The NHL on CBS

"The NHL on CBS" was professional ice hockey's first official incarnation of the sport's "Game of the Week" in the United States. It came at just about the time when the NHL's Original Six franchises were to be joined by the league's first expansion class of 1967.

In relation to the 1967 NHL Expansion

Although, the San Francisco Bay Area was not considered a particularly good hockey market, the terms of a new television agreement with CBS called for two of the expansion teams to be located in California. Hence, the California Seals and Los Angeles Kings joined the National Hockey League at the behest of CBS. (The Seals were renamed the Oakland Seals during their first season and then were rechristened the California Golden Seals when purchased by Charlie O. Finley in 1970.)

Coverage

For six seasons, from 1967 through 1972, CBS aired a game each week between mid-January until early-mid May in each of those seasons, mainly on a Sunday afternoon, including playoffs.

In 1971, CBS was not scheduled to broadcast Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals, but showed the prime time contest between the Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Black Hawks almost as a public service.

Commentators

Commentators for CBS included Dan Kelly, Stu Nahan, Jim Gordon and Bill Mazer.

Memorable moments

Perhaps, the most memorable moment came on Mother's Day of 1970 (May 10), when Bobby Orr's winning goal in overtime of Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals gave his Boston Bruins their first Stanley Cup Championship since 1941, as they swept the St. Louis Blues at the old Boston Garden. Immediately upon scoring, Orr caught his skate in the defenceman's stick and was sent flying onto the ice. The "flight" was captured by a news photographer and is one of the iconic images in the history of sports.

1979 Challenge Cup

1979's Challenge Cup replaced the All-Star Game. It was a best of three series between the NHL All-Stars against the Soviet Union national squad. In the United States, Game 2, which was on a Saturday afternoon, was shown on CBS as part of "The CBS Sports Spectacular". The network, the show, and their sponsors had a problem with the rink board advertising that the NHL sold at Madison Square Garden, and refused to allow them to be shown on TV. As a result, CBS viewers were unable to see the far boards above the yellow kickplate, and could only see players skates when the play moved to that side of the ice. Games 1 and 3 were shown on the NHL Network, where the advertising was no problem.

1980 Stanley Cup Finals

After the NHL left CBS in 1972, the network would only air one other NHL game. That would take place on Saturday, May 24, 1980, with Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Philadelphia Flyers and the New York Islanders. The game was won in overtime by the host Islanders, who captured their first of their four consecutive Stanley Cups.

Except for the New York and Philadelphia affiliates, CBS dropped the telecast and went to "The CBS Sports Spectacular" as scheduled.

By that time, Dan Kelly was joined by former "NHL on NBC" commentator, Tim Ryan. Dan Kelly did play-by-play for the first and third periods as well as overtime. Meanwhile, Tim Ryan did play-by-play only for the second period. Minnesota North Stars GM Lou Nanne was the color commentator throughout the game.

However, that turned out to be the last NHL game (to this date) to be televised on CBS. It was also the last NHL game on American network television for nearly ten years.

Failed 1994-95 bid

CBS was in the running for gaining National Hockey League rights beginning in the 1994-95 season only to be outbid by FOX. [cite web |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9403E2DD163BF933A2575AC0A962958260&scp=4&sq=National+Hockey+League+Fox&st=nyt |title=Fox Outbids CBS for N.H.L. Games |accessdate=2008-03-20 |author=Sandomir, Richard |date=1994-09-10 |work=New York Times]

References

External links

* [http://www.sportsline.com/nhl NHL Hockey News - CBSSports.com]