NBC put up soft numbers for its lone second round NHL playoff game.
Game 2 of the Capitals/Rangers Stanley Cup playoff series earned a 1.2* overnight rating on NBC Saturday afternoon, down 14% from both Canadiens/Bruins last year and Red Wings/Blackhawks in 2013 (1.4 both years). Coverage both this year and last aired prior to the Kentucky Derby; the 2013 telecast aired prior to The Preakness Stakes.
NBC has now had declines for all six playoff windows that can be compared to last year.
In a rarity, NBC’s game was not the top NHL telecast of the weekend. NBCSN earned a 1.5 overnight rating for Game 2 of the Wild/Blackhawks series Sunday evening, up 5% from Rangers/Penguins in an earlier window last year (1.4).
* ShowBuzz Daily reported that Capitals/Rangers had a 1.22 overnight. Sports Business Daily reported that it had a 1.3.
(Wknd. numbers via ShowBuzz Daily)
