I watched the first bit of the last game on ESPN, and I found the whole broadcast drab and boring. No colour in the graphics, low crowd noise, bored PxP. Sportsnet was far superior.

I would imagine an Edmonton versus Toronto Stanley Cup final makes Gary Bettman's sphincter sizzle when it comes to U.S. tv ratings. 

They could also use a VPN with a Canadian server to watch Sportsnet or CBC.  Same as what some people do here to watch US programming.  As Ale Ont mentioned above, others that live near the border could get CBC off air.  We have all heard the stories over the years how bars in places like Buffalo and Detroit would carry the Olympic coverage from CBC rather than NBC since they felt the coverage was more extensive and better.  Could be the same with hockey. 

This sort of makes Steve Simmons article in the Toronto Sun which was complaining about Sportsnet's cheap and poor hockey broadcasts laughable when the evidence seems to be pointing the other way.  He was whining about this after Rogers recently renewed their huge NHL broadcast contract.  Personally I have always felt Sportsnet does a great job with their hockey and baseball coverage. 
 

I agree Sportsnet is better I get CBLT here in WNY.