from Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe,

If you did not nod off while watching Bruins-Blue Jackets on Tuesday, I commend you for your preferred delivery of caffeine. It was yet another example of no-event hockey: up and down, back and forth, with very little resembling anything of consequence until the winning goal in overtime.

Within this context, it is not surprising that NESN’s ratings are down 19 percent from last season, according to Sports Business Journal. Of the 21 teams included in the publication’s rankings, the Bruins’ drop was among the top five tumblers, after St. Louis (25 percent decrease), the Islanders (24 percent), Arizona (23 percent), and Pittsburgh (19 percent). Overall, the Bruins had the fifth-highest rating (3.43) on regional networks after Buffalo (6.81), Pittsburgh (5.51), Chicago (3.91), and St. Louis (3.5).

Some of this is because of the Bruins’ rebuild. The team still isn’t sure what it is.

Notable players such as Milan Lucic and Dougie Hamilton are gone.

Another reason is the explosion of entertainment alternatives. Fans can stream games on their devices to get their pucks fix instead of paying for cable. Every year, more viewers will cut the cable cord. There are other things to watch besides hockey.

But I believe the root of the problem is the decline in the game’s entertainment value. This year, I’ve watched way too many 10-minute stretches where nothing of consequence takes place: no goals, no scoring chances, no hits, and certainly no fights. With the way we’re distracted by multiple devices, it does not take much to change the channel.

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