Bruins/Habs Tops Week For NBCSN

A thrilling game in Montreal drew decent numbers for the NBC Sports Network on Wednesday.

The Bruins-Canadiens tilt on NBCSN, which Boston won in a shootout, drew 417,000 viewers, the best number for the week so far on NBC Sports Network. It was also the best number so far this season for a game featuring a Canadian team on NBCSN/VERSUS.

The network will air Devils-Canadiens on Sunday night, hoping for a crossover lead-in on Hockey Day in America.

2011-12 NHL on NBC Sports Network ratings

October 6
7:00 Boston vs. Philadelphia – 874,000
10:00 Pittsburgh vs. Vancouver – 342,000

October 7
1:00 NY Rangers vs. Los Angeles – 101,000

October 8
1:00 NY Rangers vs. Anaheim – 124,000

October 10
7:00 Tampa Bay vs. Washington – 162,000

October 11
7:30 Florida vs. Pittsburgh – 216,000

October 12
7:30 Boston vs. Carolina – 312,000

October 17
7:30 Colorado vs. Toronto – 218,000

October 18
7:30 Pittsburgh vs. Minnesota – 286,000

October 25
7:30 Tampa Bay vs. Buffalo – 338,000

October 31
7:00 San Jose vs. NY Rangers – 169,000

November 1
7:30 Anaheim vs. Washington – 258,000

November 2
7:30 Philadelphia vs. Buffalo – 558,000

November 14
7:00 Buffalo vs. Montreal – 323,000

November 15
7:30 Colorado vs. Pittsburgh – 392,000

November 21
7:30 NY Islanders vs. Pittsburgh – 198,000

November 22
7:30 Los Angeles vs. St. Louis – 245,000

November 28
7:30 Tampa Bay vs. Minnesota – 232,000

November 29
7:30 Pittsburgh vs. NY Rangers – 394,000

November 30
7:30 Tampa Bay vs. Detroit – 393,000

December 5
8:00 Phoenix vs. Chicago – 302,000 viewers

December 6
7:30 Detroit vs. St. Louis – 259,000

December 7
7:30 Philadelphia vs. Buffalo – 585,000

December 12
7:30 New Jersey vs. Tampa Bay – 201,000

December 13
9:00 San Jose vs. Colorado – 193,000

December 14
7:30 Chicago vs. Minnesota – 540,000

December 20
7:30 Chicago vs. Pittsburgh – 634,000

January 2
8:00 San Jose vs. Vancouver – 267,000

January 3
8:00 Detroit vs. Dallas – 188,000

January 4
7:30 Boston vs. New Jersey – 435,000

January 8
7:30 Detroit vs. Chicago – 587,000 

January 10
7:30 San Jose vs. Minnesota – 237,000 

January 11
7:30 Pittsburgh vs. Washington – 526,000

January 15
7:30 NY Rangers vs. Montreal – 202,000

January 16
7:30 Dallas vs. St. Louis – 238,000

January 17
7:30 Nashville vs. NY Rangers – 224,000

January 18
7:30 Buffalo vs. Chicago – 466,000 

January 23
7:30 St. Louis vs. Detroit – 429,000 

January 24
9:00 Minnesota vs. Colorado – 190,000

January 25
7:30 Detroit vs. Montreal – 241,000

January 28
7:00 Super-Skills Competition – 1.1 million

January 29
4:00 All-Star Game – 1.3 million

January 31
7:30 Washington vs. Tampa Bay – 264,000

February 1
7:30 NY Rangers vs. Buffalo – 478,000

February 5
12:30 Boston vs. Washington – 455,000

February 6
8:00 Detroit vs. Phoenix – 263,000

February 7
7:30 Los Angeles vs. Tampa Bay – 155,000

February 8
7:30 Boston vs. Buffalo – 455,000

February 12
7:30 Philadelphia vs. Detroit – 600,000

February 13
7:30 San Jose vs. Washington – 351,000

February 14
7:30 Anaheim vs. Minnesota – 173,000

February 15
7:30 Boston vs. Montreal – 417,000 

10 Most-watched Games on NBCSN This Season
1. Boston vs. Philadelphia (10/6/11) – 874,000
2. Chicago vs. Pittsburgh (12/20/11) – 634,000
3. Philadelphia vs. Detroit (2/12/12) – 600,000
4. Detroit vs. Chicago (1/8/12) – 587,000
5. Philadelphia vs. Buffalo (12/7/11) – 585,000
6. Philadelphia vs. Buffalo (11/2/11) – 558,000
7. Chicago vs. Minnesota (12/14/11) – 540,000
8. Pittsburgh vs. Washington (1/11/12) – 526,000
9. NY Rangers vs. Buffalo (2/1/12) – 478,000
10. Buffalo vs. Chicago (1/18/12) – 466,000 

(Source: @TVSportsratings)

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CBC Has the NHLPA Players Poll on Sunday

Which current NHLer would the players themselves select to start a franchise? Should fighting be banned? And what Canadian city deserves a new NHL team?

Answers to these questions from the second-annual NHLPA/CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada Player Poll will be revealed this Sunday, Feb. 19, on CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA. These and other results from the Player Poll, which is conducted jointly with the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA), will also be discussed during the broadcast. The comprehensive poll is comprised of 28 questions across five categories that touch on individual player skills, coaches, teams, arenas and rules. The annual Player Poll was sent by the NHLPA to players on every NHL team and is the only official poll of NHL players that is sanctioned by the players themselves.

During both the first and second intermissions of CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA’s coverage of the New Jersey Devils at Montreal Canadiens game on Sunday, Feb. 19, at 6 p.m. ET, the panel of Ron MacLean, Kelly Hrudey and P.J. Stock will analyze the results of the survey along with Elliotte Friedman and Tim Wharnsby on the Chevrolet iDesk.

Full poll results will be posted online on Sunday at CBCSports.ca/nhlplayerpoll and at http://www.PlayersPoll.ca, plus an overview at CBCSports.ca.

Prior to that, tune in for another great night of hockey, on Saturday, Feb. 18. CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. ET with SCOTIABANK HOCKEY TONIGHT, followed by the Toronto Maple Leafs visiting the Vancouver Canucks in the early game at 7 p.m. ET. Then the L.A. Kings host the Calgary Flames at 10 p.m. ET.

 

CBS Has a Friday Night Doubleheader

CBS Sports Network airs a college hockey doubleheader on Friday, Feb. 17 beginning with *No. 13-ranked Notre Dame at No. 19-ranked Miami (7:30 PM, ET). Ben Holden, Jim Paradise and Shireen Saski announce. Nebraska Omaha at No. 15-ranked Colorado College follows (10:00 PM, ET) from World Arena in Colorado Springs, Colo. Matt McConnell and Dave Starman call the action.

The Network provides live pre-game coverage prior to Notre Dame-Miami from Goggin Ice center in Oxford, Ohio. Holden, Paradise and Saski preview the night’s action and discuss college hockey news from around the country.

Intermission of the second game includes a feature about Colorado College’s Rylan and Jaden Schwartz, whose sister Mandi, a former Yale hockey player, lost her battle with leukemia in April, 2011. Click here to watch a preview: http://on.fb.me/wIXmOW.

During the games, fans can join the conversation on Twitter using the hash tag #CBSHockey. This week’s Twitter Question is: Which college hockey team has made the best second half run this season?

For more information, including a full programming schedule and how to get CBS Sports Network, go to http://www.cbssportsnetwork.com.

Here’s How the Networks Will Celebrate Hockey Weekend Across America

NEW YORK (February 16, 2012) — Hockey Weekend Across America Presented By Reebok commences this Friday, Feb. 17. The National Hockey League is taking part in the celebration by serving up U.S. hockey-themed content through its multiple media platforms to support the nationwide initiative introduced five years ago by USA Hockey to celebrate the game and those involved at all levels while exposing hockey to new audiences. NBC Sports Group will anchor nine hours of coverage on NBC and the NBC Sports Network this Sunday. NBC will provide regional coverage of three games at Noon ET, followed by the defending Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins visiting the Minnesota Wild at 3 pm ET as part of Hockey Day in America Presented by McDonald’s. At 6 pm, NBC Sports Network will then televise the New Jersey Devils game at Montreal.

 

NHL Social Media

The NHL’s social media platforms will be getting into the spirit and engaging fans throughout the weekend with U.S. hockey-related content. Fans are encouraged to follow @NHL and @USAHockey on Twitter for giveaways and use the hashtag #HWAA and #HockeyMeans to join the conversation. Those who “Like” the NHL® and USA Hockey’s Facebook pages will be provided event-related updates throughout Hockey Weekend Across America.

 

On Friday, Feb. 17, fans are asked to visit the NHL’s Facebook page and USA Hockey’s page to submit photos of themselves, their friends and colleagues donning their favorite hockey jersey as part of “Wear Your Favorite Hockey Jersey” day. On Sunday, Feb. 19, @NHL will invite fans to tweet what hockey means to them and upload photos on Instagram using the #HockeyMeans hashtag. Prizes will be awarded randomly to those who participate. In honor of “Celebrate Local Hockey Heroes” day on Sunday, USA Hockey is asking fans to post stories, photos or videos of their hockey heroes to its Facebook wall to share with the world.

 

NHL Network

One of the guests on this week’s edition of NHL Hour With Commissioner Gary Bettman will be USA Hockey Executive Director Dave Ogrean. Ogrean will join the Commissioner in a discussion about the state of hockey in the United States. The show, which encourages fans to call in with questions, airs Thursdays on NHL Network™, NHL.com and on Sirius XM Radio from 6 – 7 pm ET. To submit questions to NHL Hour call 1-877-NHL-ON-XM (1-877-645-6696).

 

Also part of the U.S. hockey programming, Making of a Royal Presented by McDonalds, which will air Saturday, Feb. 18, at 4 pm and 5:30 pm ET and Sunday, Feb. 19, at noon, provides an unprecedented look behind the scenes at the Long Island Royals – an Under-16 AAA hockey team that happens to be coached by Hockey Hall of Famer Pat LaFontaine. Episodes airing over the weekend will be narrated by actor/comedian/writer/director and passionate hockey fan, Dennis Leary.

 

On Sunday at 1 pm, NHL Network will re-air the special tribute to the life and career of the NHL’s highest-scoring American-born player titled “Mike Modano: American Icon. It tells the story of Modano’s emergence as the face of a franchise and chronicles his evolution as a player — from childhood in Michigan through becoming the first overall draft pick in 1988 by Minnesota to the Stars’ relocation in 1993 through his final game in a Dallas Stars uniform in 2010.

 

In addition, NHL Network shows NHL On the Fly™ and NHL Tonight™ also will have special guests throughout the weekend to share their stories and give their thoughts on hockey in the United States.

 

NHL.com

NHL.com will have all angles covered for Hockey Weekend Across America with features including on-the-ground reports from St. Paul, Minn., the site of NBC’s Hockey Day in America telecast, a story on 24 Hours of Hockey — Detroit’s initiative to host 24 hours of hockey from clinics to youth and NHL games at Joe Louis Arena — and a piece detailing the growth of Hockey Weekend Across America during its five years. NHL.com’s Dan Rosen also will take a look into the growth of the game in the States through the eyes of some of game’s biggest players — Wayne Gretzky, Brian Leetch and Brett Hull — who have played huge parts in that growth during the past two decades.

 

NBC Sports to broadcast Hockey Day In America Presented By McDonalds

NBC Sports will once again take part in the weekend-long celebration with the second annual Hockey Day in America presented by McDonalds this Sunday, Feb. 19, from Noon-6 p.m. ET on NBC. Beginning with three different NHL games broadcast regionally, NBC Sports will conclude its coverage with a national broadcast of the Boston Bruins facing off against the Wild. All four NBC games also will be available to fans to stream online through NBC’s NHL Extra player (US only). Immediately following Hockey Day in America presented by McDonalds, NBC Sports Network will present the New Jersey Devils at the Montreal Canadiens at 6 p.m. ET to conclude a nine-hour NHL block of programming across the broadcast and cable platforms of the NBC Sports Group.

 

Sunday’s games on NBC and NBC Sports Network:

Noon-3 pm ET NBC Pittsburgh Penguins at Buffalo Sabres (regional)

NBC San Jose Sharks at Detroit Red Wings (regional)

NBC St. Louis Blues at Chicago Blackhawks (regional)

3-6 pm ET NBC Boston Bruins at Minnesota Wild (national)

6-9 pm ET NBCSN New Jersey Devils at Montreal Canadiens (national)

 

The Hockey Day festivities will be hosted this year by the Minnesota Wild, with Liam McHugh, Eddie Olczyk, Pierre McGuire and Mike Milbury anchoring NBC Sports’ live pre-game and early-game intermission coverage from the Wells Fargo WinterSkate Rink at Landmark Plaza in downtown St. Paul, Minn. Fans are encouraged to participate in the event by visiting the Wells Fargo WinterSkate Rink to take in the attractions including USA Hockey American Development Model clinics, mascot autograph sessions, a Minnesota North Stars alumni autograph session, a North Stars alumni versus media hockey game and a live KFAN-FM broadcast in addition to the live NBC broadcasts throughout the day. Amanda Kessel, member of the U.S. Women’s National Team and brother of Phil Kessel, will be on hand at the USA Hockey booth where fans can get her autograph and also have a chance to sign the giant 20’ x 20’ USA jersey that will hang in the rafters of Gutterson Fieldhouse for the IIHF Women’s World Hockey Championships that will take place in Burlington, Vermont, April 7-14.

 

Hockey Day In America Presented By McDonald’s Fan Event Schedule (all times Central):

 

10 am CT Event begins at Wells Fargo WinterSkate Rink at Landmark Plaza

USA Hockey ADM Clinic

11 am CT Live NBC Sports Coverage begins

USA Hockey ADM Clinic

Mascot autograph session

Noon CT USA Hockey ADM Clinic

12:30 pm CT North Stars alumni autographs

(Broten, Larson, Maxwell, Payne, Jensen, Dahlquist, Beaupre)

1 pm CT USA Hockey ADM Clinic

1-2:30 pm CT KFAN-FM live broadcast

1:55 pm CT North Stars Alumni vs. Media All-Stars game, including

St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman and Wild alumni Wes Walz