With the weekend elimination of the Maple Leafs, Jets and
Canadiens, the NHL -- for the first time since '74 -- will head
into its second playoff round without a Canadian team. According
to the TORONTO SUN's Terry Jones, that is a "killer" for CBC's
"Hockey Night in Canada." HNIC Exec Producer John Shannon said
they "made plans on the basis that none of our teams would get
through." Shannon noted that in '74, with a Bruins-Flyers final,
Canadians stayed "glued" to the series. But he also acknowledged
the move toward regionalization since then, adding that this
year's first round games with Canadian teams rated higher on CBC
than last year's Devils-Red Wings final (TORONTO SUN, 4/29).
ESPO FLAP: The GLOBE & MAIL and the N.Y. POST note the
verbal assault on Asbury Park Press reporter Kisha Ciabattari by
Lightning GM Phil Esposito. The paper filed a protest with the
league, leading to an Esposito apology. The NHL declined to
comment on any possible disciplinary action, but NHL VP of Public
Relations Arthur Pincus said the league would "act appropriately"
(GLOBE & MAIL, 4/27). The POST's Phil Mushnick calls it
"standardized Esposito spew -- vulgar and bigoted" (N.Y. POST,
4/29).
CHAMPIONSHIP BONUS: In a look at the playoffs, the CHICAGO
TRIBUNE's Andrew Gottesman reports NBC stands to make $19M per
NBA championship round game, while Fox could make an added $4.2M.
ESPN has the rights to the NHL Finals' Games 5 and 6 (CHICAGO
TRIBUNE, 4/28).
SECOND SEASON: Mike Lupica, comparing the NHL and NBA
playoffs: "Basketball ought to hope it gets a string of games
like the NHL. The NHL playoffs, so far, are so much more
exciting than what we are going to expect in the first round of
the NBA playoffs" ("Sports Reporters," ESPN, 4/28).
