NBC, NHL riding a big ratings boost into Game 6
With the Philadelphia Flyers 4-0 in the 2010 playoffs in elimination games and 3-0 this season at home against the Blackhawks, NBC's annoucing crew expects today's game at the Wachovia Center will be won by the team that imposes its will the greatest and pushes the pace.
• Pierre McGuire: "Philadelphia has proven they can bounce back for big games. Chicago is very comfortable right now. Game 5 was their big bounce back. They really pushed the pace."
• Mike Milbury: "The response from Chicago was everything they needed. They answered the bell so resoundingly in Game 5. As hard as Chicago played, Philadelphia never made it easy. They didn't stop until the final whistle. The central question is, does Chicago have the will and character to match Philadelphia? If they do, they win the Stanley Cup."
On Philly's fans: "They make it abundantly clear that they are there for the home team. It can be distracting for visiting players. The only way to neutralize that is to get an early lead," said McGuire.
Ratings boost: Sunday night's Stanley Cup Final between the Blackhawks and Flyers was the most-watched and highest-rated non-overtime Game 5 in eight years. It was watched by 5.85 million viewers and posted a 3.3/6 rating, the most since 2002'sCarolina-Detroit series on ABC (6.85 million and 4.2/8, ).
The viewership and rating were up 31 and 38 percent, respectively, vs. last year's Game 5 (4.45 million; 2.4/5), between the then-defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins, featuring Sidney Crosby.
On NBC Sports: Chicago is 7-2 on NBC Sports this season, and Philadelphia is 2-6 on NBC Sports in 2010.