NBC drew a 3.5 overnight for Game 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final last night, which saw the Penguins defeat the Predators 5-3. That figure is up from a 2.8 overnight for Penguins-Sharks Game 1 last year, which had stiff competition in Game 7 of the Warriors-Thunder NBA Western Conference Finals. Blackhawks-Lightning Game 1 in '15 drew a 4.2 overnight without any NBA competition. The Penguins' Cup Final opener against the Red Wings in '09 drew a 2.6 overnight, but that game was on a Saturday night. Predators-Penguins Game 1 marks the fourth-best Game 1 overnight dating back to '06. Last night's game drew a 35.7 local rating in Pittsburgh, up from a 30.9 for Penguins-Sharks Game 1 last year. Nashville drew a 22.5 local rating last night, which was the Predators' first-ever Cup Final game. That figure is the best for any Predators game on any NBC network on record (Austin Karp, Assistant Managing Editor).
WHERE'S THE LOVE? In N.Y., Bob Raissman wondered what "exactly is NBC, who owns NHL TV rights, doing to draw more fans to this must-see-TV attraction?" Raissman: "Why isn't the 'Today' show on site? Why aren't hockey players on 'SNL?' Or interesting player features presented on the 'NBC Nightly News?'" The net goes "all-in on the Olympics but shuttles virtually all of its gripping hockey coverage to the over-crowded space of basic cable" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/28).
QUICK CLIMB: In Michigan, Peter Wallner profiled NHL Network's Michelle McMahon, who will work the Stanley Cup Final at the conclusion of "what has been a dizzying year." McMahon will report on the Penguins' side of the finals, "providing pre- and postgame coverage for the network." The new role will be "in addition to her position" since October '16 as "studio host of the weekday 'NHL Now' alongside E.J. Hradek and Steve Mears." McMahon: "It's been an incredible journey. I can't even begin to express how grateful and humble I am to be there." Wallner noted after McMahon graduated college in '12, she "worked sales for a couple of companies and appeared occasionally on the Big Ten Network." She also worked for CSN Chicago, ESPN3 and even "broadcast high school volleyball games." McMahon said that her "first break" came in July '15 when the Hurricanes "approached her and she became the team's pre-game show" host on FS Carolinas (MLIVE.com, 5/28).
