Well, it wasn’t the dream matchup that NBC was hoping for, but with Chicago in the Stanley Cup Final, the Peacock should still do well even with Tampa Bay.
NBCSN registered a very strong 2.65 overnight rating for the Eastern Conference Final Game 7 between Tampa Bay and the New York Rangers on Friday. That’s up 53% from the last ECF Game 7 in 2011 which was between Tampa Bay and the Boston Bruins.
And locally, Tampa-St. Petersburg registered an 11.9 which is the highest rating for a Lightning game on NBCSN. And New York received a 10.3 rating and that’s also the highest rating for a Rangers game on NBCSN. So very good ratings in both of the local markets.
With that in mind, NBC will carry Games 1 and 2, then if necessary, Games 5 through 7. NBCSN will air Games 3 and a potential series-clinching Game 4 if one team is up 3-0.
The series begins Wednesday, June 3. Game 2 on Saturday, June 6 will air on NBC following coverage of the Belmont Stakes and with American Pharoah on the verge of a Triple Crown, the Peacock should do well from 4:30 p.m. ET and well into primetime.
The series will take a Monday, Wednesday, Saturday schedule which means a potential Game 7 would air on Wednesday, June 17.
Coverage for all of the games except for Game 2 will begin at 8 p.m. ET. Game 2’s coverage will start at 7:15 p.m.
Here’s the schedule:
| Date | Game | Teams | Network | Time (ET) |
| Wed., June 3 | Stanley Cup Final – Game 1 | Chicago at Tampa Bay | NBC | 8 p.m. |
| Sat., June 6 | Stanley Cup Final – Game 2^ | Chicago at Tampa Bay | NBC | 7:15 p.m. |
| Mon., June 8 | Stanley Cup Final – Game 3 | Tampa Bay at Chicago | NBCSN | 8 p.m. |
| Wed., June 10 | Stanley Cup Final – Game 4 | Tampa Bay at Chicago | NBCSN | 8 p.m. |
| Sat., June 13 | Stanley Cup Final – Game 5* | Chicago at Tampa Bay | NBC | 8 p.m. |
| Mon., June 15 | Stanley Cup Final – Game 6* | Tampa Bay at Chicago | NBC | 8 p.m. |
| Wed., June 17 | Stanley Cup Final – Game 7* | Chicago at Tampa Bay | NBC | 8 p.m. |
*if necessary
^following coverage of The Belmont Stakes
Doc Emrick, Eddie Olcyzk and Pierre McGuire will be the game crew for the entire series. Liam McHugh, Mike Milbury and Keith Jones will serve as the Pregame, intermission and Postgame crew.
That will do it.
