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Still, Cherry didn’t go on an anti-Montreal rant, so most fans could probably ignore the slight to Byron.

Jim Hughson’s more subtle focus on the Leafs through every play is perhaps less noticeable — but in a way, it’s more an affront to the Habs and their fans. Unless they’re talking about Price, Hughson and the rest of the Hockey Night in Canada crew treat the Canadiens like they’re the Washington Generals in another scintillating matchup with the Harlem Globetrotters.

And when a controversy erupts, you know what slant HNIC going to take. No matter how you feel about Alexei Emelin’s end-of-game hit on James van Riemsdyk, it was no worse than Matt Martin’s blindside hit on Nathan Beaulieu earlier in the game, and yet the Toronto media (at least one star columnist included) were all over Emelin, while Martin got a free pass.