LAST SIX-PACK OF THE MAY 2-4 WEEKEND

I'm worried about the beer supply. After this case, and the other case, there's only one case left....

• Not sure how much the third period matters when the game's all but decided, but if it does, then the Buffalo Sabres have every reason to be very confidence heading home for the next two games. Carolina tied the Eastern final with a 4-3 win tonight, but Buffalo outplayed the 'Canes in the final 20 minutes. If not for Cam Ward's save after Maxim Afinogenov blew in on goal with about six or seven minutes left, they might still be playing.
• At no charge, I offer Randy Carlyle's pre-game speech for Game 3 of the West final: "Boys, this is your big chance to screw up a headline writer's night." You gotta figure the copy editors at the Edmonton dailies, the Sun and the Journal are salivating to do some play on "Dead Ducks."
• It's been great to see to see not only the Buffalo Sabres in the spotlight -- even in defeat tonight -- but Jay McKee also getting some attention. The Toronto Star profiled the Sabres super shot-blocker today but in a typical case of Torontoitis, somehow neglected to mention that McKee is from Kingston, two hours down the 401. Don't worry, it's not like they sell the Star in Kingston. Noooooo.
• Broadcasting note: why can't cable providers in Canada put all three sports networks on basic cable. Yours truly has the basic digital package from Rogers, which only includes the 4 regional Sportsnet channels and TSN. So tonight, there's two Game 7s in the NBA playoffs, neither of which I can watch unless I go to a bar. (Hmmm. There's an idea.) The Score, which I don't have, is showing the games. But the cable providers aren't entirely to blame: after the hockey game, TSN went to wrestling. Wrestling. Rogers Sportsnet is showing an out-of-market baseball game -- in which Barry Bonds could potentially hit home run No. 715 but likely won't -- but it did show Canadian programming earlier (the Blue Jays win, followed by junior hockey). Shame on you, TSN.
• Not to say I told you so, but see why the Jays have held on to Eric Hinske: the much-maligned Blue Jay was the man of the hour today, making a catch in right-field that probably saved two runs and hitting a homer that put Toronto ahead for good in a 6-4 slumpbusting win over the Devil Rays. More performances like that and it will increase Hinske's value when the Jays go looking for another pitcher. Which believe you me, they're going to need.
• Thinking of switching from AT&T? Well, maybe you should: Wired blows the roof off the National Security Agency's domestic surveillance program. (Thanks to Greg for the heads-up.)
• Thanks to both Pat and Greg for the recent shout-outs. Next to having my name in the phone book, this is just the kind of publicity I need.