NBC Looks To Replicate Game 7 Ratings Success For Blues-Bruins

Ahead of tonight's Blues-Bruins Stanley Cup Final Game 7, THE DAILY looked at the three previous Game 7s aired by NBC, which took over the rights from ABC following the NHL lockout in '04-05. In '06, NBC drew a 4.1 overnight rating for the Hurricanes' win over the Oilers on a Monday night, down from ABC's last Game 7 broadcast in '04 (5.4). For the Penguins' 2-1 victory over the Red Wings in '09 on a Friday, NBC drew a 4.3. Finally, in '11, the Bruins beat the Canucks 4-0 in Game 7 on a Thursday, drawing a 5.7 for NBC (John Aceti, THE DAILY).

With tonight's game, Doc Emrick will call the 45th NHL Game 7 of his career. Emrick has broadcast more than 3,500 games total, so the fact that he has only called 44 Game 7s "speaks to how rare Game 7s are" (USATODAY.com, 6/12).