Rangers and Devils Draw Big Local Numbers For Game 7
April 27, 2012 3 Comments
Both the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils emerged victorious in tense Game 7′s of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series on Thursday, and the MSG people were there to reap the benefits.
The Rangers Game 7 win over the Ottawa Senators drew a 5.4 overnight in the New York market, marking the best rating for a Rangers game on MSG since Game 7 of the 1994 Stanley Cup Final, the last time the Rangers won a championship. The game peaked with an 8.5 in the area at 9:30.
While the Devils are obviously lower on the totem pole in the area, New Jersey’s team also posted stellar numbers for their double overtime Game 7 victory over the Florida Panthers. The game drew a 1.7 overnight in the New York market (which includes parts of Connecticut, NYC and the Devils base in North and Central Jersey). That marks the best rating for a Devils game on MSG Plus since Game 6 of the team’s 2001 Eastern Semifinal against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The game peaked with a 3.4 at 11:30, 45 minutes before Adam Henrique’s game-winner.
(Sources: John Ourand, Richard Sandomir, Fire & Ice)
About stevelepore
The 5.47 average rating is a little over 400,000 viewers for the Rangers Game 7 on MSG. Peak of 8.5 is about 625,000 viewers. Some big numbers. And it’s only the 1st round. Destroyed the NFL Draft in NY (wish I could say the same outside of NY….)
1.7 for the Devils might sound low but it’s actually around 125,000 viewers in the NY/NJ market. Peak of 3.4 is about 250,000 viewers. Solid numbers for them.
I think NBC will do just fine. Probably better than last year. 2 NY-area teams, Philadelphia, Washington. LA and St. Louis are big markets for the NHL. Nashville is getting better. Phoenix is the only problem but I think the Preds will take care of them.
With vancouver out phoenix in. That series should go up. L.a big market….things are setting up nice!
Good news is knicks will be out in 4 to the heat. Then we can get down to business….