I noticed a FanShot earlier today on the site asking if NHL GameCenter Live was worth it.
When you compare the $149.99 price with the alternative in NHL Center Ice, which puts you out about 172 bucks at last check, I’d say it’s a far superior product. Not only can you watch four games at once on the same screen, but every game is also in high definition and you can choose whether you want to watch the home or the away broadcast.
You can also pause and rewind and jump to important points in the game while you watch, like a DVR. And if you have a fancy computer and a fancy TV, you can plug one into the other and make things happen in surround sound.
It’s glorious. I should probably disclose that the NHL has given me a free copy of the thing, as they did last year, to help with what we do here at BSH. I’m under no obligation to write this post though, even if it probably comes off like an infomercial.
In any event, the coolest part of GCL might be the classic games. There’s a whole library of them that come along with the subscription, including 30 classic Flyers games. A list after the jump, of course…
March 8, 1969 – Flyers vs Maple Leafs: Dick Cherry, the brother of Don Cherry, scores a goal for your Flyers.
April 19, 1975 – Flyers vs Maple Leafs, Quarterfinals Game 4: The Flyers sweep with an OT clincher.
May 27, 1975 – Flyers vs Sabres, Cup Final Game 6: Cup number two.
January 11, 1976 – Flyers vs Red Army: Tell it to the czar.
May 16, 1976 – Flyers vs Canadiens, Cup Final Game 4: Habs win the Cup.
May 11, 1978 – Flyers vs Bruins, Semifinal Game 5: Bruins win big, 6-3.
April 14, 1979 – Flyers vs Canucks, First Round Game 3: Philly wins the series, two games to one. Yep.
May 13, 1980 – Flyers vs Islanders, Cup Final Game 1: Denis Potvin scores in OT
May 24, 1980 – Flyers vs Islanders, Cup Final Game 6: Nystrom scores in OT, Isles win the Cup.
May 30, 1985 – Flyers vs Oilers, Cup Final Game 5: Oilers win the Cup.
May 31, 1987 – Flyers vs Oilers, Cup Final Game 7: This one hurt, Oilers win the Cup.
May 11, 1989 – Flyers vs Canadiens, Conference Final Game 6: The Chelios-Hextall game.
February 25, 1995 – Flyers vs Canadiens: Leclair scores a hat trick, Hextall records a shutout.
May 12, 1995 – Flyers vs Sabres, Conference Quarterfinal Game 4: Eric Lindros’ first career playoff game.
June 7, 1995 – Flyers vs Devils, Conference Final Game 3: Lindros scores in OT.
May 2, 1996 – Flyers vs Panthers, Conference Semifinals Game 1: John Vanbiesbrouck shuts out the Flyers.
May 20, 1997 – Flyers vs Rangers, Conference Final Game 3: Eric Lindros’ first career playoff hat trick.
June 7, 1997 – Flyers vs Red Wings, Cup Final Game 4: Ugh.
May 7, 2000 – Flyers vs Penguins, Conference Semifinals Game 5: Andy Delmore scores a playoff hat trick.
November 9, 2000 – Flyers vs Oilers: Roman Cechmanek’s first two games are shutouts. This is the second game.
March 21, 2001 – Flyers vs Red Wings: Roman Cechmanek’s 10th shutout of his rookie season.
October 31, 2001 – Flyers vs Penguins: Brian Boucher becomes the first goalie in team history to record shutouts on back to back nights.
October 29, 2002 – Flyers vs Senators: Jason Spezza‘s first career goal.
May 8, 2004 – Flyers vs Lightning, Conference Final Game 1: Lightning take Game 1.
October 28, 2005 – Flyers vs Hurricanes: Eric Staal‘s first career hat trick.
December 12, 2006 – Flyers vs Penguins: Crosby puts up 6 points.
April 5, 2007 – Flyers vs Devils: Martin Brodeur‘s NHL record 48th win. Thanks, shootout wins!
May 18, 2008 – Flyers vs Penguins, Conference Final Game 5: Pens advance, blah blah.
October 3, 2009 – Flyers vs Devils: Martin Brodeur’s 1,000th game. Guess who won?
May 14, 2010 – Flyers vs Bruins, Conference Semifinal Game 7: Does this need an explanation?
The list is pretty fantastic, even if there are some obvious games that aren’t included as well as some real lowlights. Still, I’ll likely be watching all of these at least once over the course of the year.
