An acrimonious battle between in-state rivals propelled NBC to the best overnight rating for an NHL game — excluding the Winter Classic and Stanley Cup Final — in ten years.
Game 3 of the Penguins/Flyers Stanley Cup playoff series drew a 2.3 overnight rating on NBC Sunday afternoon, up 77% from Capitals/Rangers Game 3 in the same timeslot last year (1.3), and up 53% from Coyotes/Red Wings Game 3 in 2010 (1.5).
The 2.3 overnight is the highest for an NHL telecast, excluding the Stanley Cup Final and the Winter Classic, since Avalanche/Red Wings Game 1 on ABC in 2002 (2.4).
Earlier in the day, Predators/Red Wings Game 3 drew a 1.5 overnight.
(Sunday’s overnights from Sports Business Daily, Puck the Media; past data from Puck the Media)
