During Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals, Doc Emrick mentioned that the Stanley Cup Finals would begin on Monday (Memorial Day in the U.S.) if the Boston Bruins closed out the series in six or Wednesday (June 1) if the Tampa Bay Lightning pushed it to seven games.
The Lightning hung on for a 5-4 win. Game 7 was set. Now, apparently, so is the Stanley Cup Finals schedule … and it's a freakin' marathon for the East champ and the Vancouver Canucks.
NBC Sports published the schedule on its website (stick-tap to @JimmyTaktikos and Bob McKenzie of TSN), and here's what we're in for:
Wednesday, June 1
Stanley Cup finals Game 1: Boston or Tampa Bay at Vancouver, 8 p.m. ET (NBC)Saturday, June 4
Stanley Cup finals Game 2: Boston or Tampa Bay at Vancouver, 8 p.m. ET (NBC)Monday, June 6
Stanley Cup finals Game 3: Vancouver at Boston or Tampa Bay, 8 p.m. ET (Versus)Wednesday, June 8
Stanley Cup finals Game 4: Vancouver at Boston or Tampa Bay, 8 p.m. ET (Versus)Friday, June 10
Stanley Cup finals Game 5 (if necessary): Boston or Tampa Bay at Vancouver, 8 p.m. ET (NBC)Monday, June 13
Stanley Cup finals Game 6 (if necessary): Vancouver at Boston or Tampa Bay, 8 p.m. ET (NBC)Wednesday, June 15
Stanley Cup finals Game 7 (if necessary): Boston or Tampa Bay at Vancouver, 8 p.m. ET (NBC)
Last year's finals had June 11 as a Game 7 end date; in 2009, it was June 12; in 2008, it was June 9.
We know what you're saying when looking at this schedule: Wow, that's a rather protracted final round. It's like the "Lord of the Rings Trilogy: Special Edition" of Cup Finals. And you're right … but issues of building availability and what-have-you can mess with this sort of thing. Still, having the first two games played over four days is an advantage for Vancouver, no?
OK, one last thing to ponder: If the finals are to start in Vancouver on June 1 … well, what happens to Supertramp, who's booked that night?
Only one solution: Suspend them above the ice, playing the hits as a soundtrack to Game 1. Unless they're just cancelled. Which will probably happen.