from Emily Kaplan of ESPN,
For the Nashville Predators and Winnipeg Jets' second-round series, the NBCSN broadcasting crew consists of play-by-play broadcaster Chris Cuthbert as well as analysts Brian Boucher and AJ Mleczko. Like many crews this time of year, the team had limited experience together but was thrust together for important games and needed to forge chemistry on the fly.
Unlike any other broadcasting crew in Stanley Cup playoff history, one of the members was a woman. Mleczko, 42, is the first woman to work as an in-booth analyst in an NHL postseason game. The significance wasn't lost on ice level, but it wasn't overdramatized either.
"That's awesome. A lot of women play hockey and are really good at hockey," said Predators center Nick Bonino, whose wife, Lauren, was a standout player at Boston University. "It's unfortunate it took this long to happen, but we're all really happy about it."
Responded Mleczko: "I think Nick's answer is perfect. I like that he doesn't seem too surprised by it. ... I wish that this wasn't a big deal. I'm thrilled to be given these opportunities by NBC. I also think, soon enough, it'll come that it isn't a big deal."
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