National Sports Journalism Center

SportsMediaWatch.com reports, “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).”