NBC Sports Network Sets Ratings Mark for NHL Game

NBC Sports Network Sets Ratings Mark for NHL Game

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 29: Bryan Bickell #29 of the Chicago Blackhawks passes around Brendan Smith #2 of the Detroit Red Wings in Game Seven of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2013 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the United Center on May 29, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois. The Blackhawks defeated the Red Wings 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

The NBC Sports Network says Game 7 between Detroit and Chicago was its highest-rated NHL broadcast ever.

The cable channel had a 2.07 national rating with 3,354,000 viewers for Wednesday night's game, which the Blackhawks won 2-1 in overtime.

Its previous record in seven-plus years of carrying NHL games was 1.97 set on June 2, 2010, when Chicago played Philadelphia in the Stanley Cup finals.

The numbers might be even better for the conference finals with two intriguing matchups.

Chicago hosts the defending champion Los Angeles Kings in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals on the NBC Sports Network on Saturday afternoon and Pittsburgh plays Boston at home in the Eastern Conference finals opener on NBC in prime time that night.

NBC Sports president of programing Jon Miller says the league's lockout hasn't seemed to have a negative impact on TV ratings.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Filed Under: Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Hockey, NHL
Categories: Sports

More From KSOO-AM / ESPN Sioux Falls