Panic Meter

Let's see. What is a greater North American TV ratings draw?

Sweden-Finland in the Olympic men's hockey final?

Or Cuba-Japan in the final of the World Baseball Classic?

Discuss amongst yourselves.

Otherwise, what a perfect morning to check the panic meter in hockey cities across Canada at the most important time of the year.

Remember, 1 is relative calm, 5 is getting jumpy and 10 is total, complete, Lonie-Glieberman-has-just-been-hired-to-run-your-favorite-team panic.

VANCOUVER, B.C.: (10) Hiring Ol' Lonie would be good news right now. Canucks have slipped out of a playoff berth and Marc Crawford's getting his resume ready.

EDMONTON, Alta.: (6) Sergei Samsonov and Dwayne Roloson may not have been the answer. Feeling the hot breath of the Sharks and Ducks. Hey, that sounds weird.

In good news, Alberta Golden Bears men's team is No. 1 heading into this weekend's university championships, held in Edmonton.

CALGARY, Alta:(5) Giving up the nine-spot to the Preds on Saturday was a bit unnerving. Generally speaking, to be a Flames fan is to learn to live with a one-goal lead every night.

MEDICINE HAT, Alta: (1) The junior Tigers have finished first in the WHL with only one scorer in the top 40, Detroit draft Darren Helm. Play pretty good defence, though, with junior nats Cam Barker and Kris Russell on the back end.

CHURCHILL, Man.: (4) Favorite son Jordin Tootoo hasn't played much in the NHL this season and has only three goals with Nashville. Two, however, have come in the past three games.

TORONTO, Ont.: (9) Like a spurned lover, Leafs are counting on the Habs coming back to them.

LONDON, Ont.: (0)  Uh, what Memorial Cup hangover? Knights are the No. 1 ranked junior team in the country. Ho-hum.

MOOSE FACTORY, Ont.: (2) Local son Jonathan Cheechoo is tearing it up in the bigs. Has 42 goals, shooting for 50. But it was still minus-8 on the shores of the Moose River this morning.

OTTAWA, Ont.: (4) Should be no panic at all, given the Sens' superb record. But when is that Hasek guy coming back, anyway, and is another Battle of Ontario in the first round really possible?

CORNWALL, Ont.: (1) No junior team to fret about, and homegrown talent Chad Kilger was the penalty shot hero for the Leafs Sunday night.

MONTREAL, Que.: (10) And the CBC dissed Boom-Boom, too!

RIMOUSKI, Que.: (10) Opposite of London. Oceanic, last year's MemCup finalists, are 10-57-2, dead last in the "Q." Gave up seven goals and 11 points to Alexander Radulov of the Quebec Remparts in one game on the weekend.

MONCTON, N.B.: (2) Wildcats finished first in the Q, locals don't have to feel so bad about Halifax hosting Touchdown Atlantic and having leg up to be the CFL's 10th team.

Renegades, after all, may yet kill that game. Which brings us back to Lonie Glieberman. . . .