NBC saw year-over-year ratings declines for both of their NHL Stanley Cup Playoff telecasts this past weekend. Sunday's Canucks-Sharks Western Conference Finals Game Four earned a 1.3 overnight Nielsen rating from 3:00-6:00pm ET, down 35% from the comparable Blackhawks-Sharks Game Four last year. The net also earned a 1.5 overnight for Bruins-Lightning Game Four on Saturday afternoon, down 6% from a 1.6 overnight for Flyers-Canadiens Game Four last year (Austin Karp, THE DAILY).
HOCKEY VOICES: In California, Brian Hiro wrote Jeremy Roenick has "translated his knowledge of and passion for hockey into a job as an analyst for NBC and Versus." Roenick said, "It helps me in my retirement staying near hockey, staying in the public eye, getting my opinions out. That makes it a lot easier to be retired, and I enjoy the game so much. I'm probably one of the biggest fans of hockey out there, and hopefully people can see that come across on television." Hiro wrote Roenick was "one of the most charismatic and outspoken players of his generation." However, Roenick said, "I work for a very conservative, reputable station. NBC and Versus take things very seriously, and you have to represent them well." He did add though, "There's no question they're going to have their hands full when it comes to me because I am more animated and more outspoken, and I don't mind throwing daggers once in a while because daggers were thrown at me" (NORTH COUNTY TIMES, 5/22). Meanwhile, in St. Petersburg, Tom Jones writes, "Isn't it practically impossible to take ESPN hockey analyst Barry Melrose seriously knowing what a mess he was as coach of the Lightning?" (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 5/23).
