Everyone bashing NBC needs to take a step back. As raptor just posted, the NHL basically told NBC and CBC not to broadcast the games to fans in Joe Louis or outside Mellon Arena. So the blame needs to go yet again to Gary Bettman, who has proven himself to be the most inept commissioner in sports of probably all-time. The destruction he has done to the sport is incredible. This league went from a thriving business to an afterthought... from multiple weekly games on ESPN to now actually PAYING NBC to broadcast the games! He's moved teams from Winnipeg, Minnesota and Quebec, and relocated them in places like Dallas and Phoenix. He expanded the league when contraction made the most sense. I could go on and on but I'll just stop here.