  The Stanley Cup Playoffs have had it all. They're unpredictable, intense, dramatic, extremely entertaining. They also might be the swan song of the NHL as we know it, but no one wants to talk about that. What they also might end up producing is the lowest-rated championship round in the history of the four major sports.
ABC can't be pleased about seeing a team from a smallish (by NHL standards) Canadian city joined by teams from California and Florida among the final four in the playoffs. And while Philadelphia is a decent-sized market, it's surely not enough to pick up the ratings slack. Diehard fans of the game are probably tickled pink to see a Canadian franchise having success, and I know I'm happy for the fans who've learned how to appreciate hockey in San Jose and Tampa, and I hope the Lightning destroy Philadelphia. The NHL, though, can't want anything to do with a Tampa Bay-San Jose Stanley Cup Final. At least Calgary would give the league a cute story to sell, and Philly would give them a pretty big city (and one with rich hockey tradition) to sell.
Maybe the lack of trapping in the Finals (none of the teams left are known for playing an Anaheim-like trapping style) will open up some eyes to the great skill that is on display. What will probably happen is that people will watch "CSI" reruns instead. 
