Hopefully the NHL does not read into this too much.  I believe that the fantastic weather we had on the east coast this past weekend had a major influence on all TV viewing.

Posted by Gretzky_to_Lemieux on 04/27/09 at 12:03 PM ET

I was about to say the same.  I know here in the New England area, the weather was amazing, and even as a huge Pens fan, it was tough to be inside watching the game when it was so nice outside for the first time in so many months.  The afternoon games are killer on those kind of days.  It definitely had me wishing for a 7:00pm start.

Posted by NHLJeff from Pens fan in Chicago, IL on 04/27/09 at 12:04 PM ET

We were in the 80’s here in Detroit too. 

But I stayed dedicated to my work, that of watching hockey (but the darn grass isn’t getting any shorter!).

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 04/27/09 at 12:07 PM ET

its hard to watch a game that seems like its over… the pens did come back but i’m sure a ton of people tuned out, and same goes for the rangers game

Posted by bcrt on 04/27/09 at 12:09 PM ET

Unless it is a team and an opponent I’m interested in, I have much better things to do that watch television on a weekend afternoon.  Even if the weather isn’t nice enough to be outside and enjoy the weather, I have to run errands and do chores sometime, and I’d rather get them done during the day and relax in the evenings.

If I have the game on at all, it’s for background noise in most cases.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 04/27/09 at 12:33 PM ET

Well, it was crappy in Colorado this weekend and I chose not to watch either game..I don’t watch Pittsburgh games as I don’t find Gary’s baby boy and all his merry men all that interesting to watch..getting tired of having washington on all the time as well..maybe the draft had something to do with the ratings…god knows why people find watching that thing hours on end interesting..

Posted by UMFan from Colorado on 04/27/09 at 12:39 PM ET

paul,
just a question related to nbc: I was under the impression that a commercial break couldn’t be taken if a penalty had just been called. Meaning that the network would have to wait until the next stoppage of play after the penalty’s termination to take a tv timeout. Twice during the Philly vs. Pittsburgh matchup I noticed that nbc took a commercial break immediately following a penalty call. Am I mistaken on the new rule or, does nbc get to do whatever the hell they want with their coverage.

Posted by thom from california on 04/27/09 at 02:58 PM ET

thom, don’t quote me on this, but I believe they won’t break during a man-advantage.  They will however break before any time comes off the penalty clock, so I think what they did was ok.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 04/27/09 at 03:00 PM ET

Besides the mostly fantastic spring weather, I think the match-ups maybe played a part as well.

It never really felt like Philly was in that series, and as soon as they got some momentum, they’d hand it right back again. At least that one had some bad blood possibilities, but it never really materialized. The Crosby backlash probably doesn’t help either.

Caps and Rags was an odd one like that too. One team or the other was kinda snoozing in much of the series. Might be some Avery aversion there too.

Sharks/Ducks, Hawks/Flames, and maybe even Canes/Devils could have been more interesting games, despite smaller markets in some cases.

Just my impression. I watched most of both games. But couldn’t really get into either one.

Posted by Nate A from Detroit-ish on 04/27/09 at 06:45 PM ET

....speaking of NHL TV woes, I’m stuck in an (overpriced) hotel watching…..No Versus. Thus, no CHI vs. CGY.  Fortunately I’m watching SJ-ANA on Hockey Night in Canada. Why? Because I’m visitng “Hockeytown.” You know, the one without VS in the hotel room. “Sorry sir, I’m not familiar with that network.”

Oh yeah, 3 ESPN’s on this system. Sigh, thank NHL.

Posted by BK from Detroit 144mi.;Columbus 142; Pitts. 144; Buff. 219 on 04/27/09 at 11:23 PM ET

BK, Heck, I would have invited you over if I knew you were in town.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 04/27/09 at 11:25 PM ET