Can Online Video Save the NHL?

While the Ottawa Senators try to come up with a solution to come back from three games to one after another loss the Anaheim Ducks in the Stanley Cup finals, the NHL is trying to come up with a solution to poor ratings. NBC’s broadcast of game three of the finals series got the lowest rating ever for prime-time programming.

The NHL has been bullish about online video — after a miscommunication, it now allows people to embed clips the league posts to YouTube. They’re making game footage and highlights available via TheNewsRoom. And now the league will allow Sling users to share clips using the company’s Clip+Sling technology, unlike certain other leagues.

But will all this online video action attract new fans, and therefore revenue? That’s the goal the NHL is trying to score. I, for one, hope it doesn’t fly wide of the net.