THE NHL may claim, with some justification, that the Stanley Cup trophy that is awarded to their champions annually is the most famous and historic in the sporting world but, as the Ottawa Senators and Anaheim Ducks begin the quest to capture the 2007 title in California tonight, the more relevant question is, who will be watching?
Neither of the two combatants have won a Stanley Cup before and, in a professional sport still struggling outside its few traditional strongholds, that is part of the problem with this season’s Finals.
For the third straight season, a Canadian team takes part in the Finals, no bad thing considering that nation’s obsession with hockey, but, unfortunately in terms of the ever-crucial television ratings, Ottawa ranks as only