"Hockey ratings are a joke!"
I read that statement when the ratings came out for Wednesday night's Cup Final game between the Hawks and the Flyers. The game hit a 5.8 share, that is an unheard of number for the NHL in this country, especially in prime-time. Yet it doesn't seem to be good enough for people. I don't get it.
The NHL for years has been struggling for viewers and ratings. For the first time, well ever, you had a series everyone was talking about. A series that, if you take away ESPN's love for the NBA, was talked about by more people than any sports story, except well the almost-perfect game last week. The Cup finals was the #2 trend on Twitter during the game, every game, something that the NBA hasn't been doing. What does the NHL have to do??
Let's be honest, hockey is never going to be one of the top two sports in this country. The NFL is untouchable and the NBA is a powerhouse. Weirdly enough the Cup Finals this year had higher ratings than the World Series. That's something I never said before, never thought I would say.
Some say it was because hockey was on a peak with the USA-Canada Olympic hockey game back in February (the highest rated USA game since the Miracle on Ice), and that is true and what's wrong with that? Isn't that how you spread the word of a sport by using the biggest international platform you can have? Didn't the NBA do the same thing with "The Dream Team" back in the 90s?
In all, I wish people would just give the NHL it's due. The Blackhawks winning the Cup had the best ratings for a hockey game in 37 years, because it was historic, a good series, a great game and the facts are there that hockey is finally growing this country. And I must say it's about time!
