Your TV Guide and Open Thread for Night 27 of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs

Here we go, 2-3 nights remain in Round 2.

7:00 PM ET, Boston vs. Carolina, Game 6 (CAR Leads 3-2)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 National TV (US): VERSUS (HD)
Play by Play: Rick Peckham
Color: Billy Jaffe
Reporter: Bob Harwood

National TV (CANADA):  TSN (HD)
Play by Play: Gord Miller
Inside the Glass: Pierre McGuire

Regional TV (BOSTON): NESN (HD)
Play by Play: Jack Edwards
Color: Andy Brickley
Reporter: Naoko Funayama 

Regional TV (CAROLINA): FS Carolinas (HD)
Play by Play: John Forslund
Color: Tripp Tracy 

10:00 PM ET, Detroit vs. Anaheim, Game 6 (DET Leads 3-2)

National TV (US): VERSUS (HD)
Play by Play: Dave Strader
Color: Darren Eliot
Reporter: Lindsay Soto

National TV (CANADA): TSN (HD)
Play by Play: Chris Cuthbert
Inside the Glass: Ray Ferraro

Regional TV (DETROIT): FS Detroit (HD)
Play by Play: Ken Daniels
Color: Mickey Redmond
Reporter: Mickey York

Regional TV (ANAHEIM): Prime Ticket (HD)
Play by Play: John Ahlers
Color: Brian Hayward
Reporter: Bill MacDonald 

CSN Chicago Draws Big Ratings For Hawks

Chicago, IL (May 12, 2009) – Comcast SportsNet, the television home for the most comprehensive Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup Playoffs coverage in HD, delivered its highest Blackhawks rating ever last evening (May 11) — a 7.82 household rating for its live coverage of the Blackhawks Game 6 second round clinching victory over the Vancouver Canucks. 
For last night’s high-scoring, thrilling playoff win by the Blackhawks, Comcast SportsNet attracted approx. 273,145 households for the entire game and scored a 12.6 peak rating during the 10:30 PM quarter-hour (over 440,000 households).  For its exclusive coverage of ten total Stanley Cup Playoffs telecasts, Comcast SportsNet garnered close to 1.7 million Chicago TV households (1,683,229) tuning in for the network’s first and second round game coverage.  Plus – Comcast SportsNet attracted an additional 875,670 households tuning in to Chevy Blackhawks Pre-Game Live and Smirnoff Vodka Post Game Livethroughout the first and second round. The final household average for all four CSN telecasts of the Blackhawks-Canucks second round series was a 5.27 (4.07 for Adults 25-54).  The final average for all ten playoff telecasts on CSN was a 4.82 household rating (3.67 for Adults 25-54).  In comparison to the last time the Blackhawks were in the playoffs in 2002 (a total of four first round game telecasts vs. St. Louis on Fox Sports Net – 1.93 household average), playoff ratings were up over 150% overall this year.  Source for all ratings information is provided by Nielsen Media Research. 
“It has been a true honor and privilege for us to be a part of this historic franchise rebirth with Rocky Wirtz, John McDonough, Dale Tallon and the entire Blackhawks staff,” said James J. Corno, President of Comcast SportsNet Chicago.  “Our record-setting television ratings are also a true testament to the hard work and dedication from our entire staff at Comcast SportsNet and, although we will not be carrying any additional playoff game telecasts, viewers can continue to count on us for extended post-game coverage following every Blackhawks playoff game going forward.” 
Comcast SportsNet was also the #1-highest rated television network in the Chicago market last night for the key advertising demo of Adults 25-54 for the entire length of the game (8:00-11:00 PM), a feat Comcast SportsNet also accomplished for six other playoff telecasts this season.  In addition, for the entire length of games, CSN was #1 overall in the market for Men 18-49 & Men 25-54 in nine of ten total playoff telecasts.   
With next round’s games airing exclusively on VERSUS or NBC (schedule TBD), Comcast SportsNet will continue its full-blown coverage of the Blackhawks amazing journey throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs with extended coverage on Blackhawks Post Game Live, SportsNite and other key on-air programming, along with exclusive online content featuring multimedia videos, talent blogs, game previews/recaps and more on CSNChicago.com.

Okay…

We Promise today is the last day we’re going to half-ass and take off until the Finals are over.  We have our own important business to finish today, but then that’s over and we can play with you the rest of the year.

But we’ll leave you with a poll question: Did VERSUS go too far by using a local team’s announcers for Games 5 & 6 of Vancouver/Chicago?

Leave responses in the comments.