Few U.S., Canadian Papers Staffing Stanley Cup Finals

Besides the two local newspapers in both Detroit and Pittsburgh, “only eight American dailies will staff” the Penguins-Red Wings Stanley Cup Finals for the entire series, and representation by Canadian papers “will be just as slim,” according to William Houston of the GLOBE & MAIL. Outside of Toronto, the Vancouver Sun and Vancouver Province are the “only major [Canadian] dailies sending reporters to the final," which begins Saturday night. The N.Y. Times and L.A. Times “reversed earlier decisions not to cover the final, because the editors were intrigued” by the Penguins-Red Wings matchup. L.A. Times Sports Editor Randy Harvey said in an e-mail, “If hockey is to make a comeback and again take its place among the top four or five sports in our circulation area, it will be through series like this between two very interesting teams with dynamic, young players.” The other U.S. newspapers staffing the Finals are the Boston Globe, Columbus Dispatch, Denver Post, N.Y. Post, Rocky Mountain News and USA Today. The “biggest surprise is the decision by the two Philadelphia dailies, the Inquirer and Daily News, not to attend.” Inquirer Sports Editor Jim Cohen said that the decision “was based entirely on the ‘late starting times’ of the games.” Every game will begin at 8:00pm ET. The Inquirer “isn’t expected to cover the NBA final, either.” Minneapolis Star Tribune hockey writer Michael Russo, who will miss his first Finals in 10 years, said, “I think it’s just an industry problem. I don’t think it has anything to do with hockey” (GLOBE & MAIL, 5/23).

Brisson Would Like To See Some Stanley Cup Playoff Games On ESPN

DREAM MATCHUP: In L.A., Helene Elliott writes, “Declared dead after the lockout of 2004-05, the [NHL] is now being hyped as prime for the mass-market breakthrough it has yearned for,” as Penguins-Red Wings is what broadcasters call a “dream scenario.” Versus President Gavin Harvey, whose net will air Games One and Two, said, “It’s a stellar matchup for us.” Versus and NBC play-by-play announcer Mike Emrick: “I think the hockey gods are smiling so wide that we can count their missing teeth.” However, Penguins C Sidney Crosby’s agent Pat Brisson said, “In an ideal world we would have some games on ESPN. Versus is doing a good job. The problem is not content, it’s reach.” Elliott writes, “There’s still no proof of great interest outside of Pittsburgh, Detroit, and fans already inclined to watch” (L.A. TIMES, 5/23). But CBSSPORTS.com’s Wes Goldstein writes, “For a league still struggling to regain its foothold in the [U.S.] after a debilitating season-long work stoppage, something that is this attractive and broadcast on network television is nothing less than a godsend” (CBSSPORTS.com, 5/23). NBC Producer Sam Flood, whose net begins coverage with Game Three Wednesday night, said, “If you started the season and told us we’d have Pittsburgh and Crosby against Detroit and the great tradition, we’d have said someone is making something up” (NEWSDAY, 5/23).

DELAY OF GAME: In Toronto, Chris Zelkovich writes by the start of Game One Saturday night, five days will have passed since the last NHL Playoffs game, a “gap that could kill interest” in the Finals. CBC Sports Exec Dir Scott Moore, whose net is airing Penguins-Red Wings in Canada, said, “If it was any other U.S.-U.S. matchup, I think the delay might hurt interest but this is such a perfect matchup. If you can’t have a Canadian team in the final, then having five days to build up the story lines -- especially when there are loads of great stories -- is almost as good.” Zelkovich notes the Penguins and Red Wings “produce CBC’s highest ratings among U.S. teams,” and Moore said, “I predict this will be the highest-rated series among all-U.S. finals in the past 10 years” (TORONTO STAR, 5/23).