00:00So, this was interesting. The NHL released opening night info, and the Panthers, did you see this, Crowder? Did you see when the Panthers are going to open?
00:11No. What did they say?
00:13Panthers are going to open on a Tuesday night. This is the regular season. A Tuesday night at 5 p.m.
00:21So, in an interesting turn, because ESPN is doing a triple header that night to open the NHL season, but you've got the defending Stanley Cup champions, the first game of the triple header, they'll host the Blackhawks in sunrise, and that's the banner-raising ceremony.
00:44We went to it last year. Remember? We went to the banner-raising. So, it's the banner-raising ceremony and the big celebratory night, but it will begin at a 5 p.m. puck drop, which means the banner, I guess, like, you've got to be in your seats, I'm guessing, by like 4 o'clock on a Tuesday that afternoon to get into all the celebration and stuff.
01:09It's odd. Listen, I'm all for it. I got no problem with it, because I'm imagining we'll do the show out there, and it'll be a two-hour show. So, I'm thrilled. I'll hand things off to Doug Plagans at 4 o'clock.
01:22You know, we'll be there, because, you know, we'll do the show there, and so, like, it won't be inconvenient for us.
01:28But I imagine for a lot of Panthers fans, it'll be a little inconvenient to get to the arena, you know, at 3 o'clock on a Tuesday afternoon and be in your seats by 4, but that is the choice the league has made, and so be it.
01:44And if you're in Cali, you take an early lunch to watch it, if you're a Panthers fan?
01:48Yes, if you're on the West Coast, you have a very strange day, but it'll be Blackhawks and Panthers, 5 p.m., and then Penguins-Rangers, 8 p.m., and the late game that night will be the L.A. Kings hosting the Colorado Avalanche.
02:04So, Florida Panthers, your defending champions, will open the regular season on Tuesday, October 7th, 5 p.m.
02:17That is, like, two or three days after the UMFSU game, by the way.
02:23Here's the part that I have a disconnect on.
02:26You know, when hockey season starts, it's in the middle of college and NFL football.
02:32And so, a lot of times, like, you're just not thinking about it, even though you're the Stanley Cup champions, and it's coming a few days right after UMFSU.
02:43I don't know.
02:44I don't think it does much of a service to the Panthers to have them start at a 5 p.m. on a Tuesday, but whatever.
02:51I'm all for a party and a celebration that starts early.
02:55Get me out early.
02:56I'm okay.
02:57You have no complaints from me.
02:59And to be one of the six teams that start the season, you're seeing, you know.
03:03Well, that's cool.
03:04But you'd think the Panthers would be the prime game, like the middle game, the 8 p.m. game.
03:09I was just going to say, why couldn't we get the 8?
03:12Yeah.
03:13Yeah, yeah, yeah.
03:14Y'all holding out on us.
03:15They still hate on us.
03:17They hate on us a lot.
03:18I feel it.
03:19The NHL doesn't understand two very simple things that every other sports league understands.
03:26One, the only days you can get away with a triple header during the week, a weekday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Eve, New Year's Day.
03:35That's it.
03:35Those are the only days you can get away with a triple header on a weekday.
03:39And number two, you don't disrespect champions.
03:42Back-to-back champions.
03:43Hawk, this is a disgrace, man.
03:45I'm sorry.
03:45Like, this is a disgrace.
03:46The Panthers should not play the game.
03:49They should not play the game.
03:51Forfeit.
03:52No, no, don't forfeit.
03:53Just force the NHL's hand and make them play on Monday.
03:59We're playing Monday at 8.
04:00The Panthers should set their own date.
04:03I mean, you want to go up against Monday night football?
04:06Okay.
04:07All right.
04:07They're playing Wednesday, then.
04:08They're playing Wednesday at 8.
04:11Well, that's when the rest of the NHL starts.
04:13Tuesday night is fine.
04:15Tuesday night's fine, but they should have the 8 p.m. game, not the 5 p.m. game.
04:20But, being selfish about it, I kind of like it.
04:24I'm for as many 5 p.m. starts as they want to have during the season, because that knocks
04:28us off the air a little bit early, and less content that we have to come up with.
04:33I enjoy you guys, but if I can have two hours instead of four, yeah.
04:38Crank it up.
04:39Doug Legans does a great job.
04:40Crank it up at two.
04:41Yeah.
04:42Crank the game up.
04:43Len, if you're listening, pre-game two.
04:47No, pre-game at three.
04:49Make it three.
04:49We'll go out there.
04:50We'll do an hour.
04:51We'll do an hour from sunrise.
04:52You know what?
04:53I got you.
04:54I'll work an hour.
04:56We'll squeeze Plagans, Goldie, Moeller, and Billy Lindsay into that hour.
