NBCSN earned a 2.5 overnight rating for last night’s Kings-Rangers Stanley Cup Final Game 3, down 19% from a 3.1 overnight for Blackhawks-Bruins Game 3 last year. While down from last year, the Kings-Rangers Game 3 overnight is up 79% from Kings-Devils Game 3 in '12. Last night's game earned an 8.0 local rating in N.Y., which is the cable net’s second-best figure in the market ever for an NHL game, trailing only this year’s Rangers-Canadiens Eastern Conference Finals Game 6 (8.5 local rating). The game earned a 6.4 local rating in L.A., which is the market’s second-best NHL rating ever on NBCSN, trailing only Kings-Devils Stanley Cup Final Game 4 in ’12 (6.6 rating). Rounding out the top five markets were Buffalo (4.7), Philadelphia (4.1) and Boston (3.7) (Austin Karp, Assistant Managing Editor).
MIKE ON THE MIC: In N.Y., Bob Raissman writes if "being who you are is a recipe for success on live sports television," then NBC's Mike Milbury is "better than 99.9% of the other Gasbags who are paid to offer their opinions on games." The "first thing out of Milbury's mouth" appears to be "what's on top of his mind." He is "delivering initial instinct" with "no filter." Nothing "is calculated." There is "every reason to believe Milbury is not in business to please anyone." He "didn’t waste words" last night between the second and third periods of Game 3. When asked how the Kings maintained their lead, he quickly responded, "Jonathan Quick, Jonathan Quick, Jonathan Quick" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/10).
COACH ON CAMERA: In Pittsburgh, Rob Rossi wrote former Penguins coach Dan Bylsma has a "great opportunity" working as a studio analyst for NHL Network during the Stanley Cup Final, beginning last night. TV work, "especially on a part-time basis, allows him to still collect checks from the Penguins," with whom Bylsma had two years remaining on his contract. Dabbling in TV will "keep him involved in the NHL just enough while also affording him time to spend with his wife and son." Bylsma is "affable, presentable and never short of an opinion," which is why he "could become something NHL television coverage needs in the United States: an analyst that is unabashedly American with an American view of the sport" (TRIBLIVE.com, 6/9).
CHANGING OF THE GUARD: In Nashville, Josh Cooper reported Predators TV analyst Terry Crisp has "decided to step down" from the position, but will "have a 'behind the desk' role during home games next season." The team confirmed that former NHLer Stu Grimson, who "had been handling analysis on radio broadcasts, will take Crisp's spot next to play-by-play man Pete Weber." Weber and Crisp "have been the primary broadcasting team since the inaugural season" of '98-99. Crisp, at the age of 71, and "almost one year after his wife Sheila went through the pain of a staph infection," decided he "needed a break from the grind of 82 games of hockey travel." He "wanted to spend more time with loved ones and to be with Sheila, who has since recovered" (TENNESSEAN.com, 6/9).
