OK, Hockey Afternoon in America.

Tomorrow (Sunday), at 3 p.m. Eastern, the NHL's Western Conference final series kicks off between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings.

Why should you care? Why should anyone care?

Because the regular season and the early playoff rounds have whittled the competition down to what in theory are the league's four best teams (with Pittsburgh and Carolina about to face off in the East), and the hockey is finally of a caliber that really is worth watching.

More important, this is one of those rare playoff games that are being carried by NBC, so those who aren't cabled-up sports nuts can actually watch it too.

I don't delude myself that many will. I've read about regular-season broadcasts being outdrawn by game-show reruns. The only reason NBC carries any games at all is that the NHL gives them the broadcast rights, and they split the advertising revenues.

Maybe this year will be different. The Detroit-Chicago series (don't ask me to explain how that's the Western final) pits two of the “Original Six” NHL teams, with decades of pre-expansion history and loyal fanbases to draw on.

The Red Wings are the defending Stanley Cup champions, an experienced team of confident, unflappable veterans. Favored by most to repeat as champions.

Facing them are the Hawks, a youthful, mostly no-name team that seemed to surprise even themselves with how they revived Chicago as a hockey hotbed.

Both teams are backstopped by experienced (read slightly long in the tooth) goaltenders who have won Stanley Cups. Both have been spectacular at times, and both have had slumps. Their performances will be crucial.

Confidentially, I think the Pittsburgh-Carolina series will be even better than Detroit-Chicago. But unless you get Versus, you won't get to see a game. So there's no point in promoing it here, is there?

When East and West finally square off for the Cup, I expect the matchup to be Pittsburgh against Detroit. Now that will be some primo hockey action!

If you like that sort of thing.