Google is doing a lot better with its NHL games, it is actually posting games in a relatively good time after the game was played. On Tuesday they posted the game against Phoenix, much faster then the week or two it took when they first started posting. The video quality is not too bad either, but should never be watched on anything other then a computer monitor.

YouTube has also joined the fray, but since Google owns them, I just say Google. This page is basically filled with game highlights, player/coach interviews, weekly league highlight packages (goals, hits, saves). I haven’t seen any interviews or locker room stuff, but I am sure it is comming.

Really what it looks like is going on is the NHL has taken its video highlights that it posts on every game and also gives it to YouTube. YouTube throws advertisements via Google AdSense, surfers randomly click on links and Google gets a check, then Google gives the NHL as cut. Pretty smart, the NHL doesn’t have to do much, YouTube even takes the bandwidth costs.

Next is the streaming of live games in decent quality, I would actually pay for that. Plus I would want the game to be downloadable as well, within an hour or two after the final whistle blew. It should also be streamable to mobile devices, like my phone. If you have an unlimited data plan on your phone, this would be so cool to do. But I would love to be able to download it for later viewing if I wont be home. I bought a Zune the day it came out and I put the Fedoruk - Boogard fight on it, it looked good. As a last ditch effort, I wouldn’t mind watching the game on it.

Keep up the good work Google, you guys fucking rock the boat. So check out full NHL games on Google Video, even have some classics…The official YouTube page for the NHL partnership is here.