So, remember earlier this week when we wrote that Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals between the Capitals and the Rangers drew the most cable viewers if this playoff season?
Well, it's time to revise that.
According to Steve Lepore over at Puck The Media, Wednesday night's Game 3, which ended in a 2-1 triple-overtime win for New York, drew a whopping 1.85 million viewers, 320,000 more than tuned in for Monday's Game 2.
Not only that, but the exclusive national NBC Sports Network broadcast was a smashing success in the local markets, according to Lepore.
Locally, the game scored record ratings in New York, where it drew a 3.99, highest for any NHL game ever on NBC Sports Network, VERSUS or OLN in the market. It was also up 93% from VERSUS' exclusive broadcasts of the Rangers/Penguins series in 2008, the last time New York made it to the semifinals. In Washington DC, the game drew a 6.8, up 6% over the exclusive broadcasts from last year's Lightning/Capitals semifinal series.
Are we seeing a revival of televised hockey on cable TV, nearly 15 years after its ESPN National Hockey Night heyday? We think we are.