Overnight ratings were fairly soft for NBC’s first primetime NHL game of the playoffs.
Game 2 of the Penguins/Rangers Stanley Cup playoff series earned a 1.7 overnight rating on NBC Saturday night, the network’s second-lowest for a primetime NHL telecast outside of the Stanley Cup Final (eight telecasts). Only Rangers/Flyers in February had a lower overnight (1.0).
Saturday’s game marked the first time NBC has aired an opening round playoff game in primetime since reacquiring rights to the league. The network has previously aired primetime games in the second round and conference finals, with overnights ranging from 1.9 to 2.9.
Though low for primetime, the 1.7 overnight is tied as NBC’s third-highest on the opening weekend of the playoffs — trailing only Red Wings/Bruins Game 2 last year (1.8) and Penguins/Flyers Game 3 in 2012 (2.3).
(Sat. numbers from NBC Sports via The Futon Critic)
