Comcast Butchers A Classic

Earlier tonight I was watching part of a presentation by Comcast Sportsnet of Game 6 of the 1987 Stanley Cup Finals as a "Philly Sports Classic." Now, the other night their Philly Sports Classic was a lacrosse game. Seriously. The Wings won a championship way back when. Maybe it was their first. But a "classic"? Not really. However, Stanley Cup Game 6 in 1987? Absolutely classic. The Flyers, decimated by injuries. The Edmonton Oilers, at the peak of their Gretzky-led dynasty. The Edmonton papers published plans for their victory parade before Game 5, with the Oilers up 3-1, but the Flyers pulled out a win in Edmonton to bring the series back to the Spectrum, where their 3-2 win that night forced a seventh and deciding game in Edmonton.

The game found the Oilers dominating early and up 2-0, but again the Flyers fought back. Still down 2-1 with just under 8 minutes left, the Flyers got a power play and Brian Propp took advantage to tie the game, thrilling the sold-out building. Less than two minutes later, a weak Oilers clearing attempt sent the puck to the point. J.J. Daigneault fired it home and put the Flyers ahead 3-2, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Everyone who was there says the crowd was never louder in the entire history of the Spectrum than it was that night. The following video was taken from a prior rebroadcast of the game. Goosebumps guaranteed.




Unfortunately, instead of letting the video play through and capturing those two moments in their entirety, Comcast Sportsnet cut away and went to their studio so John Boruk, Rick Tocchet and Al Morganti could offer their commentary. Tocchet played in the game and Morganti covered it from the press box, so it makes sense to have them look back at the game. But not at two of the most crucial and exciting moments. This poor editing pretty much cut the drama at those moments. Thanks for nothing, Comcast Sportsnet.