NBC saw a gain for its NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs game yesterday afternoon after both Saturday games saw year-over-year declines. The Penguins' Game 6 clincher yesterday over the Flyers drew a 1.6 overnight rating, up from a 1.4 for Senators-Bruins Game 6 last year. Meanwhile, regionalized coverage on Saturday afternoon -- which featured Blue Jackets-Capitals Game 5 and Devils-Lightning Game 5 -- drew a 1.2 overnight, down from a 1.4 for Blues-Wild Game 5 last year. NBCSN had the other part of the regionalized window, and when both games are combined, that window delivered a 1.4 overnight. On Saturday night, NBC drew a 1.4 overnight for Maple Leafs-Bruins Game 5, down from a 1.6 for Rangers-Canadiens Game 6 last year (Austin Karp, Assistant Managing Editor).
FRESH VOICE: USA TODAY's Kevin Allen noted Gold Medal-winning U.S. women's hockey player AJ Mleczko is the "first woman to be working NHL Stanley Cup playoff games as an in-booth analyst." Mleczko is "helping open the door for other women to work in the booth in a male-dominated sport." Her first booth appearance came in March during a Red Wings-Bruins game, but by then she had "already worked 13 years as an analyst on women's international games." NBC has previously used Gold Medal-winning women's hockey player Cammi Granato as an "'Inside the Glass' reporter," and Kathryn Tappen is a "highly respected NBC studio host for hockey." Mleczko said that there has been "no adjustment to make the switch from women's hockey to the NHL, other than doing homework on players and team tendencies" (USATODAY.com, 4/20).
VAMOS CABALLEROS: In Las Vegas, Gilbert Manzano noted the Golden Knights this season joined the Blackhawks and Panthers as the "only NHL franchises to ever offer a Spanish radio broadcast." It started with Golden Knights' Spanish radio voice Jesus Lopez and his booth partner Herbert Castro "calling one game per homestand in the regular season," which expanded to all home games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. There are now "talks between the team and Lotus Broadcasting to have Lopez and Castro call every home game" next season. The Golden Knights are "all in with getting the attention of Latinos, but not just with Spanish radio games." The team is also "getting involved with Latino organizations and teaching the sport at schools" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 4/22).
