he was feeling was merely a muscle pull. Not until he visited a doctor at the University of Nebraska — where he won the Heisman Trophy in 2001 — was Crouch diagnosed with an abdominal hernia.
Turns out he never should have run or thrown in his condition last season.
He had surgery in November.
“I went to every hernia specialist and was told, ‘It isn’t a hernia, it’s a pulled muscle, take some Advil,’” Crouch said. “I finally said, ‘Come on, man, I’ve played football a long time and I know it’s not a pulled muscle.’”
At training camp now, Crouch is competing for first-string status against four other QBs, including the legendary Damon Allen and is pain-free.
“I feel like I’m in the best shape of my life now,” Crouch said. “I feel like I’m 18.”
• For some juicy baseball stuff, incidentally, check out my newestMLB Report, only at www.metronews.ca.
