HNIC Angers The Caps

Believe it or not, Don Cherry has nothing to do with it....

Caps shut door on CBC
Won't be able to interview players
By ROB LONGLEY, SUN MEDIA


PITTSBURGH -- Hockey Night In Canada is getting an official freeze out by the Washington Capitals.
CBC producers were told this morning that cameras not only won't be welcome in the team's dressing room but the public broadcaster will not be granted between-periods interviews during tonight's Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semi-final between the Caps and Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Caps are still upset that CBC aired footage prior to Wednesday's Game 3 that included strategic information on the team's dressing room "white board."
A team official said the ban is "indefinite" and will preclude CBC reporter Elliotte Friedman from interviewing players during intermissions both tonight and for tomorrow's Game 5 in Washington.
"They, of all people, should know better," Caps general manager George McPhee told Sun Media on Thursday. "They shouldn't have done it."
McPhee refused to comment on the ban today, but acknowledged to Sun Media that it will be in effect.
CBC used the video extensively, including a studio segment with host Ron MacLean and analysts Kelly Hrudey and Mike Milbury which broke down the "keys to victory" point by point. Caps coach Bruce Boudreau called the move "classless" and "unprofessional."
Hockey Night executive producer Sherali Najak admitted that the network erred in using the video.