Mike Milbury and Keith Jones, hardly shrinking violets themselves, have had enough with the dirty play in the NHL. The critique on NBC Sports Network, the network of the NHL, is as strong as you will hear in any sport.
Category Archives: NHL
New 30 for 30: Kevin Connolly on con artist who bought New York Islanders
Yo E, whassup? How’s Vinny? Say hello to Johnny Drama for me.
Kevin Connolly, also known as “E,” has gravitated into ESPN’s orbit in his post-Entourage days. Connolly is the director of the latest ESPN 30 for 30, Big Shot (Tuesday, 7 p.m.).
If it is possible for a team in New York to be anonymous, it would be the New York Islanders. They haven’t made much noise since winning those Stanley Cups way back when.
Connolly, though, looks like he has an interesting story to tell.
Here’s an excerpt from Connolly’s write-up on the 30 for 30 site:
My personal connection was the driving force behind wanting to tell this story, but as the filmmaking process began I had to step away and look at it objectively to decide exactly what story I was going to tell and how I was going to tell it. The core of John Spanos story is that of a man unabashedly chasing the American Dream — and his American Dream, which I believe most men share, was to own a professional sports team. He grabbed his balls and schmoozed and lied and forged documents and made it to the top. He didn’t stay there very long, but he did it. During the interview, Spano recalls walking into the Coliseum and thousands of fans rising to their feet and chanting, Save us Spano. Imagine what thats like for this young guy, raised by middle class parents in Ohio. He was lured in by the promise of fame and adoration. It was the lifestyle he desired, not the money.
Big night for Blackhawks, NBC SN; Chills from Stanley Cup video
Update at 6 p.m ET:
NBC SN just filed the final numbers, and they are huge:
NBCSN’s coverage of last night’s game between the Washington Capitals and Chicago Blackhawks to start the 2013-14 NHL season was watched by an average of 935,000 viewers, making it the most-watched season opener on cable on record (data available since 1993), and the second-most watched regular-season game ever on NBCSN.
Due to the lockout, last year’s season began in January on NBC with regional coverage. Last year’s inaugural Wednesday Night Rivalry game between the Boston Bruins and New York Rangers (1/23/13, 956,000) is the only NBCSN regular-season matchup with more viewers than last night’s game. NBCSN began its NHL coverage in 2005-06.
Last night’s game peaked with 1.045 million viewers from 10:45-11 p.m. ET, and posted a 0.51 HH rating. Chicago delivered a 7.32 rating, the highest ever for a regular-season game in that market on NBCSN, which was also the most-watched cable channel in Chicago during the game.
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The Blackhawks picked up right where they left off in June; delivering big numbers for NBC SN.
Last night’s game did a .7 overnight rating, the highest ever for a NHL opener ever on NBC SN (including when it was OLN and Versus). The network obviously was ecstatic to pull such a big number for a hockey game on Oct. 1.
As usual, Chicago was the driver. The area did a whopping 7.15 rating (an estimated 254,000 homes), its highest ever for a regular-season game.
Of course, it wasn’t just any regular-season game. Another Stanley Cup banner, the second in four years, was raised at the United Center.
This video surely will give you chills if you’re a Blackhawks fans. It never gets old.
For the latest in sports media, follow me at Sherman_Report.
Yes, hockey is back: NBC SN looks to “superserve” with new NHL shows
The forecast calls for a high temperature of 84 degrees in Chicago today. Yet my hockey-obsessed son and I will be at the United Center tonight to watch the Blackhawks raise another Stanley Cup banner.
I had to wait nearly 50 years to see one Stanley Cup winner, and he gets two in four years.
If it seems last season ended yesterday, that’s because it did. However, if you’re a hockey fan, it never is too early to start another season.
It all kicks off tonight with Washington at Chicago on NBC SN.
Coming off a strong playoff run in the ratings department, NBC SN is bumping up its coverage this year.
From NBC SN:
NBCSN will launch a pair of new programs – NHL Rivals and NHL Top 10 – on Tuesday, Oct. 9, expanding NBC Sports Group’s NHL coverage with programming focused on hockey’s historic rivalries and some of the game’s most-debated topics.
The debut episode of NHL Rivals on Oct. 9 (video preview above) will feature the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues, who have been division rivals since 1970 and face off on Wednesday Night Rivalry on Oct. 10 at 8 p.m. ET. NHL Rivals will also air each week at 6:30 p.m. ET leading into NHL Live, NBC Sports Group’s live pre- and post-game show.
NHL Top 10, which will premiere each week following NHL Rivals, will dive deep into some of the most timeless debates hockey fans have discussed for decades. The weekly countdown program will run the gamut of hockey “bests,” including top goal-scorers and U.S.-born players, as well as the toughest places to play in the NHL and top Olympic moments. It will feature commentary and analysis from current and former players, broadcasters and writers.
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During a teleconference last week, I asked NBC SN executive producer Sam Flood about the increased coverage of the NHL.
Flood: “I think what happened last year speaks for itself. The Wednesday Night Rivalry idea that we worked on in the league in creating a unique schedule of games on Wednesday nights. And surrounding that last year we had an hour pregame before every game. We started doing that about a month into the season. And we realized that more and more people are coming to consume hockey earlier. These rivalry shows that we’re creating for this year, these half hour documentary style shows are an offshoot of that. We just think the hockey fan wants more hockey and we’re going to be the home of hockey. We’re going to super serve those fans and make sure they know you tune to the NBC Sports network and you get the very best coverage imaginable.”
The puck drops tonight for real. And it goes all the way until next June. Enjoy, hockey fans.
For the latest in sport media, please follow me at Sherman_Report.
New SI covers feature Patrick Kane, Sidney Crosby
Yes, believe it or not, hockey is featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated in September. Yet another barometer for how the sport is growing.
Depending on where you live, you’ll either get Patrick Kane or Sidney Crosby on your cover.
Washington Capitals owner: I had to take coverage into my own hands
Ted Leonsis had some interesting things to say about the media during a panel at the Newseum. He showed how more and more owners want to dictate and drive the coverage of their teams.
From Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post:
“It’s interesting,” Leonsis said, turning to (Washington Post editor Marty Baron, who was the moderator). “I have said on a number of occasions, The Post forced me into that position. I bought a hockey team, and attendance was really bad, and we’d make news, and there’d be one reporter who’d come from the Washington Post. And The Post basically decided what was important, what got coverage. And they did their best. And I had to take into my own hands coverage.
“So the first thing I did was say, ‘Well, let’s activate a blogosphere. Let’s open up the information away from NBC and The Washington Post, and say fans who really really cover us and understand us, let’s give them the means and the tools to be just like the newspaper.’ And several of them took up that opportunity, and some even created businesses around it. And now when we have a press event, there’s literally more than 200 people that cover us — national, local, global. The blogosphere boomed. And now The Washington Post is A voice.
Later in the post:
The moderator then joked about how The Post forced him to do this.
“I would say cover my team,” Leonsis responded. “And I’d hear back, ‘Well, we can only afford one reporter, and we believe we will set the agenda that this is where hockey — just using one example — fits on the landscape.’ And I didn’t want to hear that as an answer.
“Since we’ve done that, by the way, we have 200 sold-out games in a row, we’ve become a bit of a phenomenon,” Leonsis said. “And I really see that as the blogosphere exploded, the coverage exploded, the team started to do better and the business picked up. And so yeah, I do believe that we’re seeing that across verticles, and that everyone is seeing that hey, I can be in the media business just like The Washington Post.”
“You’re welcome, by the way,” Baron quipped.
Hockey time: Chicago-Washington kick off new season on NBC Sports Network
It’s 97 degrees in the worst weather town in the world (Chicago). So definitely need some thoughts of hockey to cool off.
The NHL announced the schedule for the 2013-14 season, and NBC and NBC Sports Network followed with their TV menu.
The season kicks off in Chicago on Oct. 1, where the Blackhawks will hoist the Stanley Cup banner prior to game against Washington on NBC Sports Network.
The biggest change will be the NHL rolling the dice on the outdoor games, with five of them this year. Will more take away from the novelty of those games? Big question for another day.
For now, if you’re hot like I am, a good day to think about some ice.
Here’s the rundown from NBC:
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NBC Sports Group will deliver coverage of 103 NHL regular-season games during the 2013-14 season, featuring 13 games on NBC and 90 games on NBC Sports Network. All games will be streamed live via NBC Sports Live Extra. Schedule highlights include:
- The season begins with NHL Face-Off, the League’s North American launch event. Prior to NBC Sports Network’s first game of the season, in which the Washington Capitals visit the 2013 Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks, NBC Sports Network will provide coverage of the Blackhawks 2013 Stanley Cup championship banner raising ceremony at the United Center in Chicago, Ill.
- The 2014 NHL Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings on January 1 at 1 p.m. ET on NBC.
- The inaugural NHL Stadium Series, featuring four games played in iconic outdoor venues between January 25 and March 1, including: Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif., Yankee Stadium in New York, N.Y., and Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill. Plus the NHL Heritage Classic at BC Place in Vancouver, B.C. on March 2.
- The return of Wednesday Night Rivalry on NBC Sports Network. The 2013-14 NHL season on NBCSN will feature 24 Wednesday Night Rivalry telecasts — up from 15 last year.
- A Stanley Cup Final rematch between the Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins on Sunday, January 19 on NBC.
- Eastern Conference Final rematch between the Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday, October 30 on NBCSN.
- Western Conference Final rematch between the Los Angeles Kings and the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday, December 30 on NBCSN.
- The Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings, who went to seven games in the 2013 Western Conference Semifinals, will face off twice on NBC Sports Network. The Red Wings host the Blackhawks on Wednesday Night Rivalry, January 22. On Sunday, March 16, the Red Wings travel to Chicago to take on the Blackhawks.
- In a renewal of their fierce intra-state rivalry, the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins meet three times on NBC and NBC Sports Network this season. The Penguins host the Flyers on Wednesday Night Rivalry, November 13 on NBC Sports Network. On Sunday, March 16 the Flyers return to Pittsburgh to take on the Penguins on NBC. The two teams meet again on Saturday, April 12 on NBC.
NBC Sports Network will offer games on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights throughout the season. Beginning in January, a Sunday game will be added most weeks. NBCSN drops the puck on its coverage on Tuesday, October 1 at 7 p.m. ET with NHL Live, NBC Sports Network’s live pre- and post-game show.
NHL Live will feature the banner raising ceremony for the 2013 Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks, live from the United Center in Chicago, Ill. At 8 p.m. ET, NBCSN will present exclusive coverage of the Blackhawks hosting the Washington Capitals. Emmy Award-winning play-by-play commentator Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick, analyst Eddie Olczyk and Emmy Award-winning ‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst Pierre McGuire will call the game.
NHL on NBC coverage begins on Friday, November 29 at 1 p.m. ET, with the NHL Thanksgiving Showdown featuring the New York Rangers at Boston Bruins. Beginning on January 19, and continuing through the end of the regular season, NBC will air a national “Game of the Week” on most Sundays.
The Boston Bruins have the most games across NBC and NBC Sports Network this season, with 13. Boston is followed closely by the Chicago Blackhawks, Minnesota Wild, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and St. Louis Blues, who all make 12 appearances. Four additional teams have 11 games on NBC and NBC Sports Network — Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings, Philadelphia Flyers, and Washington Capitals.
NHL WINTER CLASSIC
The annual NHL Winter Classic will take place on January 1, 2014 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. — The Big House — and will feature the Toronto Maple Leafs vs. the Detroit Red Wings. The 2014 NHL Winter Classic will be broadcast on NBC at 1 p.m. ET. Emrick, Olczyk and McGuire will call the game.
The five previous NHL Winter Classics have produced five of the six most-watched NHL regular-season games in the past 38 years (average viewers).
MOST-WATCHED NHL REGULAR-SEASON GAMES SINCE 1975
| 4.5 million | Jan. 1, 2011 | NBC | Capitals-Penguins |
| 4.4 million | Jan. 1, 2009 | NBC | Red Wings-Blackhawks |
| 3.8 million | Jan. 27, 1996 | FOX | Six-game regional coverage |
| 3.8 million | Jan. 1, 2008 | NBC | Penguins-Sabres |
| 3.74 million | Jan. 2, 2012 | NBC | Rangers-Flyers |
| 3.68 million | Jan. 1, 2010 | NBC | Flyers-Bruins |
NHL STADIUM SERIES and NHL HERITAGE CLASSIC
NBC and NBC Sports Network will combine to present the 2014 NHL Stadium Series, which consists of a new set of four outdoor games. The NHL Stadium Series will feature the Anaheim Ducks-Los Angeles Kings, New Jersey Devils-New York Rangers, New York Islanders-New York Rangers, and Pittsburgh Penguins-Chicago Blackhawks. All games will be held at iconic outdoor stadiums in Los Angeles, New York and Chicago. In addition, NBCSN will also present coverage of the NHL Heritage Classic featuring the Ottawa Senators-Vancouver Canucks.
Coverage begins on Saturday, January 25 at 10 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network, when the 2012 Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings face off against the Anaheim Ducks at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif. It will be the first outdoor NHL game ever played in Los Angeles, and the second outdoor hockey game for the Kings franchise. In 1991, the Kings participated in an outdoor exhibition match with the New York Rangers in the parking lot at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nev.
The following day, Sunday, January 26 at 1 p.m. ET on NBC, the New York Rangers will take the ice against the New Jersey Devils at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. The contest will be the second outdoor hockey game for the Rangers in three years, as the team participated in the 2012 NHL Winter Classic against the Philadelphia Flyers at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pa.
Later that week, on Wednesday, January 29 at 7 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network, the New York Islanders will host the Rangers for a second outdoor game at Yankee Stadium. The game will be the first outdoor NHL game for the Islanders and the third for the Rangers since 2012. (2012 NHL Winter Classic and 2014 NHL Stadium Series Game 3)
On Saturday, March 1 at 8 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network will telecast the fourth game of the series featuring the Pittsburgh Penguins-Chicago Blackhawks at Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill. The Penguins-Blackhawks matchup will be the second time Chicago has hosted a regular-season outdoor NHL game (2009 NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field). The Penguins will be participating in their third regular-season outdoor NHL game since 2008. (2008 NHL Winter Classic and 2011 NHL Winter Classic).
The NHL Heritage Classic will take place on Sunday, March 2 at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network. The Vancouver Canucks will play the Ottawa Senators at BC Place in Vancouver, British Columbia.
| DATE | TEAMS | STADIUM | NETWORK | TIME |
| January 25, 2014 | Ducks-Kings | Dodger Stadium | NBCSN | 10 p.m. |
| January 26, 2014 | Rangers-Devils | Yankee Stadium | NBC | 1 p.m. |
| January 29, 2014 | Rangers-Islanders | Yankee Stadium | NBCSN | 7 p.m. |
| March 1, 2014 | Blackhawks-Penguins | Soldier Field | NBCSN | 8 p.m. |
| March 2, 2014 | Senators-Canucks# | BC Place | NBCSN | 7:30 p.m. |
*All times listed are ET.
#NHL Heritage Classic
WEDNESDAY NIGHT RIVALRY
NBC Sports Network’s exclusive Wednesday Night Rivalry coverage will return for a second season and feature some of the biggest rivalries in the NHL, including Boston-Montreal, Philadelphia-Pittsburgh and Chicago-Detroit. The network will air exclusive coverage on Wednesday nights for 24 weeks, with games starting at 8 p.m. ET. WNR begins Wednesday, October 2 with the Buffalo Sabres facing off against the Detroit Red Wings.
During its inaugural season, Wednesday Night Rivalry was called “the hottest new brand in sports” by Forbes. It claimed six of the top eight most-watched NHL regular-season telecasts ever on NBC Sports Network and averaged 646,000 viewers. With the success of Wednesday Night Rivalry, the 2013 season was the most-watched NHL regular season on cable in 19 years.
NBC Sports Network 2013-14 NHL Wednesday Night Rivalry schedule (subject to change):
| Date | Away | Home | |
| October 2 | Buffalo | Detroit | |
| October 9 | Chicago | St. Louis | |
| October 16 | New York Rangers | Washington | |
| October 23 | Boston | Buffalo | |
| October 30 | Boston | Pittsburgh | . |
| November 6 | Pittsburgh | New York Rangers | |
| November 13 | Philadelphia | Pittsburgh | |
| November 20 | Pittsburgh | Washington | |
| November 27 | Boston | Detroit | |
| December 4 | Philadelphia | Detroit | |
| December 11 | Philadelphia | Chicago | |
| December 18 | Pittsburgh | New York Rangers | |
| January 8 | New York Rangers | Chicago | |
| January 15 | Washington | Pittsburgh | |
| January 22 | Chicago | Detroit | |
| January 29 | New York Rangers | New York Islanders | |
| February 5 | Pittsburgh | Buffalo | |
| February 26 | Boston | Buffalo | |
| March 5 | Washington | Philadelphia | |
| March 12 | Boston | Montreal | |
| March 19 | St. Louis | Chicago | |
| March 26 | Philadelphia | New York Rangers | |
| April 2 | Boston | Detroit | |
| April 9 | Detroit | Pittsburgh |
NBC SPORTS GROUP’S STATE-OF-THE ART STUDIOS
NHL studio programming throughout much of the 2013-14 season will originate from NBC Sports Group’s state-of-the-art International Broadcast Center, located in Stamford, Conn.
NHL Live, NBC Sports Network’s live pre- and post-game show with highlights and analysis of NHL matchups, will air before and after most games. This year, the program will expand to one hour prior to live-event coverage — an increase from last year’s half-hour show. The 30-minute post-game show will air immediately following the game.
On most days, the NHL Live team will consist of Liam McHugh (host), Mike Milbury (analyst), and Keith Jones (analyst).
2014 WINTER OLYMPICS
The NHL will pause from Feb. 9-25, 2014, while NHL players comprise the majority of the rosters of the national teams competing in Sochi, Russia, for Olympic gold. The NHL season resumes Wednesday, February 26.
NBC Sports Group 2013-14 NHL regular-season schedule (subject to change):
| Date | Away | Home | Network | |
| Tues., Oct. 1 | Washington | Chicago | NBCSN | |
| Wed., Oct. 2 | Buffalo | Detroit | NBCSN | |
| Thurs., Oct. 3 | Los Angeles | Minnesota | NBCSN | |
| Tues., Oct. 8 | Tampa Bay | Buffalo | NBCSN | |
| Wed., Oct. 9 | Chicago | St. Louis | NBCSN | |
| Mon., Oct. 14 | Minnesota | Buffalo | NBCSN | |
| Tues., Oct. 15 | San Jose | St. Louis | NBCSN | |
| Wed., Oct. 16 | NY Rangers | Washington | NBCSN | |
| Mon., Oct. 21 | Colorado | Pittsburgh | NBCSN | |
| Tues., Oct. 22 | Nashville | Minnesota | NBCSN | |
| Wed., Oct. 23 | Boston | Buffalo | NBCSN | |
| Mon., Oct. 28 | Montreal | NY Rangers | NBCSN | |
| Tues., Oct. 29 | Tampa Bay | New Jersey | NBCSN | |
| Wed., Oct. 30 | Boston | Pittsburgh | NBCSN | |
| Mon., Nov. 4 | Anaheim | NY Rangers | NBCSN | |
| Tues., Nov. 5 | Philadelphia | Carolina | NBCSN | |
| Wed., Nov. 6 | Pittsburgh | NY Rangers | NBCSN | |
| Tues., Nov. 12 | Phoenix | St. Louis | NBCSN | |
| Wed., Nov. 13 | Philadelphia | Pittsburgh | NBCSN | |
| Mon., Nov. 18 | Anaheim | Pittsburgh | NBCSN | |
| Tues., Nov. 19 | Boston | NY Rangers | NBCSN | |
| Wed., Nov. 20 | Pittsburgh | Washington | NBCSN | |
| Mon., Nov. 25 | Minnesota | St. Louis | NBCSN | |
| Tues., Nov. 26 | Anaheim | Dallas | NBCSN | |
| Wed., Nov. 27 | Boston | Detroit | NBCSN | |
| Fri., Nov. 29 | NY Rangers | Boston | NBC | |
| Mon., Dec. 2 | Philadelphia | Minnesota | NBCSN | |
| Tues., Dec. 3 | Dallas | Chicago | NBCSN | |
| Wed., Dec. 4 | Philadelphia | Detroit | NBCSN | |
| Mon., Dec. 9 | Columbus | Pittsburgh | NBCSN | |
| Tues., Dec. 10 | Nashville | NY Rangers | NBCSN | |
| Wed., Dec. 11 | Philadelphia | Chicago | NBCSN | |
| Tues., Dec. 17 | Washington | Philadelphia | NBCSN | |
| Wed., Dec. 18 | Pittsburgh | NY Rangers | NBCSN | |
| Mon., Dec. 23 | Minnesota | Philadelphia | NBCSN | |
| Mon., Dec. 30 | Los Angeles | Chicago | NBCSN | |
| Wed., Jan. 1 | Toronto | Detroit | NBC | |
| Sun., Jan. 5 | San Jose | Chicago | NBCSN | |
| Tues., Jan. 7 | Philadelphia | New Jersey | NBCSN | |
| Wed., Jan. 8 | NY Rangers | Chicago | NBCSN | |
| Sun., Jan. 12 | Philadelphia | NY Rangers | NBCSN | |
| Tues., Jan. 14 | Philadelphia | Buffalo | NBCSN | |
| Wed., Jan. 15 | Washington | Pittsburgh | NBCSN | |
| Thurs., Jan. 16 | Los Angeles | St. Louis | NBCSN | |
| Sun., Jan. 19 | Boston | Chicago | NBC | |
| Sun., Jan. 19 | Washington | NY Rangers | NBCSN | |
| Tues., Jan. 21 | Minnesota | Dallas | NBCSN | |
| Wed., Jan. 22 | Chicago | Detroit | NBCSN | |
| Thurs., Jan. 23 | Pittsburgh | NY Islanders | NBCSN | |
| Sat., Jan. 25 | Anaheim | Los Angeles | NBCSN | |
| Sun., Jan. 26 | NY Rangers | New Jersey | NBC | |
| Mon., Jan. 27 | Buffalo | Pittsburgh | NBCSN | |
| Mon., Jan. 27 | Los Angeles | San Jose | NBCSN | |
| Tues., Jan. 28 | Washington | Buffalo | NBCSN | |
| Wed., Jan. 29 | NY Rangers | NY Islanders | NBCSN | |
| Sun., Feb. 2 | Detroit | Washington | NBC | |
| Mon., Feb. 3 | Colorado | New Jersey | NBCSN | |
| Tues., Feb. 4 | NY Islanders | Washington | NBCSN | |
| Wed., Feb. 5 | Pittsburgh | Buffalo | NBCSN | |
| Thurs., Feb. 6 | Boston | St. Louis | NBCSN | |
| Wed., Feb. 26 | Boston | Buffalo | NBCSN | |
| Wed., Feb. 26 | Los Angeles | Colorado | NBCSN | |
| Sat., March 1 | Pittsburgh | Chicago | NBC | |
| Sun., March 2*** | Philadelphia | Washington | NBC | |
| Sun., March 2*** | Ottawa | Vancouver | NBCSN | |
| Sun., March 2*** | Boston | NY Rangers | NBCSN | |
| Mon., March 3 | Buffalo | Dallas | NBCSN | |
| Tues., March 4 | Tampa Bay | St. Louis | NBCSN | |
| Wed., March 5 | Washington | Philadelphia | NBCSN | |
| Sun., March 9 | Detroit | NY Rangers | NBC | |
| Sun., March 9 | Chicago | Buffalo | NBCSN | |
| Tues., March 11 | Washington | Pittsburgh | NBCSN | |
| Wed., March 12 | Boston | Montreal | NBCSN | |
| Sun., March 16 | Philadelphia | Pittsburgh | NBC | |
| Sun., March 16 | Detroit | Chicago | NBCSN | |
| Mon., March 17 | Minnesota | Boston | NBCSN | |
| Tues., March 18 | Chicago | Philadelphia | NBCSN | |
| Wed., March 19 | St. Louis | Chicago | NBCSN | |
| Sun., March 23 | Minnesota | Detroit | NBCSN | |
| Mon., March 24 | Montreal | Boston | NBCSN | |
| Tues., March 25 | Detroit | Columbus | NBCSN | |
| Wed., March 26 | Philadelphia | NY Rangers | NBCSN | |
| Sun., March 30 | Boston | Philadelphia | NBC | |
| Sun., March 30 | Chicago | Pittsburgh | NBCSN | |
| Mon., March 31 | Florida | New Jersey | NBCSN | |
| Mon., March 31 | Minnesota | Los Angeles | NBCSN | |
| Tues., April 1 | Philadelphia | St. Louis | NBCSN | |
| Wed., April 2 | Boston | Detroit | NBCSN | |
| Wed., April 2 | Phoenix | Los Angeles | NBCSN | |
| Thurs., April 3 | Minnesota | Chicago | NBCSN | |
| Thurs., April 3 | Los Angeles | San Jose | NBCSN | |
| Fri., April 4 | Washington | New Jersey | NBCSN | |
| Sun., April 6 | St. Louis | Chicago | NBC | |
| Sun., April 6 | Buffalo | Philadelphia | NBCSN | |
| Tues., April 8 | Washington | St. Louis | NBCSN | |
| Wed., April 9 | Detroit | Pittsburgh | NBCSN | |
| Wed., April 9 | San Jose | Anaheim | NBCSN | |
| Thurs., April 10 | St. Louis | Minnesota | NBCSN | |
| Fri., April 11 | NY Islanders | New Jersey | NBCSN | |
| Sat., April 12 | Philadelphia | Pittsburgh | NBC | |
| Sat., April 12 | Chicago | Nashville | NBCSN | |
| Sun., April 13 | Detroit | St. Louis | NBC | |
The hometown radio call for the Blackhawks Stanley Cup winner
Thanks to Hawks fan Kevin Ford for passing along the hometown radio call of the Blackhawks’ thrilling finish for Game 6.
WGN’s John Wiedeman and Troy Murray did a great job of capturing the moment.
As I wrote earlier, I was out of the country for two weeks, and wasn’t able to see or hear highlights from the thrilling climax until yesterday. So it’s all new to me.
It’ll never get old for Blackhawks fans.
Should Stanley Cup games be on NBC Sports Network? Nearly 2.5 million more viewers for Game 4 on NBC
The question needs to be asked: Should the entire Stanley Cup Final air on NBC?
The difference was striking between Games 3 and 4. On Monday, Game 3 pulled in 4.04 million viewers on NBC Sports Network. The network is in 80 million homes.
Wednesday, NBC, which is in 115 million homes, took over for Game 4. Number of viewers: 6.49 million.
That’s a 61 percent increase. Why?
Quality of games: Boston dominated Game 3, winning 2-0. Meanwhile, Game 4 was a wild affair, with the Blackhawks finally taking a 6-5 victory in overtime. The rating peaked at 8.192 million viewers during the extra session, a huge number for hockey.
So some of the increase obviously has to be attributed to the quality of games. However, Game 2 also went to overtime. The game attracted 3.94 million viewers on NBC Sports Network.
OK, it can be argued that ratings build as you get deeper into a series. Well then, what about Game 1, which pulled in 6.4 million viewers for the triple overtime? The network: NBC.
Clearly, the fact that NBC is in 35 million more homes than NBC Sports Network means that many more people will have access to the biggest hockey games of the season. And that includes the casual viewer who doesn’t have much interest in hockey but might just tune in while channel surfing. Who knows? That person might have been intrigued by the terrific end to Game 4 and decide to watch Game 5.
That’s how hockey fans are born.
As I wrote Wednesday, airing Stanley Cup Final games on NBC Sports Network is a way to drive viewers to that network.
NBC Sports Network wants to grow its subscriber base from 80 million homes to nearly 100 million homes, or comparable to the distribution for ESPN. It wants potential viewers to call their cable operators and demand that the network either be added to their systems or put on a basic tier.
NBC knows it takes missing out on Stanley Cup Final games for people to make that call.
The NHL also has a vested interest in growing NBC Sports Network. The network is the main home for hockey, airing more than 100 regular season and playoff games. More subscribers means more potential hockey viewers.
But can the NHL afford to be missing out on a potential 1.5-2.5 million viewers and possibly future fans by airing Final games on NBC Sports Network?
It is a question that should be asked within Gary Bettman’s office and then addressed with NBC.
High praise: Emrick, Breen on top of games for biggest games: AA podcasts
Indeed, it has been a treat to listen to a pair of Mikes, Emrick and Breen, calling the respective finals in their leagues. And it is fitting that the NBA series is going a full seven tonight, and that Stanley Cup Final likely will follow suit.
Both play-by-play men deserve to go the distance.
As I’ve said before, Mike “Doc” Emrick has become the Vin Scully of hockey. He paints pictures with his own unique descriptions even though we’re watching the game on TV. More importantly, Emrick knows how to elevate the drama when everyone’s heart is beating a bit faster during crucial moments.
During the wild third period last night, Emrick summed it up for the viewers: “This is marvelous… It’s all a matter of getting your name on the Stanley Cup and getting a ring that’s so large to wear.”
Meanwhile, Breen’s style is to fit in seamlessly with the game he is calling. He complements the telecast, knowing exactly how to set up his quirky partner, Jeff Van Gundy. Yet when the big moment comes, as it did several times during Game 6, Breen rises to the occasion and delivers.
So a tip of the cap to Emrick and Breen. Thanks for making June so much fun.
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To hear both men discuss their approaches and profession, check out Matt Yoder’s interviews with them for the Awful Announcing podcast series.
Here is the link for Emrick.
Here is the link for Breen.