NBC's Stanley Cup Game Seven Most-Viewed NHL Game Since '73

Friday's Penguins-Red Wings Game Seven Most-Viewed NHL Game In 36 Years

ALL ABOUT LOCATION: In Toronto, Chris Zelkovich wrote, "If the NHL is hoping to put a bigger dent in the American market, and maybe add a few more eyeballs in Canada, too, it might consider finding better camera positions in many arenas." Coverage of Friday's Game Seven from Joe Louis Arena was "severely handicapped by the fact viewers couldn't see what was going on when play was along the near boards," and Pittsburgh's 48-year-old Mellon Arena "was no better." Meanwhile, Zelkovich wrote during Game Seven, NBC on-ice analyst Pierre McGuire "showed why that feature is so invaluable." McGuire noted that Red Wings C Henrik Zetterberg and RW Johan Franzen "had been caught on long shifts again, which might have explained why the Wings were cooked." Zelkovich: "A guy in the booth may not have noticed this" (THESTAR.com, 6/15).

NORTHERN LIGHTS: The CBC drew 3.529 million viewers for Game Seven, making it the "most-watched game of the series" on the net. But despite the strong final game numbers, the CBC's broadcast of the series "failed to duplicate last year's numbers." The net averaged 2.154 million viewers for the series, down 7% from last year's six-game series between the same teams (CP, 5/15). The viewership figures were the "highest ever for an all-American final" on the CBC (THESTAR.com, 6/15).

Ilitch Upset With NHL's Scheduling Of First Two Stanley Cup Final Games Back-To-Back

STRIKE WHILE THE IRON IS HOT: In St. Petersburg, Tom Jones wrote the NHL is "basking in the afterglow of an exciting Stanley Cup final and now comes all the talk of how this will be a turning point for the NHL, how new fans have been attracted and how the NHL is headed for an upswing in popularity." Jones: "Haven't we heard this before?" (TAMPABAY.com, 6/15).

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