NEW YORK (AP) ESPN is reducing the number of NHL games on its schedule by 30 percent.

Regular season games on ESPN and ESPN2 drops from 102 to 71 next season. The network showed 128 NHL games in 2000-01.

Also, ESPN is shifting NHL games from Wednesday to Thursday to make room for NBA games.

Mark Shapiro, ESPN senior vice president and general manager for programming, said Wednesday the decision to reduce NHL coverage has nothing to do with his network's six-year NBA package that begins this season.

"In the middle of last season, we determined we'd reduce the number of games," Shapiro said. "That was our plan because at some point, ESPN is guilty of putting too many games of one sport on our network, which ultimately devalues the importance of the games."

Hockey ratings slipped 17 percent on ESPN and 8 percent on ESPN2 last season.

This season, ESPN is slated to show 21 games and ESPN2 to show 50 games.

NHL chief operating officer Jon Litner defended the decision.

"The approach ESPN wanted to take was 'less is more,"' Litner said. "You have to be very careful not to overexpose your product."

About 60 percent of ESPN's games will come after the All-Star break.

There is no change to playoff broadcasts.

ESPN also will broadcast Sunday afternoon games in February and March. ABC again will broadcast five Saturday afternoon games beginning Jan. 11, plus the All-Star game.

"Clearly, the following, the enthusiasm, the passion exists," Shapiro said. "The challenge is tapping into it. That's the hit-making business. The more the fan can get intimate with the NHL, ultimately the ratings will be better."

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