Game 2 of Devils/Flyers Hits 1.29 Million

The Eastern Conference Semifinals continues to roll in the big numbers for NBC Sports Network.

Game 2 of the New Jersey/Philadelphia series drew 1.29 million viewers to NBCSN on Tuesday night, the third-highest number of the playoffs on cable. Only Game 2 between the Rangers and Capitals on Monday has been higher in round two. The game was up a whopping 152% from Caps/Lightning Game 3 on last year’s comparable date, though that game was not exclusive.

Locally, the game hit a whopping 12.4 in Philadelphia, the best number for a semifinal game in the market, and up 55% from Game 2 between the Bruins and Flyers last year, which drew an 8.0. In the New York market, the Devils hit a 1.3 rating, which is the highest number for the Devils in the market on record.

With both Eastern semis tied at one, expect more big numbers from each as we roll along with exclusive audiences. To date, the Stanley Cup Playoff Conference Semifinals are up 13% on NBCSN vs. VERSUS last year, averaging a little over a million viewers each night.

Top 10 Most-watched Games of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Cable

1. Washington vs. NY Rangers, Game 2 (4/30/12, NBCSN): 1.53 million
2. Washington vs. Boston, Game 7 (4/25/12, NBCSN): 1.32 million
3. New Jersey vs. Philadelphia, Game 2 (5/1/12, NBCSN): 1.29 million
4. Philadelphia vs. Pittsburgh, Game 5 (4/20/12, NBCSN): 1.07 million
5. Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia, Game 4 (4/18/12, NBCSN): 1.03 million
6. Ottawa vs. NY Rangers, Game 7 (4/26/12, NBCSN): 984,000
7. New Jersey vs. Florida, Game 7 (4/26/12, NBCSN): 867,000
8. NY Rangers vs. Ottawa, Game 6 (4/23/12, NBCSN): 861,000
9. Philadelphia vs. Pittsburgh, Game 1 (4/11/12, NBCSN): 847,000
10. Los Angeles vs. Vancouver, Game 5 (4/22/12, NBCSN): 817,000

(Source: @NBCSportsPR)

Your Announcers and Open Thread for Night 22 of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs

NY Rangers vs. Washington, Game 3 (Series Tied 1-1), 7:30 p.m. ET

US National TV: NBC Sports Network
Play by Play: Mike Emrick
Color: Eddie Olczyk
Inside the Glass: Pierre McGuire

Canada National TV: CBC
Play by Play: Jim Hughson
Color: Craig Simpson
Inside the Glass: Glenn Healy
Reporter: Elliotte Friedman

Phoenix vs. Nashville, Game 3 (PHX Leads 2-0), 9:00 p.m. ET

US National TV: CNBC
Play by Play: John Forslund
Inside the Glass: Joe Micheletti

Canada National TV: TSN
Play by Play: Gord Miller
Inside the Glass: Darren Pang

Kings/Blues Gets Best CNBC Numbers So Far

Exclusive audiences are also helping CNBC during the Conference Semifinals, as a blowout still lifted CNBC to their best viewer numbers of the post-season so far.

Game 2 of the Kings/Blues series drew 639,000 viewers on the money channel, marking the best performance for a CNBC game so far in the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs. This was still down a bit from Game 1’s 741,000. One has to remember, however, that Game 2 was up against Game 2 of the Capitals/Rangers series on NBC Sports Network for quite a bit, and was already a blowout by the time that game had ended.

A combined 2.1 million viewers watched Stanley Cup Playoff hockey on Monday night.

(Source: @NBCSportsPR)