CHICAGO

The first three games of the Stanley Cup final have brought big ratings to NBC, but apparently that’s not enough for the American network.

A senior executive at the network wants the players to look better in front of the cameras and ditch the decades old tradition of the gnarly playoff beard.

In a comment that had Canadian fans (and no doubt Americans, as well) rolling their eyes, NBC Sports chairman Mark Lazarus told the Chicago Tribune that it’s time to clean up the look.

“Let’s get faces out there,” Lazarus told the Tribune. “Let’s talk about how young and attractive they are, what model citizens they are. (Hockey players) truly are one of a kind among professional athletes.

“I know it’s a tradition and superstition, but I think (the beards) hurt recognition. They have a great opportunity with more endorsements ... this is one tradition I could do without.”

If and when the NHL Players’ Association was approached with the notion, you can imagine the laughter.

SEEN AND HEARD

Caught up with top prospect and potential Maple Leafs pick Noah Hanifin here this week and the stud Boston College defenceman says he had some positive meetings with Toronto brass. With a busy schedule, he did not make it down the QEW from Buffalo, where the draft combine was taking place, to meet with team president Brendan Shanahan. He did, however, have lengthy conversations with Mark Hunter and Kyle Dubas ... It figures to be a while before James van Riemsdyk gets an opportunity to participate in a Stanley Cup final, but the Leafs forward wasn’t going to miss the opportunity to see his little brother, Trevor, make his playoff debut in Game 3. The entire van Riemsdyk clan was on hand at the United Center to see TVR play limited minutes on the Hawks blueline ... As you would expect with home ice and a 2-1 series lead, the Lightning are now heavy betting favourites to win the Cup at odds of minus-175 (meaning a $175 wager is required to profit $100.) ... Also caught up with NBC broadcaster Eddie Olczyk and the former Maple Leaf wanted to talk horses. Olzcyk was part of the NBC crew at American Pharoah’s Triple Crown win on Saturday, but also spoke fondly of retired Woodbine race announcer, Dan Loiselle ... Speaking of NBC, Game 3 drew 3.89 million viewers on NBCSN, up 35% from Game 3 last year between the Kings and Rangers.

TRIPLET POWER

Tampa’s “Triplet” line of Tyler Johnson, Nikita Kucherov and Ondrej Palat each had a point on Palat’s third period equalizer on Monday. The three have combined for just under half of the Lightning’s goals in the playoffs (31 of 63 or 49.2%). Johnson (13 goals, 10 assists) and Kucherov (10-12-22) are one-two in playoff scoring ... Crazy stat for a series that hasn’t had much to separate the teams: Tampa has held the lead for 92 minutes and 20 seconds (51.3%) while Chicago has been in front just 6:19 through three games. The action has been all square for 81:21 ... The pair of goals 13 seconds apart in Monday’s third period were three seconds shy of the Cup final record for the fastest goals by BOTH teams, set first in 1936 and equalled in 1947.

NET PAINS (AND GAINS)

The mystery of Ben Bishop in the Tampa net remained a hot topic on the off day, namely how he could perform so well in the first period (stopping 18 of 19 shots) while clearly labouring to move at full capacity. Lightning coach Jon Cooper said he relies on the opinion of his trainers rather than the player himself. “I trust our trainers,” Cooper said. “Before I do the eye test, you’ve got to walk by them. You don’t want guys to play injured. If they’re out there, they have an ability to play.” To a man, the Lightning continue to play coy about the health of Bishop. “I think everybody’s playing through something right now,” Lightning forward Brian Boyle said. “What impressed me (was not playing injured but) his 36 or whatever saves, the 18 he had in the first.” ... One impressive Bishop stat: he is 8-3 on the road these playoffs with a 1.50 goals against average, a .947 save percentage and a pair of shutouts. A well, he has yet to allow more than two goals in any of his 11 road appearances.

QUICK HITS

Hawks defenceman Johnny Oduya is questionable for Game 4 with what Quenneville described as an upper-body injury ... With two full off days before Game 5, the Hawks will remain in Chicago where they will practise on Friday before flying to Tampa ... Quenneville on what he expects from his players after back-to-back losses: “I think we should be exiting Game 2 and Game 3 with anger, a lot of emotions. There’s got to be purpose behind it ... The Bolts have scored first in all three games thus far ... Something to watch for on Wednesday: the previous time the first four games of a Stanley Cup final were decided by one goal was 1968 when the Montreal Canadiens swept the St. Louis Blues.

rob.longley@sunmedia.ca

twitter.com/longleysunsport