Ducks RW Corey Perry on Thursday "expressed disappointment with NBC hockey analyst Mike Milbury, who said Wednesday night that he’d 'want to hurt him in some painful and permanent way' if he were playing against him," according to Eric Stephens of the ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER. Milbury made the remark about Perry "during an intermission segment" on the NBCSN telecast of Rangers-Lightning Game 3. Milbury later pointed out things Perry did "to agitate the Blackhawks and complimented the winger’s hand-eye coordination." Perry said of Milbury's remark, "It’s not something that’s been taken lightly. If somebody said something about his kid that way, how would he feel? It’s kind of my response. That’s all I’m going to say." NBC Sports Exec Producer Sam Flood wrote in an e-mail that Milbury "spoke in a joking manner but called it a poor choice of words by the analyst" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 5/22). Ducks C Ryan Getzlaf said, “You don’t wish injury on anybody. I’m sure [Milbury] feels bad about it. He made a mistake. ... You go out and make a mistake on national TV, I expect you to make an apology. And life goes on.” Ducks LW Andrew Cogliano: “I don’t know what made him say something like that. He used the wrong words, He probably meant he’d want Perry on his team in terms of how he plays. He’s one of those guys you don’t want to play against” (LATIMES.com, 5/21).
ENERGIZER KENNY: In N.Y., Richard Sandomir noted broadcaster Kenny Albert has called "27 NHL playoff games since April 15," including "five games in eight days" heading into tonight's Rangers-Lightning Game 4. His workload is "especially large because, in addition to calling games" for NBC and NBCSN, he is "the local radio voice of the Rangers." He will "follow the Rangers as long as they stay in the playoffs." Albert said, "Amazingly, I feel pretty good. I’m really lucky with my voice. Last year, I spoke with a couple of throat doctors who gave me advice about what to get over the counter at the pharmacy." Sandomir wrote Albert is "unwilling to stop, or to ask for a game or two off," and Flood "has not asked him if he wants a rest" (NYTIMES.com, 5/21).
VIDEO KILLED THE RADIO STAR? In Chicago, Ed Sherman noted the playoffs "always are the payoff" for Blackhawks radio announcer John Wiedeman and analyst Troy Murray, as they are "on the call for the entire postseason package." Murray: "People ask, 'Would you rather be on the TV side?' Yeah, that's great, but I enjoy doing radio. ... The fact that John and I get to continue into the postseason makes all the difference in the world." Sherman noted after calling games for the Islanders, Wiedeman "jumped at the opportunity when the Blackhawks' radio job opened" before the '06-07 season, and now he is "completing his eighth season working" with Murray. The pair "forms one of the best broadcast teams in town, radio or television." Murray said that he "loves listening to Wiedeman call a game." And Wiedeman said that he thinks Murray "is the best analyst in hockey" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 5/21).
