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With the Montreal Canadiens making a surprise run to the Eastern Conference final, one of the familiar voices along for the ride was Bob Cole.
Thanks to the Habs, Cole and sidekicks Garry Galley and Glenn Healy were assigned to the CBC's main third-round series.
The decision was actually based on two reasons. Because Cole called the previous Canadiens series victory and CBC is picking up the Western Conference final starting with Game 4 Sunday in Chicago, CBC stuck with the veteran broadcaster for the Eastern Conference series.
So anyone surprised to hear Cole's voice open the third round instead of Jim Hughson's has to know that CBC executive producer Sherali Najak wants consistency when Canadian teams advance.
"When you do a team for two rounds, the viewers get used to who is calling the game," Najak said. "The three of them have worked so well together that we decided to keep them going on the Habs.
"Some consistency is good for the fans. A lot of networks in the States move play-by-play and colour teams around, even within a series. Fans want some consistency with who is calling those games.
Although Cole has lost his status as the network's main voice, he has been in top form this playoff run. Through the Canadiens run, Cole's intensity has added to the excitement of the games.
Even if the Habs do advance to the Stanley Cup final, Cole's run will end there. Hughson, Craig Simpson and Healy will be doing the championship series.
Unless the San Jose Sharks can rebound from their 2-0 deficit against the Chicago Blackhawks, CBC's Western Conference coverage could be quickly done.
Short series in the third round would surely hurt, but the NHL is having a great playoffs in both Canada and the U.S.
The first two rounds of coverage on Versus were the most-watched on record in cable (since 1994) with an average of 775,000 viewers.
TSN set a record for Game 7 of the Flyers-Bruins series for the highest-rated game between non-Canadian teams. CBC's coverage of Game 7 between the Canadiens and Penguins drew an average of 4.24 million viewers for the sixth-best number in that network's history.
Doc on Sportsnet
Those of you upset that Sunday Night Baseball has moved over to TSN2 from Rogers Sportsnet should be aware there will be more baseball on the 'Net despite the lineup change.
Even with the New York Subway Series finale on TSN2 Sunday night, Sportsnet has added probably the most intriguing matchup of the day in the Boston Red Sox facing the Philadelphia Phillies. It will be interesting to see if Roy Halladay can continue his dominance this season against an old American League East foe.
Team coverage
Another partnership between networks should be good for viewers, this time for soccer fans. Sportsnet, TSN2 and Setanta Canada have teamed up for games from the English Premier League next season.
TSN2 will feature early Saturday matches and Monday afternoon meetings, while Sportsnet will continue with its coverage later on Saturdays.
IAN.BUSBY@SUNMEDIA.CA