HOCKEY IN HIGH HEELS: 2/25 GAME RATINGS

HOCKEY IN HIGH HEELS: 2/25 GAME RATINGS

STAMFORD, Conn. – February 27, 2017 – NBC Sports’ primetime presentation of the 2017 NHL Stadium Series on Saturdayon NBC, featuring the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins at Heinz Field, was the most-watched NHL regular-season game in three years, excluding Winter Classics, according to data provided by The Nielsen Company.

The Penguins’ 4-2 win against the rival Flyers (8-11 p.m. ET) averaged 1.917 million viewers, up 13% vs. last season’s primetime NHL Stadium Series matchup between the Detroit Red Wings and Colorado Avalanche (1.698 million; 2/27/16), and was the most-watched regular-season non-Winter Classic game since the 2013-14 season (PIT-CHI; 2.759 million; 3/1/14). The game delivered a 1.12 household rating, up 17% vs. Red Wings-Avalanche (0.96).

Locally, the Penguins’ victory delivered a 16.3 rating in Pittsburgh, up 137% vs. the Penguins 2015-16 NBC regular-season rating (6.9). Philadelphia produced a 5.1 rating, up 12% vs. last season’s NBC average (4.6). NBC was the top network in both markets during the game. Digitally, the game set Stadium Series records for uniques (56,000) and live minutes (2.3 million).

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This week’s NHL coverage on NBCSN features a potential Stanley Cup Final preview on Wednesday Night Rivalry, as Patrick Kane and the Chicago Blackhawks host Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

Coverage begins tonight at 8 p.m. ET on NBCSN, when Zach Parise and the Western Conference-leading Minnesota Wild host Jonathan Quick and the Los Angeles Kings. NBCSN will showcase an Original Six matchup on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET, when Henrik Lundqvist and the New York Rangers visit David Pastrnak and the Boston Bruins.

NBCSN will also present an interconference game between Matt Duchene and the Colorado Avalanche and Claude Girouxand the Philadelphia Flyers tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET. The network wraps up this week’s NHL coverage Sunday at 8 p.m. ET, when the Avalanche host Vladimir Tarasenko and the St. Louis Blues.

NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app — NBC Sports Group’s live streaming platforms for desktops, mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs — will provide live streaming coverage of this week’s NHL matchups.

Four-time Emmy Award-winner Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick (play-by-play), U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame member Eddie Olczyk (analyst), and Emmy Award-winner Pierre McGuire (‘Inside-the-Glass analyst) will call this week’s Penguins-Blackhawks WednesdayNight Rivalry game from United Center in Chicago, Ill.

Kenny Albert (play-by-play) and Joe Micheletti (‘Inside-the-Glass’) call Kings-Wild from Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn. Jim Jackson (play-by-play) and Keith Jones (analyst) will call Avs-Flyers from Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pa., Chris Cuthbert (play-by-play) and Brian Boucher (‘Inside-the-Glass’) will provide commentary of Rangers-Bruins from TD Garden in Boston, Mass., and Gord Miller (play-by-play) and McGuire will call Blues-Avs from Pepsi Center in Denver, Colo.

Pre-game coverage on NHL Live begins one hour prior to all weekday games on NBCSN, and 30 minutes prior to Sunday’sgame. Liam McHugh and Kathryn Tappen will anchor coverage throughout the week, joined by analysts and former playersMike Milbury, Keith Jones, Jeremy Roenick, and Brian Boucher. Post-game coverage on NHL Overtime will air on NBCSN immediately following this week’s games.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT RIVALRY – PENGUINS-BLACKHAWKS – WEDNESDAY AT 8 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

Pittsburgh (38-14-8, 84 pts) is five points behind Washington for the most points in the NHL, and is 8-1-3 in its last 12 games. The Penguins are coming off a 4-2 win over the rival Flyers in Saturday night’s primetime NHL Stadium Series game from Heinz Field on NBC. Sidney Crosby leads the NHL with 34 goals and has scored a goal in three consecutive games.

Chicago (39-18-5, 83 pts) is just one point behind Minnesota for the top spot in the Western Conference, and boasts a 9-1-0 record in its last 10 games. The Blackhawks have won four straight games, including a 4-2 win against St. Louis last night. Jonathan Toews recorded a goal and an assist in the win, and has totaled 24 points in his last 14 games (9g/15a), the most in the NHL since Jan. 22.

The Penguins and Blackhawks have combined to win the five of the last eight Stanley Cups, but they have not faced off in the Stanley Cup Final in that span. Their only meeting for the Stanley Cup came in 1992, when the Penguins swept the Blackhawks in four games.

KINGS-WILD – TONIGHT AT 8 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

The Kings and Wild enter tonight’s matchup following big trades by both clubs during the weekend. Minnesota acquired veteran forwards Martin Hanzal and Ryan White from Arizona, while Los Angeles acquired veteran goaltender Ben Bishopfrom the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Los Angeles (30-27-4, 64 pts) currently sits three points behind St. Louis for the second Wild Card spot in the West. The Kings are coming off a 4-1 win against the rival Ducks on Saturday, as Jonathan Quick made his return to Kings’ net after missing 59 games due to injury.

Minnesota (39-14-6, 84 pts) is coming off of its bye week, following a 5-3 loss at home to the Blackhawks. Goaltender Devan Dubnyk is tied for the league lead in wins (32) and leads the NHL with a .933 save percentage.

AVALANCHE-FLYERS – TOMORROW AT 7 P.M. ET

Colorado (17-40-3, 37 pts) looks to build off a 5-3 win against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday, as goaltender Jeremy Smith recorded his first NHL victory and Gabriel Landeskog scored twice for the Avalanche.

Philadelphia (28-26-7, 63 pts) looks to rebound from its 4-2 loss to Pittsburgh in the NHL Stadium Series matchup in Pittsburgh, and is six points behind Toronto for the second Wild Card spot in the East. Jakub Voracek leads the Flyers with 50 points and scored his 16th goal of the season in Saturday night’s loss.

RANGERS-BRUINS – THURSDAY AT 7 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

New York (40-20-2, 82 pts) has gone 7-2-1 in its last 10 games, but is coming off a 5-2 loss to Columbus on Sunday. The Rangers have scored the second-most goals in the league (203) behind the Penguins (209), and boast eight skaters with at least 10 goals scored.

Boston (32-24-6, 70 pts) has won six of its last seven games since Bruce Cassidy was named interim head coach, including a 6-3 win against Dallas in the NHL Game of the Week on NBC on Sunday. Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand each had three points in the victory. The Rangers have won both meetings against the Bruins this season by a score of 5-2.

BLUES-AVALANCHE – SUNDAY AT 8 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

The Blues (31-21-5, 67 pts) have gone 6-4-0 in their last 10 games, but have dropped three straight decisions and are currently holding on to the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. St. Louis’ Vladimir Tarasenko is currently ranked seventh in the NHL in goals (28). This marks the second of five games between the two teams this season – St. Louis beat Colorado 5-1 on Nov. 6.

Following is this week’s hockey coverage on NBC and NBCSN:

*immediately following game coverage
**subject to local blackout

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