One of the most notable changes with the NHL playoffs this year has been how far the league has been willing to go to appeal to an American audience and to cater to American broadcasters.

The decision to schedule so many weekend afternoon games, for example, comes largely at the request of NBC, who don’t even pay the NHL for broadcast rights to hockey games.

The Flames, who were Canada’s team two years ago, got dropped in the first round by Detroit. Perhaps the two matinee games in the Motor City were partially to blame?

Perhaps.

Read more in this week’s Channel Changer.