DENVER STATIONS SCRAMBLE TO SIGN ON WITH NEW NHL ENTRY

     In Denver, Dusty Saunders reports that KKFN-AM (The Fan) has
the "inside track" to broadcast rights to the soon-to-be-renamed
Nordiques when they move to Denver next year.  Jefferson Pilot-
owned KKFN, which carries the Nuggets, also owned by COMSAT, has
the rights to first refusal on the hockey team.  On the TV side,
Prime Sports "already is displaying interest" (ROCKY MOUNTAIN
NEWS, 5/29).
     HOCKEY'S ON-AIR PARTNERS:  The NHL moved up the start of the
Western Conference Final two days to Thursday, with the Eastern
Final starting on Saturday.  NHL VP of Public Relations Arthur
Pincus said the decision was made because CBC preferred to carry
the Eastern Final on Saturday night because of the ratings draw
of the Flyers' Eric Lindros.  Pincus, on Fox, ESPN and CBC:  "We
have three national carriers with equal weight.  We try to make
the schedule so the maximum number of people can see the maximum
number of games" (Davis Shoalts, Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 5/30).