In this format every single point matters
I can tell you this from being there - both the Flyers and Devils are trying to make it feel like a home game as much as possible.
I can also tell you the Bruins are not. On Thursday night at TD Garden, there will be no Jim Martin on the PA and no Ron Poster on the organ. They seem oblivious that the sounds of the home arena might bring comfort to the players and viewers watching at home.
That's absolutely nuts, especially from a branding perspective. I could probably identify at least half of the NHL arenas if you played me a broadcast and blurred out the names of players, but gave me the background organ music and some other game day cues. The Flyers -are- Gritty. CBJ -is- the cannon. The Habs -are- the "shave and a haircut, two bits!" that finishes off every organ cue from that crazy Hab lady. (Cue the video.)
I haven't seen one "buy a cardboard cutout" promo, either, so it seems like Old Man Jacobs is literally uninterested in making a buck.
I'm not that worried about the players getting/giving a psychological edge with no "at home" noise. They're big boys. They can play through it. If they play well, it's not because of organ music, and if they suck, they suck. And no matter what they do in terms of presentation, it's still going to be weird.
Looking at the possibilities for Krejci's line, I'm a little bit scared that this may be the gameday music....
Wasn't too impressed with Studnika on opening night. Ritchie makes me nervous - need to be on a tight leash. But, please, Bruce, Marchand-Bergy-Krejci?
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