The NHL Playoffs begin Wednesday, and NBC’s schedule may indicate a sort of changing of the guard in the league.
While Sidney Crosby is still the biggest star in the NHL, he may be getting overshadowed by rival Alex Ovechkin. Ovechkin has been the talk of the NHL heading into the playoffs, thanks to a spectacular season that saw him set the record for most goals by a left winger.
Crosby’s Penguins have the second-best record in the East, but it is Ovechkin’s Capitals that NBC has rushed to feature on its schedule. NBC will air Capitals/Flyers Game 2 this Sunday, and a potential Game 5 in the series on Saturday, April 19. The network is not set to air any games from the Penguins/Senators series.
With so much attention being put on Ovechkin, NBC is clearly hoping that Alex the Great can help revive slumping ratings. The network’s final regular season telecast of the season drew a mere 0.8 overnight, putting the game on pace for a final rating of 0.7 or lower.
