A pair of NHL Conference Final Game 7s delivered some record overnight ratings for both NBC and NBCSN. Blackhawks-Ducks Game 7 on Saturday night drew a 3.3 overnight on NBC, marking the net's highest overnight ever for a non-Stanley Cup Final NHL game (regular season or postseason). The overnight was up slightly from a 3.2 overnight for last year’s Kings-Blackhawks Western Conference Finals Game 7 on NBCSN. Meanwhile, NBCSN drew a 2.7 overnight for Lightning-Rangers Eastern Conference Final Game 7 on Friday night, marking the cable net’s third-best overnight on record (excluding Stanley Cup Final games). The 2.7 is up from a 1.7 overnight for NBCSN’s last Eastern Conference Finals Game 7 in ’11 (Bruins-Lightning). Blackhawks-Ducks drew a 26.6 local rating in Chicago, marking NBC's third-best Blackhawks game rating ever in the market, and best-ever rating for a non-Stanley Cup Final Blackhawks game. The L.A. market drew a 3.9 local rating, which is the second-best Ducks rating ever for NBC Sports in the market and best ever for a non-Stanley Cup Final Ducks game. Meanwhile, Tampa-St. Petersburg drew an 11.9 local rating for Lightning-Rangers, marking NBC Sports’ best-ever Lightning game rating in the market. N.Y. drew a 10.3 local rating for the game, marking NBCSN’s best figure ever for a Rangers game (NBC).
CHICAGO HOPE: In Chicago, Ed Sherman writes the Blackhawks "not only delivered huge ratings" on Saturday, but they also "bring the promise of even bigger numbers for NBC for the Stanley Cup Final." A "sigh of relief comes from NBC avoiding" a Lightning-Ducks Final (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 6/1). TSN.ca's Dave Hodge wrote the NHL will never "admit that it sighed with relief" when the Blackhawks won Game 7. It would have reacted to a Lightning-Ducks final by "saying that the two best teams, no matter who they are or where they're from, make the best final." But the minute the Rangers were eliminated, the Blackhawks' attractiveness "had to cross a few more minds than it might have done otherwise." The Blackhawks "bring the market and they bring the stars" in C Jonathan Toews, RW Patrick Kane and D Duncan Keith. The team also has been the NHL's "top franchise since the lockout." Hodge: "Nothing against Tampa Bay, but Chicago is the main attraction for the next two weeks" (TSN.ca, 5/31). ESPN’s Barry Melrose said the NHL was “praying” for a Blackhawks-Rangers Stanley Cup Final. Melrose: "The NHL wants two giant markets, two great hockey markets in the Stanley Cup Final” (“PTI,” ESPN, 5/29). The Dallas Morning News' Tim Cowlishaw said a Blackhawks-Rangers series would have been “ideal” and drawn a “drastically different rating” than Blackhawks-Lightning ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 5/29).
UPPING THE FUN FACTOR: In Toronto, Bruce Arthur writes the Blackhawks-Lightning Stanley Cup Final matchup is "a hopeful sight," as both teams are "built along similar lines." Their core players are "fast, skilled, dangerous, bold." They are "invested, for the most part, in the better angels of the game." Arthur: "They're fun" (TORONTO SUN, 6/1).
