NBC Up Again On Night Two

The Stanley Cup Playoffs adding games on different networks continues to be a boon for the networks of NBCUniversal.

Night two of the playoff tournament – featuring Washington/Boston, San Jose/St. Louis and Chicago/Phoenix – on NBCSN and CNBC averaged 541,000 viewers across two networks, up 20% compared to the similar night last year – featuring Montreal vs. Boston and Los Angeles vs. San Jose.

Dueling overtime thrillers between the Caps and Bruins as well as the Sharks and Blues did well. Washington/Boston scored 576,000 viewers, up 13% over Game 1 of the Bruins/Canadiens series last year (510,000). Meanwhile, the Sharks/Blues drew 320,000 viewers for a double-OT Sharks winner, down slightly from 336,000 viewers for Detroit/Nashville Wednesday night on CNBC.

The late game, featuring the Blackhawks and Coyotes, drew 499,000 viewers. That was up from Game 1 of the Kings/Sharks series last year (381,000).

Night Two of the Stanley Cup Playoff Viewership Figures

7:30 Washington vs. Boston (NBCSN) – 576,000
7:30 San Jose vs. St. Louis (CNBC) – 320,000
10:00 Chicago vs. Phoenix (NBCSN) – 499,000 

(Source: NBC Sports) 

Your Announcers and Open Thread for Night Three of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs

New Jersey vs. Florida, Game 1, 7:00 p.m. ET

US National TV: NHL Network

Canada National TV: TSN2

New Jersey Local: MSG Plus
Play by Play: Steve Cangialosi
Color: Chico Resch
Reporter: Deb Placey

Florida Local: FS Florida
Play by Play: Steve Goldstein
Color: Bill Lindsay
Reporter: Craig Minnervini

Philadelphia vs. Pittsburgh, Game 2, 7:30 p.m. ET

US National TV: NBCSN
Play by Play: Kenny Albert
Color: Pierre McGuire

Canada National TV: TSN
Play by Play: Gord Miller
Inside the Glass: Ray Ferraro

Philadelphia Local: CSN Philadelphia
Play by Play: Jim Jackson
Color: Bill Clement
Inside the Glass: Steve Coates

Pittsburgh Local: ROOT Sports Pittsburgh
Play by Play: Paul Steigerwald
Color: Bob Errey
Reporter: Dan Potash

Detroit vs. Nashville, Game 2, 7:30 p.m. ET

US National TV: CNBC
Play by Play: Dave Strader
Inside the Glass: Brian Engblom

Canada National TV: CBC
Play by Play: Mark Lee
Color: Kevin Weekes

Detroit Local: FS Detroit
Play by Play: Ken Daniels
Color: Mickey Redmond

Nashville Local: SportSouth
Play by Play: Pete Weber
Color: Terry Crisp

Los Angeles vs. Vancouver, Game 2, 10:00 p.m. ET

Canada National TV: CBC
Play by Play: Jim Hughson
Color: Craig Simpson
Reporter: Scott Oake

US National TV: NBC Sports Network

Los Angeles Local: KCOP
Play by Play: Bob Miller
Color: Jim Fox
Reporter: Patrick O’Neal

Big Local Ratings From First Two Nights

While the Stanley Cup Playoffs scored high marks nationally, it was local networks that continued to see great numbers from their teams on Wednesday and Thursday night.

Starting in Boston, the Bruins-Capitals Game 1 overtime thriller scored an 11.6 in Beantown on NESN, marking the best Stanley Cup Playoff Conference Quarterfinal opener ever for the Bruins in Boston. Similarly, the Flyers proved the Keystone State drives up numbers, as the orange and black scored a 7.3 local rating for Game 1 of their series with the Penguins, the best opener ever for Comcast Sportsnet, breaking a record set 14 years ago.

St. Louis also set records, as Game 1 of the Blues double overtime defeat to the San Jose Sharks drew a 9.7 overnight in the Gateway City, marking the best numbers for a Blues telecast since 2002. FS Midwest peaked at a 15.6 and 195,000 homes from 9:45-10:00 p.m. ET. Game 3 of the 2002 Blues-Red Wings Conference Semifinal was the last game to draw such high numbers, with a 12.3 on KPLR. Aside from two games from the Blues-Stars Conference Semis in ’01, it was the highest-rated Blues telecast ever on FS Midwest.

It wasn’t just traditional markets doing well, as Nashville (4.7) scored it’s third-highest ratings for the Predators since 2007 on SportSouth.